Winston Prouty Podcast

In this episode of the Winston Prouty Podcast, host Willie Gussin speaks with Indoor Outdoor Program Coordinator Alfred Hughes Jr.. Alfred tells us about how he facilitates each child’s exposure to the outdoors and relationship with nature. “Sometimes this work probably seems like it’s a lot, but it’s rewarding! And being at Prouty . . . it’s a recognizable place and does really important work, and that’s what I want. That’s what I get up every day to do: to go to work at Prouty and with children! ” Learn more about the Winston Prouty Center for Child and Family Development on our website – www.winstonprouty.org For questions or feedback about the podcast – willie@winstonprouty.org

In this episode of the Winston Prouty Podcast, host Willie Gussin speaks with Behavior Consultation and Support Specialist Brandy Levesque. Brandy tells us about how she ended up at Winston Prouty and the importance of self-care for early educators. “Going to visit a family and hearing a parent tell a story about being able to be out in the community, grocery shopping or something, with their child, and their child was able to have good self-control or regulation, when I hear a story like that, even one time a week, feels like success. Changes like this, with kids with challenging behavior, take a long time and a lot of practice on both the kid's part and adult's part." Learn more about the Winston Prouty Center for Child and Family Development on our website – www.winstonprouty.org For questions or feedback about the podcast – willie@winstonprouty.org

In this episode of the Winston Prouty Podcast, host Willie Gussin speaks with Executive Assistant Sarah DiNicola about the many facets of her role and her experience working at Winston Prouty after getting to know the organization as a parent in the Early Learning Center. “I’ve seen the effect of having a good start. [My daughters] are successful in school and have good communication skills, so I really hold this as a space that families should feel good about, so I try to just continue that high quality environment by being at my best at my work and supporting all the other people working hard here.” Learn more about the Winston Prouty Center for Child and Family Development on our website – www.winstonprouty.org For questions or feedback about the podcast – willie@winstonprouty.org

In this episode of the Winston Prouty Podcast, host Willie Gussin speaks with CIS Coordinator Alison Wheeler about how she entered the human services field and how she finds compassion to continue. "I have four young kids and I think it connects me with this work in a different kind of way: just knowing the struggles that a parent goes through and knowing the day-to-day challenges that you encounter. Then when I see some of the families that we work with in Community Based Services and see the challenges they face on top of those day-to-day parenting challenges, it’s inspiring to me: the resiliency and the persistence that they have to keep going and keep trying and to even let people in their lives. " Learn more about the Winston Prouty Center for Child and Family Development on our website – www.winstonprouty.org For questions or feedback about the podcast – willie@winstonprouty.org

In this episode of the Winston Prouty Podcast, host Willie Gussin speaks with CIS Early Intervention Service Coordinator Joanne Shaw about her introduction to the field and her role supporting families. "That's been my goal all along: to help children [and] families. I think I can be happy retiring knowing that I made a difference for anyone and that I was part of a team [where] we all really cared about each other." Learn more about the Winston Prouty Center for Child and Family Development on our website – www.winstonprouty.org For questions or feedback about the podcast – willie@winstonprouty.org

In this episode of the Winston Prouty Podcast, host Willie Gussin speaks with Lead Teacher Amy Fulton about working with toddlers and setting up her classroom. Amy talks about her role and goals as a teacher. “Even though I’ve been in this field for over 30 years, I still have so much more to learn. I think it’s really important that people never assume they’re done learning or that there’s not something new coming down the path. It keeps us all energized and passionate about this field. I appreciate that I am allowed to not know everything and to learn it, and I look forward to the future. I look forward to every coming year as another year that I’ll learn something new and something fun will happen.” Learn more about the Winston Prouty Center for Child and Family Development on our website – www.winstonprouty.org For questions or feedback about the podcast – willie@winstonprouty.org

In this episode of the Winston Prouty Podcast, host Willie Gussin speaks with Early Childhood Outreach Specialist Sueño LeBlond about driving the Early Learning Express Bookmobile. Sueño discusses the ways that the bookmobile and her role contribute to our community. "Dream big! Anything is possible. Think like a kid. Spend more time with 3-year-olds and really listen to them. They've got a lot to teach us." Learn more about the Winston Prouty Center for Child and Family Development on our website – www.winstonprouty.org For questions or feedback about the podcast – willie@winstonprouty.org

In this episode of the Winston Prouty Podcast, host Willie Gussin speaks with Executive Director Chloe Learey. Chloe talks about the experiences that guided her to lead Winston Prouty, some of the highlights of her tenure, and the significance of celebrating 50 years as a non-profit supporting young children and their families. “The people at Prouty are so committed and believe in the work and believe in each other in a way that eases the hard work all around. I just feel really honored to work with the people that I do, and that we get to make a difference. That’s what I think makes it possible to keep going is that I think for the most part we are rowing in the same direction.” Learn more about the Winston Prouty Center for Child and Family Development on our website – www.winstonprouty.org For questions or feedback about the podcast – willie@winstonprouty.org

In this episode of the Winston Prouty Podcast, host Willie Gussin speaks with Lead Teacher in the Willow Room Kayla Webber. Kayla discusses the ways that she supports the emotional literacy of the mobile infants in her classroom through art, other forms of expression, and honesty about her own emotional processes. “If I'm feeling happy or any sort of emotion, I let them know that's how I'm feeling too, because they're watching my every move, everything I do, and they're absorbing that. [It's] okay to be not happy all the time in the classroom, but you have to kind of let them know.” Learn more about the Winston Prouty Center for Child and Family Development on our website – www.winstonprouty.org For questions or feedback about the podcast – willie@winstonprouty.org

In this episode of the Winston Prouty Podcast, host Willie Gussin interviews Shawn Lund from Winston Prouty’s Early Childhood and Family Mental Health (ECFMH) program. Shawn tells us about partnering with families to support their children through responsive relationships. “Sometimes [parents are] uncomfortable understanding development and just need a little help with understanding what’s normal development and what might be development that is more challenging and might need more support. And when they feel somebody holding that for them, they’re able to just be with their kids and feel laughter and fun and enjoy their kids.” Learn more about the Winston Prouty Center for Child and Family Development on our website – www.winstonprouty.org For questions or feedback about the podcast – willie@winstonprouty.org

In this episode of the Winston Prouty Podcast, host Willie Gussin speaks with Lisa Whitney, Director of Operations, about how she became an integral part of the organization. She tells us about her gratitude for her relationships with children, parents, and colleagues at Winston Prouty. “I would say one thing that surprised me the first time is I never thought I would know the names of 60 children, and sometimes 68 children. And seeing them grow and change and really getting to know them all, and knowing their families . . . I get great joy out of that. I have to say that it certainly gives my heart a little leap when I hear a child yell, “Lisa!” from across the parking lot.” Learn more about the Winston Prouty Center for Child and Family Development on our website – www.winstonprouty.org For questions or feedback about the podcast – willie@winstonprouty.org

In this episode of the Winston Prouty Podcast, host Willie Gussin interviews ELC Enrollment Coordinator Angela Hoag. Angela tells us about her journey from hospice nurse to Winston Prouty and working hard to help families that contact her looking for childcare. “I kind of struggle with that mom scenario of: I work part time, and I don’t feel like I can always give my 100% at work. And because I work part time, when I’m at home, I can’t give my 100% at home. So, I try to remind myself everyday that I do the best that I can where I’m at. I do what I can when I’m at work, and when I get home, I give my all there too.” Learn more about the Winston Prouty Center for Child and Family Development on our website – www.winstonprouty.org For questions or feedback about the podcast – willie@winstonprouty.org

In this episode of the Winston Prouty Podcast, host Willie Gussin speaks with toddler teacher Alyssa Kelly. She explains how she got started in caregiving and eventually found early education. Learn more about the Winston Prouty Center for Child and Family Development on our website – www.winstonprouty.org

Hear from Kristy Rose about her work supporting local early educators through the Child and Adult Food Program and the Child Care Referral Program. She talks to host Willie Gussin about communicating with and building relationships with early educators and the joy of watching children grow.

In this episode of the Winston Prouty Podcast, we hear from Nancy McMahon, one of Winston Prouty’s infant teachers. Nancy tells us about her practice as a teacher and the steps she takes to ensure that she is being respectful to all of the infants in her care.

In the inaugural episode of the Winston Prouty Podcast, we hear from CIS Nurse Sally Pennington about her experience as a new mom and how it guided and focused her goal of supporting new mothers on their transitions into parenthood.