Candace Jaruszewicz is the Director of ECDC. Dr. Jaruszewicz has been at the College since 2001, serving as the program director for the M.Ed. in Early Childhood Education before assuming the director’s position at ECDC in August, 2005. She graduated with a B.S. in Art Education, graduate elementary teacher certification, and a M.Ed. in Early Childhood Education from Edinboro University in Pennsylvania. She earned a Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction at Kent State University in 2000 and was the early childhood teacher education program director for eight years at Gannon University before moving to Charleston. She has also taught in public schools for seven years, directed a campus child development program at Mercyhurst College for three years, and coordinated professional development training for child care providers in Pennsylvania for many years. Her research and publications focus on transformative and emancipatory learning through critical reflective processes. Candace has two grown sons who both live in South Carolina, and she is an avid amateur historian, moviephile, gardener, and antique collector.

 

Mary J. White is the Master Teacher of the five year olds class. After teaching English at the High School level she returned to school and earned her M.Ed. in Early Childhood Education from the College of Charleston. Her professional interests include: curriculum development, project/Reggio Emilia approach, documentation and assessment. She has done collaborative research with Dr. Wallace on the way that children’s mathematical thinking is expressed in their play with sand and water. Mary is an amateur historian with a particular interest in the African contribution to the history and culture of the South Carolina low country.

 

Deanna Ramey Satzger is the Master Teacher for the four-year-old class at NE Miles Early Childhood Development Center. Deanna began her teaching career in New York City in a preschool serving a large number of United Nations employee families. It was there that she first experimented with emergent curriculum and developed a deep interest in extending the classroom into the community. Deanna received her Masters of Arts in Teaching from the College of Charleston and is certified in elementary and early childhood education. While she is not in school, Deanna enjoys going on adventures with her children.

 

Phyllis Gates is the Master Teacher of the 3 year olds class. She received her MAT in Early Childhood Education from the College of Charleston. Phyllis taught kindergarten in Charleston County for two years prior to coming to ECDC. Her professional interests include: pre-school mathematics, literacy education, and studying animal habitats with her students. Phyllis is very active in her church and enjoys spending time with her family, cooking and beading in her spare time.

 

Stephanie T. Johnston is the Master Teacher of the 2 year olds class. She received her BA in Fine Arts and her MAT in Early Childhood Education from the College of Charleston. She is a former Graduate Assistant at ECDC. Her professional interests include: language development, special needs and inclusion. In her spare time she collects pottery shards, bottles, and other historical artifacts. Many of these items are included in her mosaic projects.