Graduate Profile for Janet Van Allen
Janet Van Allen
Early Childhood Education
- Lindsay Montessori Pre-school
- Child Care Worker
- Graduated: 2006
Learning to Change the World One Child at a Time
Pursuing an Accounting degree at the University of Ottawa, Janet Van Allen soon realized that a career in the world of business was not for her.
I"'ve always enjoyed working with children," she says. Janet opted to check out Fleming College's Early Childhood Education program at the Frost Campus and after meeting with Program Coordinator Mary Lou Lummiss and touring the campus, Janet decided the program and location would be a good fit.
In a small class of about 20 students, Janet was able to complete placements with three very different child care organizations - Kawartha Child Care Centre, Five Counties Children's Centre and her current place of employment the Lindsay Montessori Pre-school.
"I really enjoyed the ECE program and the staff and faculty at Fleming were wonderful," she says. "You really get out of the program what you are willing to put into it. I knew what I wanted to do and I got back what I put into it."
Right now Janet is enjoying the rewards of her career.
"It's wonderful celebrating all the successes of the children," she says. "You can have a child that can't yet hold a pencil to write but you can still teach the child hands-on math skills such as counting or addition and subtraction exercises."
Part of Janet's decision to settle in Lindsay after graduation comes from the network of child care workers in the community, she says.
"There's a whole network of child care workers in the City of Kawartha Lakes who are really passionate about their work and their network is really tight. They are inspirational and amazing people and they are eager to teach and share their knowledge. It really opens your horizons and prepares you for work."