OUR STAFF
Our staff includes an executive director and an educational director. Each class has an experienced, certified teacher and an assistant teacher. Playhouse teachers are selected not only for their credentials but also for their attitudes and their approach to early childhood education. All of our teachers share our vision of what young children need to thrive. Many of them have been with us for over 10 years, and some have even been Playhouse children themselves.
Rather than talk at children, our teachers listen to them, responding with openness, caring, and reflection. Teachers work hard to create a relaxed and nurturing environment that fosters the individual curiosity and social development of each child.
Laura as a Playhouse child/longtime teacher Jessica as a Playhouse child/current teacher
OUR HISTORY
The early 50’s with Jeanne Ginsberg at Playhouse (left) and Jeanne in 2009 (right)
Our school was founded in 1951 by a group of parents from the West Orange area along with Jeanne Ginsberg, a locally recognized leader in early childhood education. From its inception, Playhouse has fostered a sense of community as a cooperative school and encouraged play-based learning. Jeanne led the school for over 50 years and her beliefs remain as the cornerstone of our curriculum and culture.
To learn more about Playhouse’s history, read Playhouse: Optimistic Stories of Real Hope for Families with Little Children by Monica Taylor. The book illustrates the philosophy and practices of Playhouse as a parent cooperative school using Monica’s own stories of her children and those of founder Jeanne Ginsberg and other past families.
