Mindy Bostick
Director and Founder
Mindy is a fully-qualified Director and Teacher under the new standards of the NAEYC (National Association for the Education of Young Children), the accrediting body for child care centers. She holds a B.A. in Psychology from DePauw University, an M.B.A. from Keller Graduate School of Business in Chicago and a Deuxième Degreé in French. Mindy is currently completing an M.A. degree in Human Development at Pacific Oaks College.
Mindy began her career in business, helping create 3 small start-ups. Always drawn to children’s welfare and education, she has served on the board of Starlight Foundation Chicago, responsible for its wish-granting program for seriously ill children, taught English in an orphanage in Japan, chaired fundraisers to create art enrichment classes at The Jane Addams Center for inner city youth, provided art classes for children at a homeless shelter, organized monthly parties for hospitalized children and co-founded a car seat program at Chicago’s Cook County Hospital.
Mindy founded A Children’s Garden in March, 2000. “Going back to work was impossible without finding a place I felt comfortable leaving my own children.” Motivated by this need, her passions for children and for education, as well as a deep desire to do meaningful, fulfilling work, Mindy changed careers 15 years ago to become an early childhood educator. “I want to be able to look back at age 85 and say, ‘Yes, I’m satisfied with how I spent my life.’ ”
Miss Mindy loves the special qualities of each age of childhood: cuddling babies and breathing in that top-of-the-head smell that only babies have, the curiosity of toddlers, the burgeoning independence of twos, preschoolers’ great joys, sorrows and ideas, empowering school-age children.
Mindy adds, “A Children’s Garden was once my dream and then it became the shared dream of many. I am honored to work with such caring, talented professionals. Everyone here has unique gifts and a story to tell.”
Miss Kimberly
Assistant Director
Miss Kimberly holds a B.A. degree in Elementary Education from the University of Michigan. As a credentialed teacher, she has taught 1st/2nd and 3rd/4th split classrooms. She has also taught children under 3 years old for 10 years. For the past 8 years, she has served as Assistant Director at A Children’s Garden.
Miss Kimberly is delighted to teach Kindergarten because it presents the opportunity to integrate both areas of her training and expertise: Elementary Education’s focus on academics as well as Early Childhood Education’s support of the whole child, especially the child’s ability to form healthy relationships.
“In teaching”, says Miss Kimberly, “I see one new idea open up a whole new world for a child.” The inspiration to teach came from “my love of children and my wonderful high school teacher, Mr. Kirkpatrick, who taught me the importance of building a personal relationship with every child.” Miss Kimberly also appreciates the opportunity a teacher has to meet and get to know many different people from a multitude of backgrounds.
Miss Kimberly lives with her husband, David and their 3 sons, Donovan, Dalen and Dominic. Kimberly’s favorite hobby is reading. After a busy day at work, Kimberly goes home and plays with her sons, and if she’s lucky, cuddles up for a few minutes with a good book.
Miss Kimberly’s favorite picture book is The Napping House. She says it’s because of the book’s sense of fun and the way it connects multiple generations within a family. We wonder whether it may also have a little something to do with how good a nap may sound to a mom of three young boys!
Miss Jamie
Resource Director
Miss Jamie has been a key leader of A Children's Garden's team for 9 years. After operating her own arts enrichment program and owning a nanny placement service for families and children in the Carmel area, she joined us in October 2001, bringing her extensive knowledge of Child Development to A Children’s Garden. She also started up an educational non-profit in Morgan Hill with a team of educators in 2003. Currently as Resource Director, she coordinates the transition into the classrooms for new children joining the center and those students ready to graduate to the next age group. She also coordinates all center events. Jamie holds a MA in Teaching Pre-K through 12th grade from National University and a BA in Human Development from Pacific Oaks College. She holds a Child Development Program Director permit through the CA Commission on Teacher Credentialing and is a fully qualified teacher.
Jamie is committed to quality early childhood education, dedicated to the well-being of children of all ages, and hopes to be instrumental in change to bring more professional recognition to teachers in the ECE field.
The reason Miss Jamie works with young children is, “I know that I can have a positive effect on the future. And it fascinates me to see the world through the eyes of a child. I look at the silver lining things in life, and take time to compliment and reflect on what I can do better. Setting personal and professional goals is of ongoing importance of my life.” These are some of the philosophies by which Miss Jamie lives her life.
Miss Jamie is the mother of 2 children. Simply put, Miss Jamie says, “They are my world!” What has she learned from her own children? Miss Jamie says, “I have learned the value of patience… patience with myself as well as with the children and patience to really take time to connect and listen.”
When asked about hobbies or what she enjoys doing in her free time she indicates, “I enjoy spending time with friends and the love of my life, Greg. I enjoy listening to music, spending the day in the great outdoors, going to the park, watching the night sky light up with stars. I believe in staying in shape (mentally and physically) and enjoy running. And I absolutely love concerts!”
“My favorite children’s book is The Rainbow Goblins, because it’s a story of imagination coming to life and that good is always triumphant-even if it takes the road less traveled and a little longer to reach.”
