A Behind the Scenes Look into Staff Development at Barrington Schools

Your child is the most important thing to you, and choosing who to entrust them to is no small decision. You want to know: “Will they be well cared for? Are they engaging in activities that truly support their growth? How will this experience nurture their curiosity, confidence, and love of learning?” 

As parents ourselves, we get it. You want assurance that those responsible for caring for your child are not only kind and patient, but also trained to help your little one learn, play, and grow in the best way possible. That’s why we place so much emphasis on the people leading our classrooms.  

Supporting Our Staff So They Can Support Your Children 

A nurturing, growth-focused environment starts with caregivers and educators who are confident, supported, and equipped with the tools to help every child thrive socially, emotionally, and academically. Through ongoing training and professional development, we ensure every resource at our schools has those tools so they can carry out our mission: provide a warm, encouraging, and educational setting that nurtures a lifelong enthusiasm for learning.  

Additionally, we see ongoing staff education as a direct factor in improving care quality at our schools. Giving our staff continuous opportunities to learn is what keeps them inspired, informed, and ready to bring fresh ideas into the classroom. It’s also what keeps us consistent in how we approach learning, how we communicate with children, and how we create classrooms that are calm, engaging, and full of developmentally appropriate activities. 

We recently brought our teachers and staff together for a powerful professional development event featuring some impressive guest speakers. We kicked off the day with valuable insights from Dr. Jamie Hall (Psychological and Educational Services) and her colleagues, on nurturing social and emotional wellness in our classrooms. From recognizing body cues to tailoring lessons to children’s interests, their session gave our teachers practical tools to support students who are still learning to identify their emotions, and creative strategies for helping all children navigate big feelings in a positive, engaging way.  

This presentation was followed by a dynamic session led by three of our very own Barrington leaders – Brittney Bailey, Ashley Jones, and Krista Smith – on effective classroom and school management systems.  

During this session we revisited one of our core teaching principles: “intentional attention.” Children thrive on the attention they receive, so we've trained our teachers to focus on catching and celebrating positive behaviors – no matter how small. This approach helps reinforce the behaviors we want to see more of. 

Finally, we had the pleasure of hosting experts from Nationwide, who shared valuable strategies around biting behaviors in early childhood and creating functional preschool environments.  

At Barrington School, we’re proud to have teachers who aren’t just experienced, but truly passionate about growing in their practice and learning alongside the children in their care.  

“Bringing our staff together to learn from industry experts, collaborate with one another, and stay up to date on the best practices in early childhood education is crucial - it gives them the tools they need to put their best foot forward every day. That energy shows in the classroom too, creating a space where every child feels seen, valued, and excited to learn.”

- Jessica Hoffman, Founder of Barrington School 

To close out the exciting day, our staff headed back to our schools and put in work to make sure our spaces shine for every student. To tour one of our spaces, contact us today and we will find a time that works best for you and your family!  

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