Lisa Howie

Director of Early Childhood

I completed my Masters in Education and received my teacher certification from the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana, after completing my Bachelors in Child Development there. I also began my teaching career at the University in the Child Development Laboratory. Upon graduation, I moved to Indiana and became the Director of a non-profit child care center. I then opened and directed a corporate child care center in Louisville for several years before stepping away to become a mother and begin my work at Virginia Chance School as Director of Preschool Programs.

I have also taught early childhood coursework at Indiana University Southeast and Jefferson Community and Technical College, and have presented at state and regional conferences, helping to train new teacher candidates. I’ve chaired the Kentucky Association for Early Childhood Education annual conference and been a board member of KAECE and First Steps. Altogether, I have been in the field of early childhood education for 28 years and continue to have a passion for this magical time in a child’s life. It is with pure joy that I work alongside our teaching faculty and families as we watch children grow and learn in these early years.

I chose Virginia Chance School, and it’s Progressive approach to education for my own three children based on our philosophy of “whole child development” and the foundational belief in treating children with dignity and respect. I know that they not only received an excellent academic education, but they learned the art of building a community, engaged in problem-solving and risk-taking, and grew in their self-confidence.

Outside of my work at school, I continue to seek new learning opportunities as a “maker.” I enjoy fiber arts and spend time knitting, dyeing wool, and sewing. I collect children’s literature and have a deep appreciation of the authors and illustrators who produce this artform. I also enjoy other genres of literature and enjoy audiobooks for time spent in the car. My family of five enjoy time together, making new memories and revisiting familiar traditions.