RATIOS

Del Mar Hills Nursery School has one teacher for every ten children plus, not included in that ratio, Child Development trained office personnel.

OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Polly Trump began her career in early childhood education in 1977 at Del Mar Hills Nursery School. During high school, she worked as a teacher’s aide at the school. After obtaining her Bachelor of Arts degree in Child Development with a minor in Child Welfare, she taught at Del Mar Hills Nursery School in 1987 and 1988.

Upon leaving Del Mar Hills Nursery School, Mrs. Trump founded a child care consultation company. She administered child care for the Pro Golfer’s Association (PGA), designed child care environments for corporations, and collaborated with the California State Child Development Department and State Licensing. In 1993, she moved back to San Diego and joined Del Mar Hills Nursery School as Director. In 1997, she purchased the school from Ursula Bloyd-Waddell and now continues as its Director.

Mrs. Trump is also a Validator for the National Academy of Early Childhood Programs.

Mrs. Trump’s goal is to balance each child’s development with creativity, academics, structure and personal freedom within a joyful, loving, stimulating and challenging environment.

OUR STAFF

Many of our full-time teachers hold degrees in Child Development. Teachers without degrees are required to have at least 12 units of early childhood education training and are expected to stay enrolled in college level courses until their degrees are earned. Extra-curricular seminars and additional training is available for teachers to support them while enhancing their teaching and learning the latest methods. Many of our teachers receive additional experience at home as they are parents themselves.

We have an Ececutive Director, as well as an Administrative Director and a Staff Development and Curriculum Director who oversee the curriculum, staff and daily operations of the school. They also circulate throughout the school offering assistance and providing helpful suggestions whenever possible. Our staff is monitored and maintained carefully.

STAFF REQUIREMENTS

Qualifications of the Directors:

* Must be at least 18 years of age.
* Must have knowledge of the requirements for providing the type of care and supervision needed by the children, including the ability to communicate with such children.
* Must have knowledge of and ability to comply with applicable law and regulation.
* Must have the ability to maintain or supervise the maintenance of financial and other records.
* Must have the ability to direct the work of others when applicable.
* Must have the ability to establish the facility’s policies, programs and budget.
* Must have the ability to recruit, employ, train, and evaluate qualified staff, and to terminate employment of staff, if applicable to the facility.
* Must have a high school graduation or GED; completion with passing grades of 15 semester units (or equivalent quarter units) in early childhood education at an accredited or approved university or college; and at least four years teaching in a licensed day care program or comparable child care program.
* Three semester units (or equivalent quarter units) of the 15 units required above shall be in administration or staff relations.
* Twelve semester units (or equivalent quarter units) of the 15 units required above shall include courses which cover the general areas of child growth and development, or human growth and development; child, family and community, or child and family; and program/curriculum.


Qualifications of Preschool Teachers & Pre-Kindergarten Teacher:

* To be a fully qualified teacher, a teacher must have twelve post-secondary units (or equivalent quarter units) in early childhood education or child development, completed at an accredited or approved college or university.
* Must have at least six months of work experience in a licensed day care center or comparable group child care program.
* The educational units specified above must include courses which cover the general areas of child growth and development: child, family and community, or child and family; and program curriculum.
l Experience must be verified as having been performed satisfactorily, at least three hours per day for a minimum of 50 days in a six month period as a paid or volunteer staff member under the supervision of a person who would qualify as a teacher under these regulations.


Qualifications of the Orff Teacher:

* The qualifications for the Orff Teacher are the same as for Preschool Teachers, except, in addition, they must complete Orff Schulwerk specified trainings.


Qualifications of the Kindergarten Teacher:

* Bachelor’s Degree in either Liberal Studies or Child Development, with the appropriate child development requirements of Preschool Teachers.
* Prior Kindergarten teaching experience at an accredited or approved program.