Date: Fri 18-Dec-1998

Publication: Bee

Author: JAN

Quick Words:

Florence-Rubenstein

Full Text:

Adventure Center Head Teacher Finally Gets The Title Too

(with photo)

BY JAN HOWARD

Florence Rubinstein has been working for some time as head teacher at the

Children's Adventure Center in Sandy Hook. She just didn't have the official

title.

Now she does. Three months ago, Mrs Rubinstein applied to the state for head

teacher designation. On December 4, she received notification her application

was approved.

"She's long overdue for head teacher," said Mae Schmidle, chairman of the day

care center's board of directors, which voted on December 9 to appoint Mrs

Rubinstein as head teacher and to commend her for her service.

"We want her to know how proud the board is of what she's done for the

children and the center," said Mrs Schmidle, who is one of the founders of the

center.

According to state guidelines on early childhood education, every early

education center is required to have a head teacher, Mrs Rubinstein said.

However, it is up to the center's board of directors to officially make the

appointment because more than one person from the center could have applied

for the position.

In approving an application for a head teacher, the state looks for

qualifications and background in early childhood education, she said.

Mrs Rubinstein holds a two-year degree in early education from Mattatuck

Community College and a four-year degree in education from the University of

Bridgeport.

She has also been with the Adventure Center for 29 years. During her career

there, she has performed the duties of teacher aide, teacher, head teacher and

acting director.

Mrs Rubinstein maintains a membership in the local directors' group of

pre-school education centers and the National Association For the Education of

Young Children.

Prior to Mrs Rubinstein's appointment, the head teacher designation was held

by the executive director of the center.

"I always was doing the job in reality but never had the title," Mrs

Rubinstein said.

Mrs Rubinstein's duties are many, but her primary concern is overseeing

curriculum.

Her other duties include interviews with new parents and staff members, and

coordinating staff meetings with the interim director, Pamela Giberti. In

addition, Mrs Rubinstein orders supplies and equipment, schedules staff, does

parent conferences and teaches.

"I'm a jack of all trades," she said. "It gets kind of hectic at times."

She also attends various meetings in conjunction with the accreditation

process the center is currently seeking from the National Association for the

Education of Young Children.

She is enthusiastic about working with the Northwest Facilitation Project at

Education Connection in Litchfield in acquiring the center's accreditation.

"It's a long process," Mrs Rubinstein said. "We're hoping to have it in place

by November."

A former resident of Newtown, Mrs Rubinstein now lives in Southbury. She has

two children, who grew up in Newtown, and six grandchildren. Her hobbies

include tennis, gardening, and reading.

The Children's Adventure Center, located at 14 Riverside Road, Sandy Hook,

provides day care and early childhood education. It is a non-profit,

tax-exempt organization providing full-time educational services for children

from age three through school age. About 60 children are currently enrolled.

The program started in October of 1969 in an old barn on Church Hill Road,

which has since been torn down. The center moved to its present town-owned

facility in 1979.

"We're lucky to have this kind of space," Mrs Rubinstein said. "The town has

been very supportive over the years."