Please write a bio for your teacher page on the school website. Feel free to copy and update your old bio if you were here last year. See current teacher pages here. If you would like a custom photo on your page please email it to meghan.jannicola@CO01900838.schoolwires.net. Otherwise, we will use your lifetouch photo.

Welcome to Stetson Preschool! My name is Connie Schafer and I love spending my days with 3, 4 and 5 year olds. I've been an educator for over 30 years. The majority of those years have been in the preschool world but I've also have taught 4th grade and have been a family advocate working with teen moms and their children. I earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education from Valley City State and a Master’s Degree in Early Childhood Special Education from Minot State. Both Universities are located in North Dakota where I was born and raised prior to moving to Colorado in 2007.

My family consists of my wonderful husband, Andrew, who is also an educator at the high school level and three adult sons who are the best of friends; Samuel and Gabriel - who are twins and their older brother Noah. We enjoy hiking, watching football/participating in Fantasy Football, traveling, playing games/cards, watching movies and spending time with family and friends.

Young children learn best through play. Our day consists of structured and unstructured activities along with small and large group learning. In preschool, we focus on academics that are age-appropriate such as colors, shapes, sorting, patterning, counting and number recognition and introducing the letters/phonological sounds of the alphabet. We use “Handwriting Without Tears” as we practice our writing each day. We use Creative Curriculum and take several weeks learning about different “studies” such as “Trees”, “Buildings”, “Clothing”, “Music” just to name a few. We also visit about certain themes throughout the year such as “Pete the Cat”, “Space”, “Winter Animals/Jan Bret”, “Spring Bugs”, etc. Not only do we work on your child’s academic, cognitive, motor and language development, but most importantly their social and emotional development. Preschool also implements a math curriculum called Innovamat and a a phonemic awareness program called Heggerty Phonics.

If you have any questions or would like more information about our preschool program, please feel free to email me at connie.schafer@CO01900838.schoolwires.net or call 719-495-5254.