IMESD is currently highlighting our Early Learning Services Department. Meet one of their employees!
Marissa Baumgartner is an EI/ECSE Specialist in the Early Intervention/Early Childhood Special Education program.
Can you describe your job? My day-to-day tasks require me to wear many hats, maintaining a sense of calm, enthusiasm and diligence to ensure that the needs of every child and family I work with are being met. I assist in the running of the Nixyaawii ECSE classroom and also retain a home visiting caseload.
How do you think your work contributes to student success? I see the work that I do pay off daily. Being a CTUIR community member has attributed greatly to the systemic barriers Native families face while working with various state systems. A familiar face in the community has created more opportunity for our families to access valuable services for their children.
What do you enjoy most about your job? I enjoy the unlimited amount of connections I am able to create on a daily basis. Whether those are with children, parents, staff or community stakeholders, I recognize that the work I do is powerful. I also enjoy learning from and working with children who experience Autism. They have taught me more about myself and life over the last three years. I am deeply grateful to spend such a valuable part of their lives with them and give thanks to their families for trusting me to help them grow.
What is something people may not know about your job? People don’t know the amount of mental and emotional load that is required when working with children. This is one reason I believe in philosophies like Conscious Discipline that promote the self-regulation of adults when parenting or working with children.