Ellen Levy Greenberg
Ellen was born in Providence, RI, where her father was a medical staff resident at the Rhode Island Hospital. In 1961, she moved to Branford, where her parents had resided. She is the daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Harold Levy and granddaughter of the late Dr. and Mrs. Nathan Levy and the late Judge and Mrs. Abraham Markle. She has three siblings, Debra Kirschner, Andrew Levy and Betsy Sachs. She is married to Allan Greenberg, who is the athletic director at the Jewish Community Center of Greater New Haven. Ellen and Allan have a daughter, Allison, who is in college. Presently, they reside in Orange, CT.
Coming from a family with many teachers, she became interested in a career in education. Ellen was educated through the Branford School System. Following graduation in 1978, she continued her education at Wheelock College in Boston, MA, a school, which specializes in teaching the primary grades and children with special needs. She graduated in 1982 with a Bachelor of Science degree and dual certification in teaching both special and elementary education grades K-8 with a minor in psychology. Upon graduation from Wheelock, Ellen substituted in the Milford Public School System and was hired as a Chapter 1/Title XI tutor working with students in grades K-8 who had learning disabilities. This led to summer employment, including homebound tutoring
She also was a camp counselor and music specialist at Camp Happiness, a special education camp, where she produced and directed a stage performance with many campers with special needs from ages 3 to 21. This experience stimulated her interest in continuing in this field. In 1985, Ellen was approached by Linda Chipkin, a speech therapist in the Branford School System, regarding a new program that was to open in Branford. This was a time when special education was being mandated for each town. Many hours were spent observing The Stephen August Early Years Center in Cheshire, CT, as well as attending many workshops with Linda, Bruce Grenon, a special education director, and Alice Tippet, pupil service director. Under their supervision, Ellen helped to begin the program that used a unique approach utilizing a transdisciplinary team with the administration of a play based assessment tool. Parents were required to attend the program with their preschool child. The program was designed with special equipment such as ramps, ladders, special lighting and modules, attempting to improve developmental skills through this motor structure. Initially, the program had one classroom with a paraprofessional and four students.
In 1990, Ellen earned her Master’s Degree in Pre-School Special Education from Southern Connecticut State University. She was influenced by her studies there to change the Branford Early Years Program model. For this purpose, she eliminated the open curriculum program and instituted a more structured, disciplined program to better prepare her students to adapt to society. The program that originally was called Early Intervention became the Early Years Program and now is called Linda B. Chipkin Early Years. In addition, Ellen felt it was important to always welcome parents into the classroom to volunteer their time and be actively involved in the program. She prepared parents in how to successfully work with behavioral and physically challenged children.
Those who nominated Ellen speak about her as being creative and dedicated to teaching and helping students overcome or cope with their existing problems. She works with a variety of young children with multiple disabilities and finds a way to reach each child. She does this with enthusiasm, humor, patience and a real sense of caring.
Coming from a family with many teachers, she became interested in a career in education. Ellen was educated through the Branford School System. Following graduation in 1978, she continued her education at Wheelock College in Boston, MA, a school, which specializes in teaching the primary grades and children with special needs. She graduated in 1982 with a Bachelor of Science degree and dual certification in teaching both special and elementary education grades K-8 with a minor in psychology. Upon graduation from Wheelock, Ellen substituted in the Milford Public School System and was hired as a Chapter 1/Title XI tutor working with students in grades K-8 who had learning disabilities. This led to summer employment, including homebound tutoring
She also was a camp counselor and music specialist at Camp Happiness, a special education camp, where she produced and directed a stage performance with many campers with special needs from ages 3 to 21. This experience stimulated her interest in continuing in this field. In 1985, Ellen was approached by Linda Chipkin, a speech therapist in the Branford School System, regarding a new program that was to open in Branford. This was a time when special education was being mandated for each town. Many hours were spent observing The Stephen August Early Years Center in Cheshire, CT, as well as attending many workshops with Linda, Bruce Grenon, a special education director, and Alice Tippet, pupil service director. Under their supervision, Ellen helped to begin the program that used a unique approach utilizing a transdisciplinary team with the administration of a play based assessment tool. Parents were required to attend the program with their preschool child. The program was designed with special equipment such as ramps, ladders, special lighting and modules, attempting to improve developmental skills through this motor structure. Initially, the program had one classroom with a paraprofessional and four students.
In 1990, Ellen earned her Master’s Degree in Pre-School Special Education from Southern Connecticut State University. She was influenced by her studies there to change the Branford Early Years Program model. For this purpose, she eliminated the open curriculum program and instituted a more structured, disciplined program to better prepare her students to adapt to society. The program that originally was called Early Intervention became the Early Years Program and now is called Linda B. Chipkin Early Years. In addition, Ellen felt it was important to always welcome parents into the classroom to volunteer their time and be actively involved in the program. She prepared parents in how to successfully work with behavioral and physically challenged children.
Those who nominated Ellen speak about her as being creative and dedicated to teaching and helping students overcome or cope with their existing problems. She works with a variety of young children with multiple disabilities and finds a way to reach each child. She does this with enthusiasm, humor, patience and a real sense of caring.