Ashley Jordan has been a teacher at The New England Center for Children’s Day Care Center for 15 years. She began her career at NECC working in the infant room before moving to work with the toddlers, where her colleagues say she is “a staple to the program.” A colleague nominated Jordan because she is “wonderful with parents, loved by co-workers, and extremely reliable.”
What is your favorite part of your job?
My favorite part of my job is working with the kids and watching them learn and grow. I love when I teach them something simple, for instance, the color red, and they remember it. Then I watch them use it appropriately to describe something. It’s so fun to watch them hit milestones and grasp different concepts at such a young age.
Why did you choose a career in helping children?
When I was in high school, I took two child development classes. I got to help in a kindergarten and a fourth-grade class. I loved the kids. Everything from helping them tie their shoes, washing their hands, sounding out words, to watching them develop all different skills – it was really rewarding! From then on, I knew that I wanted to work with kids.
Why NECC?
I knew I wanted to work in a daycare setting. I love the little ones and I knew I wanted to start with the younger age group first. I interviewed at other day cares, but they just didn’t seem like a good fit for me. Then I read about NECC in the newspaper. I went in for an interview and got a tour of the school. It was awesome! Although I wasn’t going to work with the students with autism, I was so impressed by their philosophy. There are many opportunities to advance your career here if you choose to, which I thought was a great perk, and they care about the staff as much as they do their students.
What is something about you that your colleagues might be surprised to learn?
I am on a bowling league on Fridays in Rhode Island, and I’ve been doing it for three years. I love to cook, go to concerts, and spend lots of quality time with my son Connor!
Who is someone you look up to?
I look up to my sister, Sara. She is an intelligent, funny, sweet, and giving person, someone who always puts herself before anyone else. She is a great mom, a caring pediatric nurse, and I hope one day I can become just as strong as she is.
What is your life philosophy or a motto you like to live by?
The motto that I live by is “go with the flow.” There will be ups and downs throughout your life, so I always look at the glass as being half full!