Infant Room

Age - Six weeks (by October 15th)

Our infant program is designed to foster children’s physical, sensory, social, emotional, and intellectual development in a safe, gentle and caring environment.  Our teachers know that babies grow and learn best when they feel secure. Our maximum group size is eight infants with three teachers. Each child is assigned a primary caregiver that attends to the child’s individual needs and works in partnership with parents to ensure that their child is being provided the best possible care while at school. Infants develop trust and security when they know their teachers will be right there to help by supporting learning through growth and joy as well meeting their needs and helping when they are upset. In this environment, infants begin to develop a sense of trust and a secure environment from which to explore.

Infant Room Daily Schedule

 

Janel Headshot

Janel Goodman

Janel Goodman is Assistant Director of the JCA Preschool, and has been with the JCA for over fourteen years. She holds a K-8 teaching certificate from the University of New England and a Master’s degree in Early Childhood Education from the University of Farmington. Janel especially enjoys watching the way four and five year olds grow throughout the year. Warm hugs, spontaneous dance parties, and fantastic colleagues are a few of her favorite parts of the JCA Preschool!

Karen Harwood
Mehgan

Karen Harwood

Karen lives in South Portland with her husband Paul, their youngest son Jason, their two young nieces and their recently adopted dog Amelia. After graduating from Andover College with an associate's degree in medical assisting and working with the elderly for several years, she decided that working with infants and toddlers was her true passion. She has worked in early childhood education for over 20 years and is currently working on her infant/toddler credential. When not working with children she enjoys hiking, biking and swimming. She is very excited to be welcomed in to the JCA family.

Mehgan Warner

Mehgan lives in Scarborough, Maine, and is excited to join the Goldman Family Preschool after interning with us in the infant room Sept-Dec 2022. She graduated in December with her BA from the University of Maine at Farmington.  She has a variety of experience in the field as a caregiver and educator since 2016 working as a DSP with adults with disabilities and as an assistant teacher in early childhood classrooms. She is strongly committed to doing what is best for the children in her care and is passionate about keeping strong connections with the families and children she cares for. Mehgan brings great personality and joy to her work each day.