Duck Pond Learning Center Founding
On May 7, 1993, a partnership was formed by two families whose goal was to enhance the community by establishing quality child care and early childhood education programs that served southern Connecticut families from New Haven, North Branford, East Haven, West Haven, Guilford, and Madison. This partnership resulted in the formation of three childcare centers in two Connecticut communities, Milford and Branford. As the centers grew, it became apparent that they were best managed when the owners were on-site managers. Consequently the partnership split and the Pavelko family became owners and operators of Duck Pond Day Care, Branford Inc. (aka Duck Pond Learning Center).
Founder Susan H. Pavelko
Susan Pavelko was a well-respected educator with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Southern Connecticut University and a master’s degree in teaching with a focus on early childhood education from Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, Connecticut. She also studied primary progressive education in London, England and was a 2008 graduate of the Kindergarten Transition Institute in Connecticut.
Susan’s strong commitment to children was evident throughout her career. She was the past president of Kids Count, a United Way Agency, a certified grant writer, and a certified facilitator of an award winning national literacy program called Family Read (formerly Motheread). She frequently presented workshops for early childhood educators and coordinated Discovery grants from the William Casper Graustein Memorial Fund that addresses issues of families with young children. Susan was a board member for the Branford Early Childhood Collaborative (BECC). Susan was a classroom teacher, a remedial resource room teacher, the director of a learning center for school age children, an education consultant, and a validator for NAEYC (National Association for the Education of Young Children).
Susan dedicated her life to working with children and left a lasting impact on all who knew her. Her firm belief in “learning through play” is deeply instilled in Duck Pond Learning Center and a wonderful lasting legacy of a devoted educator.
