A new after-school child care program offered by the Methow Valley School District has proven very popular, growing from six to 24 students in just three weeks. The five-day-a-week program provides child care on a sliding scale for elementary school students.
Because of the high interest, the school district has hired three supervisors — Bo Thrasher, Elise Knight and Claire LeDuc — for the program. The three will work together as a team, according to Methow Valley Superintendent Tom Venable.
Thrasher is an educator with experience in a variety of settings in the Methow Valley, Washington state and Vermont, including at the Methow Valley Community School. She is also certified in the Waldorf School model, which emphasizes exploration aligned with stages of child development. Thrasher has taught summer courses at the Northwest Outward Bound School in Mazama. She has a master’s degree in education.
In addition to her teaching experience, Thrasher has helped coach the Methow Valley Killer Whales swim team for five years. She looks forward to doing outdoor activities with the group.
Knight has been a paraeducator at Methow Valley Elementary School for the past five years. She also teaches toddlers at Little Star Montessori School and has a background in farming. Knight looks forward to being a weekly presence in the lives of children in the after-school program, helping them with games, reading, and indoor and outdoor activities.
Claire LeDuc is a Liberty Bell High School graduate and a recent graduate from Montana State University. She has been working with children for the past seven years. LeDuc looks forward to working with the other after-school instructors to create a safe, fun and exciting learning environment. She will focus on outdoor education, team-building and creativity.
Students can register for the after-school program on a monthly basis. Bus transportation is available to Winthrop and Twisp at 5 p.m. for participants.
For more information or to register, call the Methow Valley Elementary School at 996-2186.
