Name: Danielle Blatchford
School: Cross and Crown Preschool
What do you teach?: Preschool (3-5 year old’s)
Years active as a teacher: I started my career as a preschool teacher 25 years ago. After several years of teaching, I took some time to stay home with my two children who are now in school and I have since been in the classroom for two years loving every minute of it!

What makes a ‘good day’ at school?

My day is a success when my students come into the classroom with a smile and leave with a smile! My classroom should be a safe and happy place for my students and the happier they are, the more engaged in learning they will be!

What inspired you to become a teacher?

I’ve always enjoyed helping children, even as a young child. My favorite childhood memories are playing school with my siblings and, of course, I was always the teacher. Whenever I was asked, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” My answer was always the same, “I want to be a teacher.”

If you could take the students on a field trip to anywhere in the world, where would you take them?

This would be amazing! I’d take them to Italy. It is on my bucket list and I’d love to learn more about my heritage right along side them. There’s so much history to see and learn about from The Colosseum, to The Leaning Tower of Pisa, to The Vatican, to a gondola ride in the floating city of Venice! Ciao!

What do you like to do outside of school?

I enjoy camping with my family in Wisconsin. We love to explore the outdoors together and snuggle up by a campfire while roasting marshmallow at night.

What kind of student were you?

My mom would say that I was a good student, but a better socializer.