This is a printer-friendly version of an article from Zip06.com.
06/12/2024 08:30 AMDiane Pappacoda loves her job at Branford Early Learning Center (BELC) so much, even her car seems to know the way.
“I live in North Branford, and when I drive to Big Y before I know it, I’m already at school. My car even knows where to go!” says Diane.
On Friday, June 28, after 38 years with BELC, including the last 10 years as BELC Director, Diane will officially retire. Quite fittingly, the very next day, Saturday, June 29, members of the BELC family past and present, together with the Branford community, are invited to help honor Diane during BELC’s family-friendly 50th-anniversary celebration on the Branford Green from 10 a.m. to noon.
The celebration will be packed with fun family activities, games, music, snacks, presentations and special guests including visitors from Paw Patrol. Diane has been helping with overseeing planning, and would love to see everyone come out to enjoy a celebration that’s focusing on children.
“It’s so meaningful to me that it’s all about the kids,” says Diane.
More information on the celebration can be found at branfordearlylearningcenter.com
Starting Out with BELC
Diane says she wasn’t planning on staying with BELC for 38 years when she first accepted an offer from then-BELC director Beryl Meiner to head up a classroom. At the time, Diane had her sights set on teaching second grade.
“I was only going to stay two years, and then I was going to go back to school and be a second-grade teacher,” says Diane. “But I was so happy to go to work every day, I could never leave! This is where God put me, and I just love it. It’s just brought me such peace and such happiness.”
It’s a feeling shared among all of BELC’s 20 teachers, including many who have provided decades of service in their classrooms. Recently retired teacher Karen Tenbroeck was at the school for 44 years. Many other teachers at BELC currently have over 25 years, 20 years, and 10 years on the job. The group also includes four teachers who are BELC childhood alumni, as well as a mix of new teachers.
One of the benefits of having many seasoned educators, as well as those who have grown up in the program, is that “...the legacy continues,” says Diane of BELC’s exceptional work with students.
“When I started out as director, the teachers and I sat down, and we wrote our own curriculum. It took us a year, and we own it,” says Diane. “The students are so confident by the time they’re ready to start school. Any kindergarten teacher in Branford is happy to have our children.”
Like Meiner, Diane has been inducted into the Branford Education Hall of Fame. She is a member of the Class of 2023.
“It is such an honor because it isn’t often given to someone in preschool,” says Diane, who praises Meiner for instilling BELC’s philosophy of providing a “safe, loving environment and a place where learning is fun—the perfect foundation for a life and love of learning.”
For many families, BELC has been a huge part of growing up in Branford. The non-profit town agency is funded by the Connecticut Office of Early Childhood and provides sliding scale fees based on family incomes. BELC offers classes for children as young as eight weeks.
BELC is also accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children. As a School Readiness Program, BELC is a place where kids learn to socialize and get along together as they begin to be prepared for the start of their school days.
“We use the pyramid model, which teaches our children how to be friends, how to relate to each other [and] how to share,” says Diane. “Our teachers are experts at helping the kids understand other people through a social-emotional lens, without putting too much emphasis on it — because the teachers are playing, too. It’s the best modeling.”
All in the Family
Diane and her husband of 37 years, Nick, raised their son and daughter in Branford. Diane says Nick has always been supportive of her BELC family.
“He really gets to know the children — he knows who wears red socks and who likes playing with dinosaurs. He’s been wonderful,” says Diane.
In retirement, Diane is looking forward to spending more time with Nick and her extended family, including son Joseph and “daughter-in-love” (Diane’s words) Debbie; daughter Alison and “son-in-love” Paul, grandchildren Grace and Michael; and extended family members Matt and “daughter-in-love” Amy and their children, Logan and Avery.
Speaking of the next generation, Diane says a sign of BELC’s success is that many former students return as parents to enroll their own children. Families will also often stay in touch and include BELC teachers in special occasions and moments.
“We still see quite a few of our kids because we go to their middle school graduations, or they’ll come in to show us they have their driver’s license. Last week, I went to two Communions. It’s such a wonderful community,” says Diane.
While Diane is retiring on June 28, she’s already planning on coming back to BELC, very soon.
“I’m going to take a few days off, and then I’m coming back - because I can’t leave the kids before they graduate in August!” says Diane.
Diane says graduation day is always special at BELC, but she’ll also miss the unscripted moments. One little guy recently heard she was retiring and asked her to sit down for a while with him, “...so I wouldn’t be so ‘tired,’ ” Diane shares. Another of her young charges has given her a special nickname, “Honey Diane.”
“How can you not love your job when the kids call you Honey Diane? It’s going to be hard to leave them,” she says.
During the coming months, Diane also will be at BELC to help create a smooth transition for the new BELC Director, Ariana Loyola, together with BELC’s new Assistant Director, Wendy DeLucca.
“They are the Dream Team,” says Diane. “Their skills and abilities are above and beyond, and their dedication not only to our school but to nonprofits in the community are everything I’ve wished for.”
Most recently Loyola served as interim director of the Branford Family Resource Center for Branford Public Schools. DeLucca, a well-known area education professional, has already started working with BELC in the assistant director role.
“I’m so proud of them both already,” says Diane.
Diane is also extremely proud of all of her BELC staff and teachers.
“My teachers are magical, and everyone here is part of one big family who all put so much care into the kids,” says Diane.
Diane has helped BELC grow in its care and providing for kids and families with programs such as BELC’s Free Holiday Shopping Spree. Additionally, she’s developed meaningful connections for BELC families with community service programs including the Diaper Bank, Community Dining Room, and Shoreline Children’s Clothing Exchange. The free clothing exchange sets up on given dates outside BELC’s school building on Birch Road.
“When you walk in here, it’s magic,” says Diane of the school. “I call it our Magic Bubble because when you’re in here, it’s a safe place, not only for the kids, but for the parents.”