Cyrena Spafford is Director of Infant and Toddler Education at 58 Berkeley Street. She began with Ellis in 2022 as an Education Coordinator and then in 2023 she was promoted to her current role. Cyrena has always wanted to work in early childhood education, but knew she wanted to focus beyond teaching and the classroom. She has remarkable personal drive and a determination to overcome obstacles. Her success is even more striking considering the barriers she overcame. “I grew up with a learning disability that made both reading and speaking difficult,” Cyrena says. “I saw firsthand how the education system was not always accommodating, and how a strong mentor could make a huge difference.”
Cyrena attributes much of her success to two teachers who were mentors and advocates. A middle school teacher challenged Cyrena to succeed and broke her out of her shell. A college professor became a role model as well as a mentor. She was always responsive when Cyrena needed advice or encouragement. “We still often talk through problems on the phone. It helps so much to turn to her after a hard day and hear her reassurance.”
Cyrena’s career quickly took shape after she graduated with a degree in early childhood education from Kings College in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. She ventured far from home and completed an internship at Neighborhood Villages, a Boston nonprofit created specifically to address gaps and inequities in early childhood education. This internship immersed Cyrena in state-of-the-art policy and curriculum development and gave her a solid grounding in the fundamentals of early childhood education.
During her internship, Ellis was collaborating with Neighborhood Villages to create a new toddler curriculum, and Cyrena was a key part of that effort. Through this collaboration she formed a strong relationship with Claire McNally, Vice President of Programs at Ellis. As her internship came to an end, Ellis stood out to her for her next steps in her career and she has been thriving with us ever since. As Claire McNally, Ellis's VP of Programs says, “Cyrena stood out for her deep belief in the Ellis mission and her commitment to our children and families.”
Cyrena’s personal experience helps her focus on giving teachers the strong support and advocacy they deserve. She speaks up for teachers who are less vocal. She reads her teachers well, and senses when they need a break or a little extra love.
Cyrena and Ellis have quickly become a mutual admiration society. Cyrena says, “I was so fortunate when Ellis took a chance and hired me when I was young and not long out of college.” Claire McNally has a different view. “Ellis was so fortunate when Cyrena applied for the Infant-Toddler program position. She brings tremendous enthusiasm to work each day and has a real passion for early childhood education.”
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