Sheila Stern

Sheila Stern is a devoted wife, daughter, mother, grandmother, volunteer, and early childhood educator. She was born Sheila Ann Resnikoff in Portland, Oregon in 1947 and was educated in the Portland Public Schools, University of Arizona, and Portland State University, where she received her bachelor’s degree in education in 1969. That same year she married Bruce Stern. During the next year she taught third grade in the Portland School District.

In 1970 they moved to Arizona where Sheila taught first and third grades in the Phoenix Public School System. In 1973 they moved to central Illinois where they had their first child, Brian.  During the summer of 1975 the family moved back home to Portland and in 1977 their second son, Robert, was born.

In the fall of 1980 Sheila went back to work in the educational field—but this time early childhood education. For the past twenty-six years Sheila has been a teacher, primarily of four-year-olds, at the Congregation Neveh Shalom Foundation School, an NAEYC nationally accredited Early Childhood Program. She is the senior teacher on staff, but plans to retire from teaching in June 2006.

Her school director describes Sheila as a highly organized, confident, self-directed person who is also well-liked and a classic team player. As such, Sheila serves as a role model for the other teachers at the Foundation School. She is a tireless worker who designs curricula and activities to benefit the children she teaches. In her work she never loses focus on the childrens’ social and intellectual development.

What makes Sheila an extraordinary early childhood educator is that she is highly skilled at working with children. She has wonderful language skills that can relate to her children in a way that both supports and engages them. She is calm and nurturing in her behavior—even in difficult situations. In summary, Sheila demonstrates considerable expertise in the development and management of young children.

In addition to teaching, Sheila is an avid walker, reader, baker, and mah jongg player. She is also a board member and volunteers for Congregation Neveh Shalom in a number of capacities.

Written by her husband and children