Stephanie Heidemann is a force to be reckoned with at Costars Early Childhood Education services department. When the COVID pandemic struck, Stephanie was quick to rise to the occasion and became a lead teacher in a classroom designated as an “essential workers childcare program” for the Cincinnati area. This was not required but she was totally willing to put in the extra work.
As a strong leader in Costar’s Madisonville program, Stephanie works tirelessly to maintain a sense of order in the classroom, recognizing that external order supports children’s internal order. She takes a personalized approach to her weekly lesson plans, prioritizing building trust with every family and child and creating a safe and welcoming learning environment in the classroom.
Stephanie is the lead teacher in the new Therapeutic Childcare program and has been instrumental in developing the processes for the overall programming for the Therapeutic room. Her consistent, calm, and supportive approach with children has proven to be a good fit for the TCC room. This has been evident as the children have made significant strides in social and emotional development, decreased behavior concerns, and increased engagement capacity in school activities.
The parents have also given positive feedback regarding improved relationships between the child and parent, as well as progress with behaviors at home. The latest DECA data shows that each of the children in the Therapeutic room has improved in all three protective factors measuring social and emotional skills.
One of her greatest strengths is that Stephanie partners with parents, taking a strength-based and hopeful approach, keeping communication open to better meet the needs of each family and their child. Her attentiveness to children’s needs, along with her respectful and hopeful approach, has been critical to the success of the program.
Stephanie’s passion for early childhood education and her dedication to the children and families she works with is truly inspiring. Her commitment to creating a safe and nurturing environment where children can thrive is evident in the progress made by the children in the Therapeutic Childcare program. She is a shining example of how one person can make a difference and positively impact the lives of those around her and we are proud to have her on our team.
