Teacher Bios
Rachel Murphy
Lead Teacher
2’s & 4′s classes
Rachel double-majored in Child & Family Studies and Spanish Language at Portland State University, earning BA degrees Spring 2011. She is currently working towards a Master’s
Degree in Early Intervention & Early Childhood Special Education (EI/ECSE) at PortlandStateUniversity.
Her experience with children includes working at the Children’s Museum, the Children’s Relief
Nursery, the ProvidenceCenter for Medically Fragile Children, MaplewoodElementary School, plus more than 8 years at SWCC as a Summer Camp Director, our Childcare Lead, and also as the Lead Teacher for Sprout’s 2′s preschool classes. Rachel is a natural with infants & toddlers and you see it every day in her classroom.
The newest addition to Rachel’s resume is now Leading the Pre-K classes starting Fall 2012. She is looking forward to teaching the 4′s students and implementing a curriculum quite different from the 2′s; much more complex academics and lots of time outdoors! By the end of the year, our Pre-K students will be well prepped for ‘Big Kid’ school!
Molly Clevenger
Lead Teacher, 3’s Classes
Aide, 2′s Classes
Molly has an AA in Early Childhood Education from PCC and a BS in Child & Family Studies with a concentration in Special Education from PSU. She has over 20 years experience with preschool age children, from aiding to leading to co-owning Jack & Jill preschool in Klamath Falls.
She started in Sprout as an aide in Sprout’s 3′s class 2010-2011 and was excited to become the lead when the opportunity became available. She enjoys teaching and being in the classroom so much that she is also teacher Rachel’s aide! Molly is in the 2’s & 3’s Sprouts M-F mornings.
SWCC is very proud to have Molly as such a big part of the program.
Maddie Benfield
Teacher’s Aide
3’s Morning Class
Maddie Benfield was hired as a Childcare Attendant at SWCC Fall 2011. In the short amount of time she had worked here, Maddie demonstrated that she was a natural with the young ones!
Maddie he graduated with a Journalism degree from U of O (2011). While in school, she gained 3 years of Early Childhood Education experience while working at the Vivian Olum Child Development Center in Eugene. She spent time in the Pre-K classroom predominantly, assisting with classroom management, organization, and other creative activities. Maddie is planning on returning to school for a Masters degree in Early Childhood Education. Since her hire at SWCC she has done a wonderful job working with children & parents in the drop-in childcare program, and we are very happy to now have her as part of the team in Sprout!
Ming Hom
Teacher’s Aide
3’s Afternoon Class
SWCC welcomed Ming to the Sprout Academy Pre-K classroom on November 28th 2011. She was originally hired on with Portland Parks & Recreation for the Summer Playground Program in Summer of 2011. Ming was so fabulous in her role creating art & playing games with young children Parks & Rec kept her on after the seasonal job ended in August.
Ming graduated from WillametteUniversity with a BA in International Studies & a minor in Spanish and has also studied abroad in Spain. In addition to her summer playground experience, she worked with children for 2 years at Bush Elementary in Salem as an America Reads/Counts tutor where she had multiple responsibilities in the classroom aiding the Lead teacher. Ming plans to go back to school in the next couple of years to pursue a Masters degree that will allow her to continue working with children.
David Green
Teacher’s Aide
4’s Classes
David graduated Cum Laude from Portland State University in 2010 with a BA in English and a focus on Education.
SWCC hired David in the Spring of 2008 as a Customer Service Representative. In Fall of 2010, he expressed an interest in joining the drop-in Childcare team. Both of David’s parents are Elementary School teachers, and he has learned that he is also a natural with children! He quickly built friendships and bonded with SWCC Childcare families. He finds working with children exciting, curious, and often times a funny endeavor – one of his favorite things! In addition to working in customer service & childcare at SWCC, he also led Parent’s Night Out activities at SWCC for children age 3-6. David is always friendly, smiling & welcoming to all, with lots of humor to brighten the day!
As a new addition to the Sprout Academy and Aide to Teacher Rachel, David is excited for a year of learning and growing with the Sprout Academy 4’s class! SWCC is pleased to bring him on board.
