Reed spends professional development semester in nation’s capital

NEW WILMINGTON, PA – Diana Reed, lecturer of early childhood education at Westminster College, will bring new tools to her classroom after spending the fall 2018 semester volunteering and observing at two educational facilities in Washington, D.C.

Reed volunteered in early childhood classrooms at the Briya Charter School, which educates children and adults. Reed surveyed many of the coordinators for Briya’s Two-Generation Program, in which parents study English, digital literacy and parenting while their children receive a high-quality early education.

“Each and every staff member I spoke with has a deep commitment to the common vision for the school,” said Reed. “They see the positive results of two-generation education and are dedicated to its mission. It is truly inspiring to witness.”

Students and staff at Briya—which is accredited by the Middle States Association Commissions on Elementary and Secondary Schools—come from more than 50 countries from around the world, incorporating its values of multiculturalism and diversity.

In addition to Reed’s work at Briya, she also observed and interviewed the director and staff at American University’s Child Development Center (CDC), that provides educational opportunities and care for children ages 2 ½ to 6 while also offering experience for American Unviersity students pursuing early childhood field work.

Reed said that she at the CDC, she learned new methods of observation and training that she will be able to use in her classroom, benefiting Westminster’s future educators and child and family studies majors.

Reed, who has been with Westminster since 1990, spent 22 years as the head teacher of Westminster College’s Preschool Lab. She earned her undergraduate degree from Grove City College and her master’s from the University of Pittsburgh.

Above photo:  Diana Reed, far right, with Briya staff Gladis Canizales, Early Childhood Coordinator, and PreK teachers Nury Sandoval, Alejandra Cardenas and Shiela Escamilla. Bottom photo: At American University, Reed, far right, poses with Djamilia Akkache, Zakia Charfi, Emery Hartstein and Lawrence McCarthy.

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