Greetings Families,

It is with a heavy heart that I will be leaving the director's post at the EEC to change careers after four years of study! 

Although I will miss the community, children, and staff, I know that you will be in fantastic hands as the new Director will be Miss Kristen Lein, our previous Assistant Director. This team has been the most supportive educators in my overall career as an administrator and I am so fortunate to have worked with so much talent. 

Before I relocate to VA to start a new life, I will be teaching kids yoga for the months of June and July. I hope to see your children there as it is truly beneficial to the mind, body, and soul! 

And now for the most important greeting from your new Director. Please join me in congratulating an amazing individual.

Kindly,

Natalee

Hello EEC Families,

I am absolutely thrilled to be stepping into the Director position at the EEC! Working with children has been a dream of mine from a very young age. While I've had many different jobs over the years, I have always known that my heart belonged in the teaching field. When I started my career as a preschool teacher, I had a hard time finding a school that fit with my budding philosophy. I was taking college courses and learning all these great things, but I wasn't able to practice them in my work settings. That is, until I found Highlands. This school is special because it allowed me to grow with it, and the collaboration and hard work of the staff are what make it so great. The staff are incredibly supportive of each other, and everyone brings their own unique experience and knowledge. I have learned so much from everyone I've worked with, and I would not be where I am today without their help and support. I never expected to move up in the field this quickly and already be an assistant director, let alone a director, but I am excited for this new opportunity and am proud to be working for such a great organization. My dream for the EEC is to continue to cultivate a supportive and collaborative environment and strengthen our ties with the families and community. It takes a village to raise these little humans and they deserve the best we can give them, so making sure we have a strong partnership with families is important to me. 

For those of you that don’t know me yet, I live in Belmont with my fiancé, Al, and my mom. I am originally from Minnesota and that is where most of my family lives, so I try to get out there as much as I can. My fiancé and I are finally able to have our wedding in September, after having to postpone twice due to the pandemic, so lately that’s where all my spare time has gone to. Usually, you can find me hanging out with family, friends and our adorable dog Louie, going to movies, hiking, or just relaxing with some coffee and a good book. I look forward to this new adventure and am excited to be working with all the families more closely. My door is always open, so stop by anytime!

Warmly,

Kristen