It is the philosophy of Lakewood Avenue Children’s School to recruit and hire an extremely well-qualified teaching staff and provide them with the highest level of compensation possible. All Lakewood teachers have degrees in early childhood education/child development and complete a lengthy application and interview process, including working interviews in the classrooms. In addition, all teachers must be members of NAEYC. Teachers receive salaries and benefits in excess of those at comparable centers, and numerous professional development opportunities. As a result, Lakewood teachers typically stay with the School for two to four years, far longer than teachers in most early childhood programs. The professionalism and continuity that the teaching staff brings to the School’s children and families provide the cornerstone of Lakewood’s program.

DIRECTOR:

Marcia Brooks earned her Master’s degree in Industrial Design (2004) at the NCSU College of Design with her thesis in Early Childhood Environmental Design. She has a BFA from the University of New Hampshire and has earned NC Art Education Teacher Certification, the NC Early Childhood Teaching Credential and the NC Early Childhood Administration Credential.

FOUNDER / DIRECTOR EMERITUS / CONSULTANT:

Margaret Edwards received her A.B. from Vassar College and her M.Ed. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She is certified in Early Childhood Education, Specific Learning Disabilities, and Emotional Handicaps. She has worked with children in the triangle for many years including twenty years as Lakewood’s director. Margaret has “retired” but continues to work each morning at the school greeting children, providing school tours for prospective parents, advising the director and teachers, and modeling excellence in early childhood education for the entire Lakewood community.

TEACHERS:

• Melissa Lehman graduated from Meredith College with a B.S. in Child Development and a minor in psychology. She joined the Lakewood faculty after her graduation in May 2005.
• Stephanie Poe joined the Lakewood staff as an assistant in July 2005 with an AA degree from Wake Technical Community College. Since then Stephanie has earned her NC Early Childhood Teaching Credential and was awarded a T.E.A.C.H. scholarship for her academic excellence in pursuit of her Early Childhood Education degree. She became a full faculty member in August 2006.
• Tracey Frank joined the Lakewood Faculty in August 2005. She received her B.S. in Child Development and Psychology from Meredith College in 2004.
• Elyse Cepull graduated from Meredith College in 2005 with a B.S. in Child Development. She joined the Lakewood faculty in August 2005.
• Shantee Simmons received her B.S. in Child Development with a minor in Psychology. She joined the Lakewood faculty in June 2006.
• Victoria Martens joined our faculty in 2008 as a Middler Teacher. She has a B.A. degree in Early Childhood Education and Psychology from North Park University in Chicago.
• Betsy Ferney has a BA degree in Mathematics with a minor in French from Linfield College in Oregon. Since graduating Betsy has earned her Certificate in Child Development and in the Teaching of Infants, Toddlers and Twos. Betsy started with us in 2008 after four years as a toddler teacher in Chapel Hill.

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Preschoolers get a helping hand at the light table. Photo courtesy of Don Trull.

Above: A teacher brings his pet corn snake, "Mr. Happy," to school to share with the Middlers.

Opposite: A graduating Preschooler gets a congratulatory hug from the Director.