Coastal Kids Preschool’s inception began with a group of Early Childhood educators, specialists, and parents who believed that a quality preschool education should be available and accessible to every Lincoln County child. The school serves two and a half to five year old children through a language-based, developmentally appropriate curriculum in an inclusive setting. The common belief is that every preschool child within the Lincoln County communities should have the opportunity to reach her or his full potential for a successful grade school experience. Family participation is a critical component to this success. Approximately one-third of the 28 licensed slots are allocated for children with specials needs.
Coastal Kids Preschool is operated by Lincoln County Children’s Services, a private 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, created to provide appropriate educational opportunities for Lincoln County preschool children. A volunteer board of directors, consisting of community members and parents, oversees the school’s operation.
· To provide a program which fosters the social, emotional, intellectual, and physical development of preschool children
· To provide activities which promote confidence and a healthy self-concept
· To provide a language-intensive program for all children, including those with communication delays
· To offer a setting for children with social and behavioral needs, which enable them to learn to express themselves appropriately in a group
· To foster the emergent skills necessary for success in learning
· To create a partnership with the preschool, parents and public school staff for the benefit of the children
· To offer opportunities for parents and teachers to communicate and participate as a team in teaching their young children
Education Director:
Priscilla Congdon is the Education Director. Priscilla has a M.Ed. in Early Childhood Education and is certified by the State of Maine as a teacher of special needs birth through 5 . Priscilla also coordinates the developmental therapy program for all the special needs children. Priscilla has over 30 years of experience in early childhood education, special education, and school administration. She has been at the school’s helm since its inception and continues to be the guiding force.
Contact Priscilla at (207) 563-5335 or via email at Priscilla@coastalkidsme.com
Teachers:
Jane Gilbert's Classroom
Jane Gilbert teaches the 4 to 5 year old group, known as the Blue Dolphins. Jane has a B.S. in Education and Special Education. She has over seven years of experience as a teacher and developmental therapist and has been at Coastal Kids since 2005. Both of Jane’s daughters attended CKP.
Amy Mitchell's classroom
Amy Mitchell has a BS in Psychology and is a certified teacher of Special Needs birth through 5 years. Amy is teacher of the 4-5 year old Gray Dolphins . Amy has been with CKP since November 2004.
Jenn Caron's classroom
Jennifer Caron is the teacher for the 2 – 3 year old group, appropriately named the Minnows. Jenn has a B.S. in Education and Special Education with over seven years of experience as a teacher and developmental therapist. Her career at Coastal Kids began in January 2004.
Ashley Morneault is the newest teacher at CKP . A recent graduate of the University of Maine with a degree in Elementary Education, Ashley teaches the 3-4 year old group, the Starfish.
Ashley Morneault's classroom
Teacher’s Aides and One-to-One Aides
Coastal Kids Preschool employs teacher assistants for each class and one-to-one aides (1-1) to assist those students requiring extra attention. This permits the school to have a better than 1:7 ratio in the classroom. Each aide receives ongoing professional training. Some staff members are working on their Child Development Associate Certificate (CDA), while others are pursuing coursework in Early Childhood Development. Coastal Kids is fortunate to enjoy a high retention rate among its loyal staff.
The preschool classes at CKP are divided by age into the Blue or Gray Dolphins, age 4 to 5 years old, the Starfish age 3 to 4 and the youngest group known as Minnows, age 2 to 3 .
Laurie Alden is one of our senior staff members, having been at Coastal Kids since April of 2001. An aide in Gray Dolphins, Laurie is an Ed Tech I, and is working on her CDA (Child Development Associate) certificate through Maine Roads to Quality.
Vicki Bryant , an Ed Tech III, was hired in January of 2011. She is a 1 to 1 aide in the Minnow class. Vicki has a BS degree in Education and Special Education .
Natalie Castonia, hired in January 2012, is a teacher assistant in the new Starfish class. Natalie is an Ed Tech III. Natalie’s daughter , Emma, is in the Gray Dolphin class.
Nina Kass, an Ed Tech III, has a B.S. degree in Social Work. Nina worked at CKP from 1998 to 2006, and now has returned to CKP as an assistant teacher in the Blue Dolphins.
Patricia Kramley, a one to one aide in Starfish, is an Ed Tech I. She has been at Coastal Kids since November of 2004. Patty is working on her CDA certificate through Maine Roads to Quality.
Christina Nelson, an Ed Tech III, has a BS degree in Social Work. Chris worked for CKP for 2 years, then moved to Oregon with her family for 3 years. Chris is now back in Maine, and is a one-to -one aide and teacher assistant in the Minnow class. All 3 of Chris’ children attended CKP.
1997 Coastal Kids Program at Bremen School
The program at Coastal Kids began in 1995, as a collaborative effort, due to concern over the lack of preschool placements for children with special needs. In addition, the group felt strongly that a preschool education should be accessible to every Lincoln County child, regardless of income. Research at that time showed that nearly half of the children entering kindergarten in Union 74 (now AOS93) came without the benefit of a preschool experience. Sponsors for the program included School Union 74, Child Development Services (CDS), Healthy Kids! and the Center for Community Inclusion at the University of Maine.
For its first three years, Coastal Kids was funded through a combination of grants and monies from Union 74 and CDS. The eventual goal was for Union 74 to incorporate Coastal Kids Preschool as part of its public school program. Unfortunately, due to budget cuts, this never came to fruition.
Since 1998, Coastal Kids has been on its own operationally and has survived three moves. Finally, in 2006 with financial help from Genesis Community Loan Fund and Rural Development, Coastal Kids Preschool was able to purchase the present building at 12 Jackie’s Trail in Damariscotta.
12 Jackie's Trail, Damariscotta
After the purchase Coastal Kids had to deal with the extensive renovations and changes to the house needed to meet the stringent requirements of the state fire marshal, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and the State Department of Education. The renovations cut into teaching space, and coupled with expanding enrollment resulted in a need for expansion of the facility.
The Board of Directors committed to the expansion project in 2010 and successfully completed a Capital Campaign which raised over $150,000.00 from generous businesses, individuals and foundations .
Late Spring 2011, Coastal Kids Preschool received official approval from USDA / Rural Development for the proposed expansion. Construction began in June, and on January 2, 2012 with the help of staff, the Board of Directors, parents and members of the community , CKP moved into its new expansion.
In September 2012, Coastal Kids will proudly began its 18th year of operation. An estimated 300 preschoolers from Lincoln County and surrounding towns have come through its doors!
Our New Facility!
Board of Directors
At the time of the purchase of the Jackie’s Trail building, the Board of Directors was expanded to include community members, as well as parents. The community members represent a wide range of experience, background and ages. The Board meets six times a year and oversees the school’s operations, in addition to actively fund-raising for the school. The Advisory Board is composed former board members who wished to remain involved with the school when their board terms expired. If you are interested in finding out more about being a Director, please contact Priscilla Congdon or the Board President.
Karen Filler, President
Kathleen Flory, Vice President
Katie Rethman, Treasurer
Jennifer Meade, Secretary
Cathy Chase
Alison Kelsey-Bryant
Josh Jacobs
Joanne Krawic
Martha Lynch
Kelly Moss
Rachel Zoller
Advisory Board
Lydia Atkins
Emily Chase
Matthew Croy
Deryl Holt
Robert Petti
Seth Stewart
