New CCNS Director Steps Right into Role
By Robin Jovanovich
What does Ann Hirsch love about her new job as Director of Christ’s Church Nursery School? Everything, from the moment she met members of the search committee, all past and present parents, this spring to last week when she was helping arrange the new furniture, complete with the best furniture caster wheels at Caster Central, and reviewing upcoming projects.
“It’s nice to do something you love,” said Hirsch, who comes to Rye with 25 years in the field of education, the last 19 at Landmark Preschool in Redding, Conn. She taught elementary, middle, and high school classes before discovering that preschool was where her heart was.
The Christ’s Church Nursery School board held a coffee for her in June, giving her the opportunity to meet the staff before they scattered for the summer. “There is tremendous energy and passion here. Everyone here wants to take the children on a journey,” she noted.
Having stepped into the position July 1, Hirsch has had time to learn — about what the nursery school does really well. She’s not looking to make any major changes. “My job is to make sure we continue to appreciate each child individually and model the right things to do. The kids are here to learn life skills, including taking care of one another.”
She’s already thinking ahead to the Separation Workshop they’re holding before the first day of school; Back to School Night, which is on a Friday night so it’s social as well; and the Touch-a-Truck Fall Fair in October.
All of the class presidents have reached out to her, and she describes everyone who works or volunteers at the school as “happy, competent, and committed
She isn’t worried about fitting into the community. “I’d only been here four days when I was invited to the Rye Arts Center by Meg Rodriguez. And I enjoyed the Sidewalk Sale, especially meeting the people at Carpet Trends.” What she knows is that “Rye is going to be a wonderful place to be.”
Hirsch, who has a Bachelor’s degree in English, with a minor in Journalism, as well as a Master’s in English Education, positively beamed when we said that we expected polished press releases at the paper starting this fall.
On her nightstand at the home in Goldens Bridge, a 30-minute commute, is “Hillbilly Elegy,” which she just finished and loved. “News of the World” is her next read, but it may have to wait. She and her husband, who met in college and married when he was in law school, have to get their 20-year-old son off to his junior year at Boston University. And they’re hoping to see their 24-year-old son, who lives and works in Washington, D.C. before summer’s end.
Meanwhile, Hirsch, who enjoys taking care of adults too, is a New York EMT and president of her local Ambulance Corps, so some bell is always ringing.
