Ellen Perkins ~ Associate Teacher
Born in Baltimore, Ms. Ellen grew up outdoors, loving nature and sports. Spending summers outdoors enjoying independent time as a child on the coast of Maine was a formative experience, as well as backpacking, exploring the wilderness and rowing crew.
Ms. Ellen graduated from Wheaton College in Massachusetts majoring in Environmental Science and interned at the Environmental Protection Agency one summer working on an experiment to preserve the ocean’s health. After college, she worked in clean technology and energy independence. When asked back then what the single most important thing we needed to do to preserve the environment, her answer was always “education”.
Her heart was leading her elsewhere however. Desiring a big change, Ms. Ellen decided to transition out of an office-based career and she moved to Cambodia where she helped create and teach at a preschool for two years. When she moved back to the U.S., she immediately enrolled at classes in early childhood education at Santa Barbara City College because she knew her passion for children and teaching were her calling.
Ms. Ellen chose to join Cathedral Oaks Preschool because of its outdoor setting, Reggio philosophy and the sense of teamwork among our teachers. She calls our outdoor classroom practices “phenomenal,” and loves the sense of community among all the students and teachers due to time spent outdoors with mixed age groups.
Born in Baltimore, Ms. Ellen grew up outdoors, loving nature and sports. Spending summers outdoors enjoying independent time as a child on the coast of Maine was a formative experience, as well as backpacking, exploring the wilderness and rowing crew.
Ms. Ellen graduated from Wheaton College in Massachusetts majoring in Environmental Science and interned at the Environmental Protection Agency one summer working on an experiment to preserve the ocean’s health. After college, she worked in clean technology and energy independence. When asked back then what the single most important thing we needed to do to preserve the environment, her answer was always “education”.
Her heart was leading her elsewhere however. Desiring a big change, Ms. Ellen decided to transition out of an office-based career and she moved to Cambodia where she helped create and teach at a preschool for two years. When she moved back to the U.S., she immediately enrolled at classes in early childhood education at Santa Barbara City College because she knew her passion for children and teaching were her calling.
Ms. Ellen chose to join Cathedral Oaks Preschool because of its outdoor setting, Reggio philosophy and the sense of teamwork among our teachers. She calls our outdoor classroom practices “phenomenal,” and loves the sense of community among all the students and teachers due to time spent outdoors with mixed age groups.