A curious mind is one of childhood’s greatest gifts. It’s a passport for young learners to experience the world fully and make meaningful discoveries in even the smallest details every day. As we grow up, sometimes that curiosity can feel harder to tap into. For CDC teachers, like Preschool B teacher Ms. Nicole, the inquisitive students in her class continue to broaden her mind and deepen her love of learning.

Learning and Growing Together

For the past five years, Ms. Nicole has helped Toledo children grow through creativity and hands-on discovery. Whether she’s diving into a classroom project or encouraging children to ask big questions, she infuses everything she does with warmth and enthusiasm. These are practices she’s learned through her own schooling and pre-CDC career.

Before joining CDC, Ms. Nicole attended Toledo Christian from preschool through 12th grade, then continued to the University of Toledo for college. After graduation, she worked at Kohl’s and volunteered at her high school’s summer camp, Camp Invention. That early experience working with children helped spark the passion for education she brings into her classroom today.

When asked what she loves most about working at CDC, Ms. Nicole shared, “I love watching a new group of students develop each year, and I love learning new things about our projects right alongside them.”

That mindset beautifully fits the Reggio Emilia curriculum, where teachers and children learn together through curiosity and shared discovery. This love of collaboration and connection also extends to her CDC community.

“My favorite part about CDC is the close-knit families and the support they provide from home to school.”

Finding Balance In the Chaos

Like many of her fellow featured CDC teachers, Ms. Nicole knows that no two days are ever quite the same. She comes to the classroom each day ready to embrace the unbridled (and sometimes messy) joy of student-led discovery.

Her life motto, “Find balance in the chaos,” is a simple but meaningful reminder that even the busiest moments can be filled with growth and connection. That’s true in all parts of her life.

Outside of the classroom, Ms. Nicole enjoys spending time with family and friends. She also enjoys immersing herself in her local community and is a frequent visitor to the Perrysburg Farmers Market.

Diving Into Discovery

One of Ms. Nicole’s favorite recent classroom projects focused on sharks, and it quickly became an unforgettable learning adventure for both students and teachers alike.

As the children explored different types of sharks and learned fascinating new facts, the class worked together to create a life-size papier-mâché bonnethead shark. The project encouraged creativity, teamwork and hands-on learning while allowing the children’s curiosity to guide the experience.

Ms. Nicole shared that she learned many new things about sharks right alongside her students, which is one of the most rewarding parts of teaching in a child-led classroom environment.

Thank You, Ms. Nicole!

It’s truly a blessing to know that educators like Ms. Nicole are helping guide young students during such formative ages. We are so grateful for the creativity, care and enthusiasm this CDC teacher brings to Pre-K B each day. 

Discover the CDC Difference

From infant care and Pre-K programs to our kindergarten Discovery School, Children’s Discovery Center is ready to help your child succeed. Contact us today to speak with our certified educators and schedule a visit to one of our five Toledo-area childcare centers.