Our History
The preschool was created for the love and the enrichment of children in our community. After many years of working in child care and education, I, Camila Gabriel, decided it was time to create an early education school that meets the needs of children in my community.
I worked in the Wallingford school system as a substitute, paraprofessional, and teacher. I completed a yearlong internship in Cook Hill Elementary school as well as student taught in Parker Farms Elementary School. I also worked in Moran Middle School as a one on one paraprofessional with a child of special needs.
Learning about other cultures has always been a great passion of mine so after teaching in the United States, I became curious about what it would be like to teach somewhere else. This curiosity brought me to Japan.
The idea of Knee-High Academy is based on the preschool education models of Japan. I lived in Japan and worked in a Japanese preschool for some years in order to craft this idea. My experience taught me that school education in Japan is all inclusive, meaning that whatever facility the child is in, he/she will receive a well rounded education from that facility and the educators working in that facility. Parents do not have to worry about where they are going to give the child swim lessons or where they are going to bring them to soccer practice because it is all done in the school by the teachers. When the child is ready to exit the program, he/she have skills in various subjects that will prepare them for future educational endeavors.
There have been many situations where parents have been heard complaining that they do not have time to do activities at home because they have to rush their children to a sports game or swimming practice, etc. Our program is designed to take the pressure off the parents by providing the all inclusive education model based on the Japanese teaching style. The extra activities that shape a child’s life are facilitated by Knee-High Academy during the school day.