Hello and welcome to kindergarten. My name is Mrs. Crawford and this will be my 23rd year teaching kindergarten. That sounds crazy when I say that out loud! I taught for eight of those years at Tashua School where I encountered many wonderful people and memorable experiences. When I volunteered to come to Frenchtown, I was ready for a challenge and new opportunities. I have found that and more. We have an incredible staff, a very hard-working and innovative principal and assistant principal, various technological devices and equipment to use, and of course, all the wonderful families who make up our Frenchtown community!
As for my educational background, I graduated from the University of Connecticut where I was enrolled in the Accelerated Education Program. This allowed me to obtain both my Bachelor's and Master's degrees in a five year period. I student taught and completed an internship in an inner city school working with 5th and 6th graders. Being hired as a kindergarten teacher in a suburban school system was a big change, but it was meant to be. I love what I do and I love working with Mrs. Capone, Mrs. Buswell and Mrs. Bershefsky. We work really well together and I am very blessed to be a part of such a supportive grade level team! I worked with Mrs. Alves for 17 years and miss her dearly but am thrilled she is happily retired.
Aside from being a kindergarten teacher, I am a wife and a mother. My husband, Michael is the Head Golf Professional at Woodway Country Club in Darien and we reside in Trumbull. We have two children, Emma and Joshua and two dogs, Luna (A 9 year-old English golden retriever - she is white in color) and Rooney (An almost 1 year old black lab mix). Our daughter Emma is seventeen and will be a senior at THS this year. I still cannot believe she is in her last year of high school! We are in the midst of college searching and lo and behold, my daughter who is like me in many ways wants to be an elementary school teacher! Time flies by way too fast! In addition to loving school, Emma loves to dance and pretty much lives at her dance studio. She spent the summer working at Woodway as a camp counselor and babysits often. Emma is also involved in various clubs at school and is quite the artist. My son, Joshua will be an eighth grader at Hillcrest this year. As Emma is just like me, Josh is a clone of my husband (That's good and bad - LOL!). Josh enjoys school as well, but definitely values the social benefits of school the most! He plays Pop Warner football (I was not in favor, but lost the vote in my house two years ago!) and loves it! He also loves plays basketball and lacrosse. He has his father's sense of humor which really helps when he makes me crazy! All that said, I am quite blessed! I have gained a lot of insight as a teacher from also being a mom (and vice versa), but having my children go through elementary school has been eye opening and has helped me to understand a lot more from a parent's perspective.
Now that you have read this, you know I am a person of many words! I will be sending home lots of information throughout the year to keep you up-to-date! I often send reminders and information through email. I look forward to an exciting year!
My mission as a kindergarten teacher is to create a warm, happy and comfortable atmosphere for each and every kindergartner. When the children arrive in September, they are dependent youngsters trying to find their way. By the end of kindergarten, I want them to be confident and independent students who have acquired a love for learning (If this is your first child, you are in for quite a surprise as you watch your child change over the next ten months! They become so independent by June. I am amazed each year even though I know it will happen.). My other mission is to create a positive working relationship with you, the parents. Together we can help your child grow!