Shayla Purswell

I began my experience as a preschool teacher during my first year attending college at Olivet Nazarene University in Chicago, IL. I was studying Social Work as a full-time student while gaining classroom experience part-time. After three years of observing and working with ages 6 weeks to 5 years of age, I realized preschool was becoming a favorite of mine!

Shortly after, I became happily married and moved to live closer to my husband's family in Louisville, Kentucky, where I revisited the purpose for which I felt a true passion for becoming a teacher.

When I discovered Virginia Chance School after moving to the area, I quickly fell in love with the school's unique approach to its outdoor-based curriculum. The progressive education model at Chance School emphasizes experiential learning, social-emotional development, and student-led inquiry. This approach aligns perfectly with my belief that children learn best through hands-on experiences and active engagement with their environment. The nature-based learning component is particularly impactful, as it allows children to explore and interact with the natural world, fostering a deep connection to their surroundings and promoting environmental stewardship. Chance School creates a space that supports the whole child. Here, students are immersed in first-hand experiences and problem-solving and are equipped with critical thinking skills that they will use throughout their lives!

I'm thankful that I have the privilege of working here with our preschoolers. Coming to Chance has not only impacted how I teach, but it has also impacted me outside of campus. The things I learn through being an educator here have followed me into my own home. I love being able to take what I've learned and apply it to raising my own 2-year-old son with my husband, Sam. In my free time, I enjoy learning new recipes, hiking, reading, and cleaning!