Meet Clare Collins, PreK4/VPK Teacher at Good Shepherd Catholic School
Mrs. Collins’ guidance for young learners: “If they think they can, they can!”
Early childhood education is the foundation for your child’s mental, spiritual, and physical well-being, which is why we prioritize having excellent PreK and VPK teachers at our Orlando private schools.
Mrs. Clare Collins, a PreK4/VPK Teacher at Good Shepherd Catholic School in East Orlando, exemplifies teaching excellence by providing an enriching, safe, and supportive environment where young learners can grow and explore. With her recent recognition as Good Shepherd’s Distinguished Catholic Educator of the Year, learn more about her background and how she engages students in the classroom.
From England to Florida: A Continued Passion for Early Education
While she lives in Florida now, Mrs. Collins grew up in the Northwest of England. She attended Catholic school from elementary through high school, which gave her a deeper faith and a strong sense of social justice.
She then went on to study English, Language, and Literature at the University of Manchester, UK. After graduating college, she became drawn to the dynamic, creative, warm atmosphere of early childhood education and earned a post-graduate certificate in the field from the University of Wales Swansea, UK.
Now in her 27th year as an early childhood educator, Mrs. Collins continues to be incredibly passionate about helping children develop their natural curiosity and love for learning.
Inspiring Students Through a Christ-Centered Education
Mrs. Collins loves working in the friendly, faith-filled community at Good Shepherd Catholic School. “It’s a small school with a big heart that is welcoming and wonderfully diverse,” she says.
She keeps students engaged in the classroom by providing hands-on experiences and sharing her love of great children’s literature. One of her favorite stories to read is Watty Piper’s “The Little Engine that Could” and its message of positive self-talk.
“I always read it at the beginning of the year to the children. It helps them feel confident when faced with challenges, ” Mrs. Collins says. “I also found that the mantra of the Little Blue Engine, ‘I think I can, I think I can,’ got me through the challenges of Covid-era teaching.”
She hopes her students take away this message of positive self-talk from her classroom, as well as the knowledge that we are all God’s children and that we should look for God in everyone we meet.
For Mrs. Collins, the most rewarding part of her job has been and always will be the children and seeing their growth. “I enjoy their perspective on activities and experiences,” she says. “PreK classrooms are full of potential, joy, and hope.”
Getting to Know Mrs. Collins
Outside the classroom, here are a few fun facts about Mrs. Collins:
She loves spending time with her family and going to the beach with her friends. She has recently taken up a clay class!
She has a dog called Bonnie, a feisty but loyal rescue Chiweenie/pitbull mix.
She loves watching “The Great British Bake Off.”
She enjoys traveling to cities like New York or European cities for the energy and cultural experiences. She hopes to visit Iceland sometime soon.
A favorite biblical story of hers is the Prodigal Son and its theme of forgiveness. “It calls us to ask for forgiveness and to be a forgiver,” she says.
Her favorite Bible verse is Philippians 4:6-7. “Do not be anxious about anything but in every situation, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Thank you, Mrs. Collins, for the passion, joy, and expertise you bring to students at Good Shepherd Catholic School!
Faces of Catholic Education is an ongoing series in which we spotlight faculty and staff at Orlando Catholic Schools and celebrate the love they have in their hearts for seeing children grow through Catholic school education.