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School And Director Known As Class Acts

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By COURTNEY CAIRNS PASTOR

The Tampa Tribune

Published: May 28, 2008

LUTZ - When Gail Greene is feeling bogged down with paperwork and administrative headaches, she goes to school.

Popping into classes, she meets a 4-year-old boy who wants to show her how his toy car does wheelies. She soothes hurt feelings when two other children clash. She listens to groups recite Bible verses before snack time, teachers reading stories and students singing together.

Greene's oasis is the Van Dyke Day School, where she has served as director for seven years. The National Association of Child Care Professionals recently named Greene its 2008 child care director of the year. The school also was a runner-up for National Child Care Center.

The school is tucked off of Van Dyke Road on Lakeshore Road, dotted with houses and churches. About 300 children, starting at age 2, attend programs that run part time, full time or after elementary school. Greene deflects praise from herself to the center, but teachers say her leadership sets the tone.

Her door is always open when the 36-member staff has concerns, and teachers feel as if they can talk to her about anything.

"She's just wonderful to work with," said Vicki Zweben, a teacher in the 4-year-old class. "She's very knowledgeable. She's very warm and caring."

The Texas-based child-care professionals organization singled out mission programs Greene started, as well as internal changes she introduced. Greene pushed for better salaries, health and retirement benefits, and training stipends for staff.

Raising the level of professionalism benefits the children, Greene said. Competitive pay and perks can attract and keep quality employees, which is what parents want when they choose child care.

"They need highly qualified, highly educated and well-compensated employees caring for their children," Greene said.

Classrooms offer lessons that emphasize hands-on activities and integrate Christianity into skill and academic development. The main focus, however, is on socializing children, Greene said. Classes work on building self-esteem and showing compassion for other people. That foundation makes it easier for them to adjust to kindergarten and arrive ready to learn.

The mission programs Greene implemented encourage compassion and get the children involved, she said.

Van Dyke hosts a clothing drive in the fall for Hope Children's Home, fills shoeboxes at Christmas for needy children across the world, sponsors children to ride bikes for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in an annual Trike-a-Thon, and holds a "spring fling" fundraiser for Cornerstone Family Ministries.

Greene said it was important to incorporate service activities into the school, but she wanted to keep the number of charity events small to avoid overwhelming parents with requests.

Grady McKinnon, 3, bubbled with excitement about the recent spring fling and Trike-a-Thon. He played all through the spring fling - "and then I washed my hands," he pointed out - and he got to race around on his tricycle as fast as he could.

"Then I went before the other kids," he said.

Greene, who is married and the mother of three adult sons, came to Van Dyke Day School from Hillsborough County schools, where she was a speech/language therapist.

She attended church at Van Dyke United Methodist, which operates the preschool as an outreach program, though it enrolls children from families within and outside of the congregation. When she heard about the director opening, she realized she was ready to leave the public school system.

"I expected to finish my career there," she said, "but I think God had other plans."

Reporter Courtney Cairns Pastor can be reached at (813) 865-1503 or cpastor@tampatrib.com.

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