Haverford has three main divisions: the lower, middle, and upper schools. Sometimes, students overlook the Haverford Center. Nestled within the lower school, this program cares for children below pre-Kindergarten age. Since 2005, Director Ms. Susan Zickler has overseen this lively, vibrant environment full of curious and spirited children.
“When we first started the center, I was a half-day teacher in the infant room and [also] half-day administrative,” Ms. Zickler said.
Ms. Zickler quickly outgrew her teaching position and began specializing in the administrative side of the job. Soon, she handled important government paperwork and helped hire and train licensed professionals, all while bonding with each young child in the center.
Despite this, the job initially seemed somewhat isolating. The demanding nature of childcare meant that she and the rest of the staff rarely interacted with the school’s other teachers and administrators.
Frequent parent visits ameliorated this problem.
“It is really nice that we have children who [have] parents from all different divisions of the school,” Ms. Zickler said. “We might get to know more middle and upper school teachers than a lower school teacher.”
Since opening, the program has taught boys and girls; furthermore, it often serves as the boys’ first step toward a Haverford education.
“Some of the boys who are here in the center apply to and enroll in the pre-K of the Haverford School,” Ms. Zickler said.
Although Ms. Zickler will say her final farewell to our school soon, her days will still be filled.
“I would look for opportunities to volunteer in my community,” Ms. Zickler said, referring to the John Heinz Wildlife Refuge. “There’s a lot of outdoor opportunities there and things that certainly rely on volunteers to have those programs running.”
“[I’ll miss] the day-to-day, small interactions with the children, but also with the teachers here in the center, and also a lot of people at work here on campus.”
Ms. SUSAN ZICKLER
Without the interruption of work—and with much-needed vacation time—she also hopes to garden. However, these plans will not begin until the summer’s end.
“I’ve been on a schedule for the past 25 years of having summers off, so it won’t really feel so much to me,” Ms. Zickler said.
Ms. Zickler’s dedication to helping the children of Haverford’s faculty and staff has been rewarding in its own ways.
“[I’ll miss] the day-to-day, small interactions with the children, but also with the teachers here in the center, and also a lot of people at work here on campus,” Ms. Zickler said. “Everybody’s been really warm, caring, and supportive here.”
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