To create healthy, lifelong learners, Children’s Aid begins working with children and families before they set foot into the classroom. Through our home-based program, educators visit the home of children 0-2 to instill the fundamentals of social-emotional learning before they transition to our center-based programming.

Stephanie Rivera, a home-based teacher at PS 8 in Washington Heights, has a roster of 11 students who she visits every week. During these visits, she helps children establish a routine while working on language development, fine motor skills, and social interaction, and then assessing them to ensure they meet milestones. 

A Washington Heights native, Stephanie knew she wanted to work with kids after participating in a peer mentoring program in high school and witnessing the challenges they experience as a result of limited support and resources. At Hunter College, where she majored in social work, she interned at Microsoft, educating teens about the importance of mental health and encouraging them to attend college. 

Stephanie graduated in 2023 and learned about a job as a home-based teacher from a friend, who works as a socio-therapist for youth in foster care at Children’s Aid. She also had another connection to the agency – her mother, a former daycare worker and current paraprofessional at PS 8. 

“I found out about Children’s Aid through my community,” she said. “My mom inspired me to want to work with kids and I thought, ‘I would like to help them one day.’ Working with kids is about sparking a passion, helping them realize their own brilliance, and providing them the courage to shine their special light on the world.” 

Stephanie not only focuses on preparing children for the classroom but also builds strong relationships with parents to address any additional needs they may have. One parent expressed concern that her son was not eating enough. At her next visit, Stephanie suggested tactics the mother could use to get her son interested in a variety of foods. Another parent requested that Stephanie work with her child on improving her handwriting. Through crayons, markers, and water color paints, she helped her student improve her fine motor skills.

“I always ask, ‘What would you like to work on to better your child’s growth?” she said. “We look at the milestones to make sure they’re meeting them.” 

Her students also visit the classroom twice a month to socialize and to prepare to engage respectfully with other kids their age. The work Stephanie does in the home allows young learners to get a head start. By introducing them to alphabet puzzles, arts and crafts, and age-appropriate toys they’d see in the classroom, she ensures they feel comfortable when transitioning to a more formal educational environment.

Though Stephanie has only been working at PS 8 for a few months, the relationships she’s established with the families and her coworkers have been the most fulfilling part of the job. 

“Being able to come to work feeling welcomed and loving what you do is so rewarding,” she said. 

Stephanie plans to continue her career at Children’s Aid while she pursues her master’s in social work at Hunter College in the fall. Once equipped with her new degree, she hopes to continue serving children and families in New York City.