Ms. Frances
Born and raised in Washington, DC, Ms. Frances Slaughter has been educating children since the mid-1980s. Although she’s worked with kids of all ages, she specializes in the 3-year-old profile. She loves their curiosity and embraces their individuality. She recognizes the stress and anxiety the preschool years bring to both children and parents, and aims to support families during this formative period.
Ms. Frances joined CHCNS as Director and Teacher over 30 years ago. She has been with the cooperative through its several moves and transitions over the years. She is a fixture in the Capitol Hill community and considers all of her students part of her family.
Ms. Frances brings to CHCNS an extensive background in early childhood education, which encompasses infancy through third grade. She has an Associates Degree in Early Childhood Development. She has studied at Benedict College in South Carolina, Federal City College in Washington, DC, and the University of the District of Columbia. In addition, Ms. Frances is a credentialed Child Development Associate for teaching toddlers and preschoolers. She is a member of the National Association for the Education of Young Children and Parent Cooperative Preschools International. Ms. Frances is also board member of St. Coletta of Greater Washington, which serves children and adults with intellectual disabilities and supports their families. Ms. Frances stays current on early childhood education research and practices through her participation in continuing education seminars offered by DC Public Schools throughout the year.
Years of experience have given Ms. Frances an intuitive sense of the needs of each child. Her primary goal as a preschool teacher is to prepare each child for a lifetime of learning by fostering independence and self-confidence. She creates a nurturing environment in her classroom by promoting play and exploration while offering the appropriate structure and boundaries that all young children need. Her classroom encourages young students to guide their own learning. Under her dedicated leadership, CHCNS has become commonly known as just simply "Ms. Frances."
Professional Affiliations:
- The National Association for the Education of Young Children
- DC Early Stages
- DC Office of the State Superintendent of Education
- The Early Childhood Leadership Institute, University of the District of Columbia