Early Learning

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Meet Mrs. Proctor, our Director of Early Learning

Michele Proctor began teaching Preschool at Holy Comforter in 2005. After a few years, she moved into the Preschool Director position while still teaching PK4. In 2018, she transitioned from the Preschool Director position to the Director of Early Learning where she oversees the HCES Preschool and Kindergarten programs while continuing to be in the classroom. Michele earned a B.S. in Elementary Education and a M.S. in Early Childhood Education from Florida State University and has been teaching and working with young children since 1992. As an administrator and a classroom teacher, Michele enjoys researching best practices and continuously growing and developing our early childhood and kindergarten programs to best meet the needs of our students and families. “Education in the early years is such an important component of a child’s development. Having the opportunity to provide young children with a warm and nurturing environment in which they have the ability to learn and grow under the guidance of experienced, loving teachers makes my heart full.”

Michele is an alum, attending Holy Comforter kindergarten through 6th grade as well as the parent of two daughters who also attended Holy Comforter from preschool through eighth grade. “Holy Comforter is like a second home to me. I have such fond childhood memories as a student of HCES and could not have been happier with the education and care that both of my daughter’s received throughout their years at HCES.” When she is not spending time working with young children and families, Michele enjoys spending time at the beach, exercising, cooking, gardening and reading.

Our Kindergarten and Preschool programs focus on educating the whole child in a warm and loving environment.

We promote growth in all areas of development – cognitive, social, emotional and physical - through child-centered classrooms and active learning. The preschool and kindergarten classrooms are inviting and engaging, encouraging children to explore and create in a safe and nurturing environment. Classrooms are filled with hands-on, thematic activities that encourage the children to explore and manipulate materials in order the make the experiences meaningful to them.

Teacher to student ratios in preschool and kindergarten are optimal providing many opportunities for individualized instruction to meet the differing needs of all learners. Each classroom has a degreed, experienced teacher as well as a qualified, experienced assistant. Special Area classes are offered in music, art, movement, Spanish, STEM & library. As part of our curriculum, we also foster spiritual growth and character development through weekly chapel experiences and guidance lessons.

We do it differently here at HCES. Learning is done through play so by the time students reach the elementary grades, they are equipped not only with the academic tools, but also the social skills they need to be successful.

About Early Learning

Daily language arts activities, such as kid writing, allow students to use basic phonetic principles to communicate ideas through pictures and writing. Students use their knowledge of letter/sound relationships to begin blending sounds into words and eventually gain the ability to read simple sentences. Additionally, students are taught to recognize basic sight words. Daily mathematics instruction supports students as they reach proficiency in beginning math skills and concepts. As the year progresses students are taught how to solve simple equations. Students are also exposed to telling time, counting money, identifying geometric shapes, and problem-solving. Social studies instruction focuses on history, geography, cultures, and civics. Science lessons allow students to investigate various topics through hands-on activities in the classroom and the STEM lab. Active learning is the focus, not homework and testing.