Beryl Meiner
Of the Branford Early Learning, Inc.
Beryl Meiner, a native of Memphis, Tennessee, holds a Bachelor of Arts in literature from the University of Houston. After working as a writer and editor and moving to Connecticut, she went back to college and received a graduate degree in education from Southern Connecticut State University. Ms. Meiner taught pre-kindergarten in East Haven and then was hired as a teacher at Branford Day Care Center, Inc. After eleven months, Beryl was promoted to the position of the center's director. The Branford Early Learning Center, Inc., is a town agency funded by the Department of Social Services. (The center was renamed Branford Early Learning Center, Inc., in 2007, to better reflect its mission.) Its purpose is to educate and provide high quality care for Branford's youngest children from primarily low and moderate-income families so that their parents can work.
In her twenty-four years at the center, Beryl has been instrumental in the many changes at the center that include adding an infant toddler room in 1991. It is now accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children. All of the teaching staff, including Beryl, is currently enrolled in further education in the field. New areas of study for the children include dance, gymnastics, music, Spanish, sign language and yoga. Beryl Meiner instituted the use of the Connecticut Preschool Curriculum Framework in all lessons at the center. Additionally, she handled the documents and procedures, the "formalities", of the creation of "Nature's Garden", the certified schoolyard habitat created for the center by Leslie and Rick Hurlburt.
Beryl has been married for thirty-three years to artist and etcher Richard Carleton. They have a son, Max Meiner Carleton, who attends the School of the Museum of Fine Arts and Tufts University. Beryl has served as a literacy tutor, as vice-president of the Community Roundtable and is a member of the Branford Early Childhood Collaborative. In addition, Ms. Meiner is a member of Shoreline Association for the Education of Young Children (SAEYC), Connecticut Association for the Education of Young Children (CAEYC) and National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). She has been president of the board of directors of Wrightwood School, participated in Branford United Way fundraisers, collected books for Read to Grow, served on preschool panels for the Junior League and served on the board of directors of the Branford Consortium for Kids. Beryl has also taught workshops to teachers in the New Haven Public schools in how to teach creative writing to children. She taught creative writing classes to elementary school children at Worthington Hooker School and at the Creative Arts Workshop, both in New Haven.
Branford is fortunate to have Beryl Meiner dedicated to teaching and improving education for our Branford youngsters. When she does take time for herself, Beryl's relaxation is as an avid reader, a yoga practitioner and a jewelry maker.
In her twenty-four years at the center, Beryl has been instrumental in the many changes at the center that include adding an infant toddler room in 1991. It is now accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children. All of the teaching staff, including Beryl, is currently enrolled in further education in the field. New areas of study for the children include dance, gymnastics, music, Spanish, sign language and yoga. Beryl Meiner instituted the use of the Connecticut Preschool Curriculum Framework in all lessons at the center. Additionally, she handled the documents and procedures, the "formalities", of the creation of "Nature's Garden", the certified schoolyard habitat created for the center by Leslie and Rick Hurlburt.
Beryl has been married for thirty-three years to artist and etcher Richard Carleton. They have a son, Max Meiner Carleton, who attends the School of the Museum of Fine Arts and Tufts University. Beryl has served as a literacy tutor, as vice-president of the Community Roundtable and is a member of the Branford Early Childhood Collaborative. In addition, Ms. Meiner is a member of Shoreline Association for the Education of Young Children (SAEYC), Connecticut Association for the Education of Young Children (CAEYC) and National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). She has been president of the board of directors of Wrightwood School, participated in Branford United Way fundraisers, collected books for Read to Grow, served on preschool panels for the Junior League and served on the board of directors of the Branford Consortium for Kids. Beryl has also taught workshops to teachers in the New Haven Public schools in how to teach creative writing to children. She taught creative writing classes to elementary school children at Worthington Hooker School and at the Creative Arts Workshop, both in New Haven.
Branford is fortunate to have Beryl Meiner dedicated to teaching and improving education for our Branford youngsters. When she does take time for herself, Beryl's relaxation is as an avid reader, a yoga practitioner and a jewelry maker.