~♥About Me♥~

I'll bet you can guess why my home preschool is called Mrs. M's!  If you were three, four or five, you might have some difficulty saying "Mrs. Menarchek."  Thus, I give my students the option of calling me "Mrs. Menarchek" or "Mrs. M!"  Most of them choose "Mrs. M," of course. 

My name is Sue Menarchek, and I am 50 years old and a recent college graduate, with an Associate's Degree in Early Childhood Education.  I graduated from college 20+ years ago with another Associate's Degree in Medical Transcription.  While raising my two children, now 22 and 20, I worked from home as a Medical Transcriptionist for 20 years.  Once my children were grown, I decided I wanted to learn another profession.  My sister had been a preschool teacher, then a kindergarten teacher, for many years, and I loved hearing her tell stories about her students.  Thus, I thought I'd take a few classes in Early Childhood Education and decide if it was for me.  After my first few classes, I knew this profession is one I love and for which I feel much passion! 

I would be remiss if I did not thank Beth Hoden, my professor for most of my ECE classes and also head of the ECE Department at my college.  She instilled in me a passion for helping children and families be as strong, knowledgeable and successful as possible.  She also taught me that children will only be open to learning if they feel loved, safe, and important.  Thank you, Beth, for being your best so that I can be my best!

I feel as though my life experiences have also given me an education into how children grow and develop.  My own children were my best teachers.  However, I would have loved to have the knowledge I gained from my Early Childhood Ed. classes as I was raising them.  Throughout my children's school experiences, I was a very active volunteer in their schools, often helping out in their classrooms, and then serving for many years as Secretary, then Vice-President, then President of their Parent-Teacher Organizations. 

Prior to graduating recently, I did my Practicum (like student teaching) at a small Christian school near my home, and I was hired the following year as the teacher.  I had a wonderful year, with a class that will always hold a very special place in my heart.  God blessed me with wonderful students and wonderful parents last year, and for that I will always be thankful!  Due to many factors, I decided to work from home once again and begin a preschool out of my home. 

Because of my faith in Jesus, I pray about the decisions I make before I make them.  Therefore, before starting out on this new venture, I have been praying earnestly for guidance as to how to make my home preschool comfortable, inviting and educational.  I will continue praying as I start my first year of my home school, and I hope that those who read this blog will pray for me, my students and my families as well.