 |
| | If you have any feedback on how we can make our new website better please do contact us and we would like to hear from you. | |
|
|
 |
 |
|
| 
 |
|
Jeana Downey M.A.
Child Development and Curriculum Specialist
Welcome all Early Childhood Professionals!
My name is Jeana Downey and I have always enjoyed working with young children, but it wasn’t until my second year of college that I decided that my passion was with toddlers and preschoolers. I was privileged to work at Sonoma State University’s Lab School, a school that whole-heartedly adopts an environmental curriculum. I continued to work there for four years as an Assistant Teacher and Associate Teacher, while I earned my units towards a B.A. in Sociology and Human Development. During the summers I spent my time as a Cabin Counselor and Childcare Director at an overnight camp in Sonoma County. The beauty of the redwoods reinforced what SSU had taught me, all children should be able to explore the breathtaking beauty and serenity that a natural environment provides.
As soon as I graduated with my B.A., I continued in the Masters Program focusing on play-based learning at SSU while working as a Preschool Site Supervisor at an Elementary School in Petaluma. This was a dream come true because I finally had my own classroom and was able to share all I had learned about how to create an environment that would include environmental curriculum! In May 2009, I received my Masters Degree in Education: Curriculum, Teaching and Learning, with an emphasis in Early Childhood Education and Child Psychology. My degree enabled me to qualify for the Program Director Permit from the State of California, allowing me to accept a job as a Preschool Director a few blocks away in Petaluma, CA. My Masters cognate project was to develop a web site based on play-based learning which can be found at www.teachplaybasedlearning.com.
Many of my friends had moved to San Diego, and so had my boyfriend. After spending one year learning the ins and outs of Directing a Preschool, I decided that it was time for me to make the transition to this beautiful area of the state. I learned so much from that school and had an amazing support group of both the parents and many Early Childhood Professionals in the surrounding communities. I was able to get a job in San Diego as a Preschool Consultation Behavioral Specialst but due to state funding, the job was cut after a year. I love the redwoods and we decided to move back to Sonoma County.
Throughout
the years, I found that spending time with young children reduces
stress and reminds adults about how special the small things in life
are (like a butterfly or a new flower in the garden). I knew I had to
find a job working with children as soon as I moved! Currently, I work
with adorable young infants and toddlers who have developmental delays
as an Infant Educator for Sunny Days Early Childhood Developmental
Services.
As soon as I moved back to Sonoma County, I knew that I wanted to share my knowledge and experience with others in the early childhood educational field, so I developed several educational seminars that I conduct on my own as a consultant. Seminars can be given at both home and preschool locations during day and evening hours. Information in all seminars can be presented as a consultation meeting to one or two individuals, as a seminar to a group of up to thirty staff members or as a parent-education workshop for up to one hundred participants. If there are more participants then previously stated, then please contact me and we can work something out. Working together, the early childhood educational staff can enhance childhood curriculum and the workplace in the Sonoma County area and beyond.
Thank you for taking the time to explore this website.
Jeana Downey
Education
May 2008
Master of Arts Degree - Education: Curriculum, Teaching, and Learning
Sonoma State University - Rohnert Park, California
December 2006
Bachelors of Science Degree - Double Major - Sociology and Human Development
Sonoma State University - Rohnert Park, California
Volunteer/Extra Curricular Activities
SDAEYC (San Diego Association of Education for Young Children)
Board Member/ Committee Chair
Creating Nature Based Learning Environments
August 2009 to present
Reggio Rountable Group (San Diego)
Committee Member
August 2009 to present
Work Experience
San Diego Center For Children- Building Bridges
Preschool Consultation Behavioral Specialist - 2008 to 2009
San Diego, CA
Sunny Days Developmental Services, Inc.
Infant Educator -2008 to present
San Diego, CA and Burlingame, CA
National City School District
Preschool - Instructional Aide/ Substitute Teacher - 2009
San Diego, CA
Happy Day Presbyterian Preschool
Preschool Director - 2008-2009
Petaluma. CA
STARS Preschool
Site Supervisor/Master Teacher 2007-2008
Petaluma, CA
Sonoma Country YMCA Preschool
Summer Camp Master Teacher - Summer 200
Santa Rosa, CA
The Children's School
Sonoma State University - Rohnert Park, CA
August 2003 - May 2004 - Associate Teacher
August 2004 - May 2005 - Associate Teacher
August 2005 - May 2007 - Associate Teacher
Westminster Woods Presbyterian Camp
Childcare Director - Summers of 2003 through 2004
Occidental, CA
 |
|
