Preschool Education Program

Welcome to the Preschool Education Program (PEP) operated by staff contracted from Strafford Learning Center.

For information about Child Find and the referral process, please click here.

PEP is an integrated program providing related services such as speech/language therapy, occupational therapy, and physical therapy within the context of a developmentally appropriate preschool program.

PEP runs M-Th morning classes (8:15-10:45) for 3 year old students, and M-Th afternoon classes (12:00-2:30) for 4 year old students.

PEP is relocated at the Oyster River High School with two classrooms and a dedicated preschool bathroom located off one of the rooms. A playground specifically designed for preschool aged students was constructed with the help of volunteers from the community.

Superintendent Dr. Robert Shaps reading to PEP students in October 2024.

ENROLLMENT

The primary purpose of PEP is to provide special education services for those students of ages 3-5 who have been determined in need of such services through the special education process. In addition, some children from the community are also enrolled in the program. If you are interested in more information about the enrollment process, please contact the program director.

CURRICULUM

The PEP program utilizes the Creative Curriculum System for Preschool, 5th Edition© as a foundation for curriculum decisions. The Creative Curriculum System is a research-based curriculum which integrates all areas of development into center based learning experiences. The Creative Curriculum© is used across the country in both regular education and special education programs. In addition, elements of Eureka Math©, PBIS©, Lively Letters© and Social Thinking© are also incorporated into our work with young children.

OUR TEAM

Diana Eisenhaure

PEP/Child Find Coordinator- SLC

Diana is the Program Director/Child Find Coordinator at PEP.  Diana has over 20 years of experiences working in early childhood education. She has degrees in special education, early childhood special education, and special education administration. Diana is excited to work with both the preschool and high school students. Additionally, she feels very fortunate to work with such a dedicated staff of professionals and within a community that values and promotes early childhood education. 

Liz Collopy, M.Ed.
PEP Teacher

Liz has a Master’s degree in early childhood special education from UNH, as well as degrees in Counseling and Anthropology. She has 20 years experience working with young children. She worked as a preschool special educator in Concord, NH for 3 years before moving to Strafford Learning Center. She lives in Barrington with her husband and two little boys. She enjoys outdoor activities, reading, and spending time with her family.

Isabelle (Izzy) Salvati
PEP Teacher

After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Boston University, Izzy spent several years nannying before making her way back to seacoast New Hampshire and joining the PEP team as paraprofessional. Izzy is excited to continue at PEP in a teaching role for the 2023-2024 school year. Outside of the classroom she enjoys cooking, watching reality tv shows and spending time with her one-year-old son and fiancé. 

Amber Goolbis, MS, CCC-SLP
Speech and Language Pathologist

Amber was first impressed by PEP when her son attended the program. She was thrilled to be able to join the team in a professional capacity in 2018. Amber earned a BA in interpersonal communication from Tulane University and went on to pursue her MS in communication sciences and disorders at UNH. For more than 15 years, she has provided speech, language, and swallowing services to a variety of populations, but feels she has found her niche in the preschool setting. When Amber is not addressing the communication needs of young people, she might be found working in her gardens, cooking a delightful meal, or boating on Casco Bay with her family.

Bev Lagueux, MS, OTR/L
Occupational Therapist

Beverly graduated from the University of New England with her Masters in Occupational Therapy. She has been practicing for the past 7 years in the rehab setting, working with the geriatric population. She started working part time with Strafford Learning Center 5 years ago in both a local middle school and high school. The following year she joined the PEP team and became full time with SLC. This year Beverly is working at the PEP program and at the Oyster River Middle School.In her spare time when she is not working or remodeling her house with her husband, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends. She loves to be outdoors, especially at the beach or in her garden. Additionally, she enjoys cooking and crafts.

Davyanne Moriarty
Paraprofessional

Davyanne has been a fan of PEP for over 20 years. All three of her sons were students in the program. She has been a paraprofessional for 6 years on a full-time basis after subbing for several years.

Stephanie Nossiff
Paraprofessional

Stephanie has been working for the past 6 years as a special education paraprofessional at the middle school level educating and mentoring intellectually and physically disabled students, in the Life Skills and Behavior Intervention Program. She joined PEP at the beginning of the 2022 school year. Stephanie is a lifetime resident of Dover where she resides with her husband and two teenage daughters. She enjoys spending summers on Lake Winnipesaukee water skiing, boating, and hiking with her family.

Amber Tynan
Paraprofessional

Amber is the newest member of the PEP team. She attended Johnson State College in Northern Vermont and has a bachelor's degree in psychology. Amber is the mother of a 14-year-old boy. She enjoys going to the beach and attending concerts.