Teacher and Director, Willa Vennema is in her 30th year of working with young children. She is the parent of Casey 22 years, and Oriana, 7 years, and is married to Carter Waldren who is also a teacher, but of big kids, at the Westbrook Regional Vocational Center.
Before starting the CPH when her son was born, Willa taught in private pre-school programs on both the East and West Coasts. Willa’s local center-based experience includes three years of teaching at the former Westbrook College/UNE Children’s Center (currently The Children’s Center) under the directorship of Early Childhood Advocate Sue Reed.
Willa has a BA in Fine Art and Art History from Oberlin College in Ohio, a BFA from The Cooper Union For The Advancement Of Science And Art in NYC, and has studied Early Childhood Education at the Master’s level at The Bank Street School For Education in NYC.
Willa is also a Fine Artist, and when not teaching at the CPH can be found in her attic studio making paintings using the Encaustic Medium. She brings this love of art, as well as interests in music, the natural world, gardening, photography and crafts to her work with young children.
Before starting the CPH when her son was born, Willa taught in private pre-school programs on both the East and West Coasts. Willa’s local center-based experience includes three years of teaching at the former Westbrook College/UNE Children’s Center (currently The Children’s Center) under the directorship of Early Childhood Advocate Sue Reed.
Willa has a BA in Fine Art and Art History from Oberlin College in Ohio, a BFA from The Cooper Union For The Advancement Of Science And Art in NYC, and has studied Early Childhood Education at the Master’s level at The Bank Street School For Education in NYC.
Willa is also a Fine Artist, and when not teaching at the CPH can be found in her attic studio making paintings using the Encaustic Medium. She brings this love of art, as well as interests in music, the natural world, gardening, photography and crafts to her work with young children.
