Amanda To, MEd, a teacher at The New England Center for Children’s (NECC) Downey Center for Child Development, has worked at NECC for 15 years. She was nominated for Staff Spotlight by colleagues because she is “a phenomenal teacher and is always trying to learn something new to improve,” and “an amazing human” who takes “extra time every day to make sure every kid is shown patience and understanding. She goes out of her way for every single child she works with and is an incredible example of hard work and dedication in helping these children thrive. She truly is such a wonderful teacher, and any parent who’s had a child in her classroom can testify to that.”
How long have you worked for NECC?
I have worked at NECC for 15 years. I started at NECC after high school, working in the nursing department with my mom, Linda Havener. I then did an internship during my undergrad on the IIP and learned about the Downey Center for Child Development when applying to grad school. I worked at the Downey Center while getting my master’s degree in mental health counseling and school adjustment counseling through Bridgewater State University. I’ve worked at the day care ever since, which is the last 13 years.
What is your favorite part of your job?
My favorite part of my job is seeing the children grow and learn from our teaching. Every day they are learning something new, and it’s amazing to work with them to solve problems, meet milestones, and gain skills to interact with their peers and teachers.
Why did you choose a career in working with children?
I volunteered at a summer camp in high school for children ages 3-5 and loved it so much, I knew I would always want to work with young children.
Why NECC?
I grew up knowing about NECC since my mom worked here at the time. There’s always been a sense of community, and the work that everyone does here is so meaningful. When in grad school, I saw first-hand how NECC’s day care is unlike any other in creating a strong foundation for early learning and education. I knew this was a place where I could use what I learned and apply it daily, while loving the work I do.
What is something about you that your colleagues might be surprised to learn?
Something they might be surprised to learn is that I love step aerobics.
Who is someone you look up to?
I look up to my grandparents. They had a lot of resilience in their upbringing and created a strong family and lasting connections to their community.
What is your life philosophy or a motto you like to live by?
I like to live by the motto, “Feel the fear and do it anyway.”