Meet The Teachers!
Dawn Irwin, Owner/Director/Licensed Head Teacher (She/Her)
Dawn is a licensed early childhood educator and has been working in the field since 2010. She has an Associate’s Degree in Liberal Studies, as well as a Bachelor’s Degree and teaching license in Early Childhood Education. She began her career as an infant teacher, but fell in love with the Reggio-Emilia approach to learning when she became a preschool teacher. She is passionate about play-based, child led learning and the incredible impact it has on a child’s growth and development. She believes in honoring each individual child and celebrating the uniqueness each person brings to the classroom. She is also a strong advocate of multi-age education and the benefits children of all ages receive when engaging in an environment that naturally provides a multitude of opportunities for students to be both teacher and pupil. Through observation, documentation, and reflection, Dawn uses children’s strengths as a springboard to encourage deep and meaningful learning. Because of the important role of social and emotional development in the early years, Dawn loves fostering opportunities for peer mentorship and building strong relationships between students, teachers, and families. When Dawn isn’t in the classroom or advocating at the State House for Vermont’s youngest citizens, she loves running, hiking, camping, reading, hanging out with friends, watching movies, and spending time with her husband, Dave, two children, Lincoln and Virginia, her dog, Yuki, and her cat, Luna.
Dawn is a licensed early childhood educator and has been working in the field since 2010. She has an Associate’s Degree in Liberal Studies, as well as a Bachelor’s Degree and teaching license in Early Childhood Education. She began her career as an infant teacher, but fell in love with the Reggio-Emilia approach to learning when she became a preschool teacher. She is passionate about play-based, child led learning and the incredible impact it has on a child’s growth and development. She believes in honoring each individual child and celebrating the uniqueness each person brings to the classroom. She is also a strong advocate of multi-age education and the benefits children of all ages receive when engaging in an environment that naturally provides a multitude of opportunities for students to be both teacher and pupil. Through observation, documentation, and reflection, Dawn uses children’s strengths as a springboard to encourage deep and meaningful learning. Because of the important role of social and emotional development in the early years, Dawn loves fostering opportunities for peer mentorship and building strong relationships between students, teachers, and families. When Dawn isn’t in the classroom or advocating at the State House for Vermont’s youngest citizens, she loves running, hiking, camping, reading, hanging out with friends, watching movies, and spending time with her husband, Dave, two children, Lincoln and Virginia, her dog, Yuki, and her cat, Luna.
Haley Bishop Rockwood, Head Teacher/Artist (She/Her)
Haley is excited to be joining Growing With Wonder starting the end of August 2020. She has a Bachelor's Degree of Fine Arts from the School Museum of Fine Arts, Boston and Tufts University. Haley has been a nanny, teacher, and working artist for the past 10 years in Burlington. She is excited to continue her work in the field of child development at Growing With Wonder. Haley’s imaginative style works well with young children as they learn about the world we live in. She has spent the last 8 years working as a Head Teacher in a Reggio-Emilia inspired curriculum at Stepping Stones preschool in Burlington, VT, and teaching at The Davis Studio in South Burlington, VT. When she isn’t working with children or creating art, she spends time searching for inspiration with her family and friends. Recently, Haley has been dedicating her time to growing her business, the Poppyclock Collective, through community projects which will be on display around Burlington.
Haley is excited to be joining Growing With Wonder starting the end of August 2020. She has a Bachelor's Degree of Fine Arts from the School Museum of Fine Arts, Boston and Tufts University. Haley has been a nanny, teacher, and working artist for the past 10 years in Burlington. She is excited to continue her work in the field of child development at Growing With Wonder. Haley’s imaginative style works well with young children as they learn about the world we live in. She has spent the last 8 years working as a Head Teacher in a Reggio-Emilia inspired curriculum at Stepping Stones preschool in Burlington, VT, and teaching at The Davis Studio in South Burlington, VT. When she isn’t working with children or creating art, she spends time searching for inspiration with her family and friends. Recently, Haley has been dedicating her time to growing her business, the Poppyclock Collective, through community projects which will be on display around Burlington.
Dominique Collins, Head Teacher (She/Her)
Dominique is a passionate, reggio-inspired early childhood educator
who is so excited to be a part of the Growing With Wonder team.
Originally from Stamford, Connecticut, she relocated to Vermont in
2011 to attend Champlain College, where she received a Bachelor of
Science in Elementary Education with a dual endorsement in Early
Childhood and Elementary education. During her time at Champlain, she
had seven internships in a variety of educational settings–including a
Montessori school in Ireland–while also doing her work-study at the
Greater Burlington YMCA Early Childhood Program. Since graduation and
before joining GWW, She worked a few years a piece at two 5-star early
childhood programs. She has experience as a director of an early
childhood program and has taken a couple of graduate courses through
the University of Colorado Boulder’s Innovative Early Childhood Education program which focuses on deep diving into the Reggio Emilia Approach and its application in the classroom & advocacy work. Dominique has spent many hours advocating for Vermont’s youngest citizens at the state house and has also traveled to D.C. for NAEYC’s policy forum to advocate for children at the national level. She is passionate about professional development and inspiring the next
generation of early educators. She has co-designed and presented multiple professional development sessions for Vermont educators, has been a mentor-teacher for undergraduate student teachers and is a yearly guest speaker in Early Childhood classes at St. Mike’s. In her teaching practice, she is a strong proponent of multi-aged education, responsive learning environments and believes that children and teachers are co-researchers whose learning is best made visible
through teacher observation, documentation and reflection. Dominique lives in Winooski with her husband Jeremy and their two cats Frosty Twinkletoes and Edgar Allen Toes.
Dominique is a passionate, reggio-inspired early childhood educator
who is so excited to be a part of the Growing With Wonder team.
Originally from Stamford, Connecticut, she relocated to Vermont in
2011 to attend Champlain College, where she received a Bachelor of
Science in Elementary Education with a dual endorsement in Early
Childhood and Elementary education. During her time at Champlain, she
had seven internships in a variety of educational settings–including a
Montessori school in Ireland–while also doing her work-study at the
Greater Burlington YMCA Early Childhood Program. Since graduation and
before joining GWW, She worked a few years a piece at two 5-star early
childhood programs. She has experience as a director of an early
childhood program and has taken a couple of graduate courses through
the University of Colorado Boulder’s Innovative Early Childhood Education program which focuses on deep diving into the Reggio Emilia Approach and its application in the classroom & advocacy work. Dominique has spent many hours advocating for Vermont’s youngest citizens at the state house and has also traveled to D.C. for NAEYC’s policy forum to advocate for children at the national level. She is passionate about professional development and inspiring the next
generation of early educators. She has co-designed and presented multiple professional development sessions for Vermont educators, has been a mentor-teacher for undergraduate student teachers and is a yearly guest speaker in Early Childhood classes at St. Mike’s. In her teaching practice, she is a strong proponent of multi-aged education, responsive learning environments and believes that children and teachers are co-researchers whose learning is best made visible
through teacher observation, documentation and reflection. Dominique lives in Winooski with her husband Jeremy and their two cats Frosty Twinkletoes and Edgar Allen Toes.
Daniela Thomas, Head Teacher (She/Her)
Daniela has a strong interest and passion in taking care of children and animals. She is originally from Connecticut, where she tutored children from ages three through seventeen in math and reading for seven years. She then went on to nanny for two years before finally moving to Vermont in 2019 where she attended the University of Vermont. She has an associates degree in General Studies and is currently working on her bachelors for Animal Science Pre-Vet. She started her Growing With Wonder journey in August 2022 and since then has gained a deep affection for Reggio-Emilia style learning. She loves to help guide children through their early childhood education journey while heartening the children’s experience with the enjoyment of play and self advocacy. She now happily resides in Burlington with her fiancé Travis. Back home in Connecticut, Daniela and her animal loving family have a pet pig Theo, two dogs (Alfie and Remington), four cats (Grandfather - a stray cat she rescued, Aspen, Mila, & Luka), and chickens. Outside of early childhood education, Daniela has a deep passion for animal care and advocacy. Her goals are to establish and/or be involved with animal rehabilitation centers and sanctuaries that also include early childhood development and education.
Daniela has a strong interest and passion in taking care of children and animals. She is originally from Connecticut, where she tutored children from ages three through seventeen in math and reading for seven years. She then went on to nanny for two years before finally moving to Vermont in 2019 where she attended the University of Vermont. She has an associates degree in General Studies and is currently working on her bachelors for Animal Science Pre-Vet. She started her Growing With Wonder journey in August 2022 and since then has gained a deep affection for Reggio-Emilia style learning. She loves to help guide children through their early childhood education journey while heartening the children’s experience with the enjoyment of play and self advocacy. She now happily resides in Burlington with her fiancé Travis. Back home in Connecticut, Daniela and her animal loving family have a pet pig Theo, two dogs (Alfie and Remington), four cats (Grandfather - a stray cat she rescued, Aspen, Mila, & Luka), and chickens. Outside of early childhood education, Daniela has a deep passion for animal care and advocacy. Her goals are to establish and/or be involved with animal rehabilitation centers and sanctuaries that also include early childhood development and education.
