A note from the founder of The Little Dolphin School....

The date. . . September 1960. I could hardly wait to begin my career as a teacher. Equally excited first graders became my challenge for the next 5 years!

With the arrival of my children, I began teaching part-time as a substitute elementary teacher and then in two preschools. During the summer months I was instrumental in starting up a day camp at a local pool club. Since the swim club was unoccupied after the summer, I convinced the owners to allow me to start a preschool on the premises.

In 1977, the Dolphin School was born. Within three years, a one-room school grew into 3 classrooms! As the school was preparing for its 4th year, the Dolphin Pool Club was sold and condos replaced our beautiful school.

With a following of children and no home to educate them in, my family and I searched the South Queens neighborhood for a building. In September 1980, the Ozone Park Jewish Center had a vacant building that once housed a day school.

With much trepidation and anxiety, I took the plunge. This became the new site for The Little Dolphin School, and I became the Owner/Director!

I joined the Queens Council of Nursery School Directors and remained an active member for years. At the same time I became a site validator for the NAEYC (National Association for the Education of Young Children), attending yearly conferences with staff to study and learn the newest ideas in ECE. In 1999 I was chosen to be a teacher advisor for the Scholastic Early Childhood Book Club evaluating products and making suggestions for teaching materials. With the introduction of Universal Pre-K into the New York City public schools, I was asked to serve as the liaison for the private sector in formulating the program for 4 year olds.

As the school grew, I discovered the need for infant and toddler programs as well. Our school had the first Mommy & Me program for 2 year olds, as well as an infant program which we named Infantacise for 1 year olds with a caregiver.

My greatest challenge, however, came about in 1997 when my son Steve started planning a New England Campus. With Steve's careful planning and my assignment to devise a "wish list" for "the ultimate school", The Little Dolphin School in Westbrook, Maine opened its doors in June of 1999.

The building of this school, followed by our new Scarborough campus, fulfilled a dream for the Brier family, whose mission became to change the world, one child at a time!

Sheila Brier