Episode description

After completing his BA in Fine Arts from the School of the Art Institute in Chicago, David worked as an Exhibit Designer for the Kohl Children’s Museum. While working there he had an opportunity to meet and work with many educators including the philosopher Loris Malaguzzi from the municipality of Reggio Emilia, Italy, founder of the Reggio Approach. David then worked as an education coordinator and atelierista at Chicago Commons, a social service agency that developed early childhood programs on Chicago’s west and south side and completed his Masters in Child Development through the Erikson Institute. After 8 years, he served as an adjunct professor and education coordinator at Aquinas College then worked in Manhattan to develop the Blue Man Group’s parent-child program into the Blue School nursery and elementary school. Upon finishing his doctorate at the University of Calgary in Canada, he became director in 2015 at First Presbyterian Nursery School in Santa Monica, an historical school that celebrated its 60th anniversary last year.

Host Joanna Port is Director at Crestwood Hills Preschool. She has a Masters in Education from Pepperdine University and a Masters in Social Work from USC.  For the past 25 years she has worked with families and children, as a therapist, an elementary school teacher, and as a parent consultant. Find out more at parenting portal.com