Our Teachers
EMILY PROVOST
Director |
I graduated with a B.A. in Visual Arts from Bennington College and plan to pursue a Master’s in Social Work focusing on Special Needs children and their families.
I learned at Bennington that art and children have a symbiotic relationship, so instead of pursuing my own arts career, I followed my passion for understanding children by helping them to develop their unique identities through the arts. I enjoy scaffolding large-scale, long-term projects, but always improvise according to children’s needs and interests. Early childhood provides a foundation for life. I seek to help young children develop self-awareness and awareness of others in their community through all kinds of expression—verbal, physical, artistic, metaphorical, sensorial, emotional, scientific. Over the last ten years, I have worked alongside children as young as birth through to adolescence in a variety of social, residential, and academic settings—from early childhood classrooms to in-home educational training for special needs children. Part of my purpose in joining WPCS is to share in the celebration of your children, their expression, our interdependence, and being part of a conscious community. I am relocating to Philadelphia after 10 years in New York City, and enjoy reading, writing, running, cycling, attempting to develop a green thumb, spending time with my toddler and the outdoors. |
NILA DEVANEY
Assistant Teacher |
I graduated with a BA in Community Studies and Visual Arts from Bennington College. There, I learned about creative thinking as the source of relationship building. I am deeply inspired by collaboration, and most of my work experience has been centered around community placemaking and public art projects. Many of these projects honored intergenerational dynamics, which lead me to childhood education.
I have experience with children of many ages, teaching in public school systems as well as in alternative educational environments such as Montessori. My teaching methods have been developed primarily through the lenses of creativity and art. I believe in creating respectful and adventurous spaces for young minds to grow. I am excited about cultivating a strong group dynamic that honors each child’s individuality and imagination. Outside of childhood education, I like to paint on canvas as well as paint murals. I have been spending time seeing live music and learning how to cook. I love living in West Philadelphia and learning more about this part of the city each day. |
JESSICA FENG
Lead Teacher for Aftercare |
Hi there, my name is Jessica Feng (pronounced 'fun') and I now call West Philadelphia my new home. I have worked with all ages both formally in the classroom and informally as a caregiver or tutor. The age that I am most drawn to are 2-6 year olds. Their curiosity, energy, and playfulness brighten my spirit. I believe that social emotional growth and development are critical at this age. I seek to blend that and anti-bias education in my curriculum. My goal is to provide a space where children are paving the path for their own learning, asking lots of questions, and finding joy in being their true authentic selves.
My passion for education came from QuestBridge, the educational nonprofit that gave me the financial access to attend Haverford College. There, I studied Cultural Anthropology and Education and was involved in a number of diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives like working in the Multicultural Recruitment branch of the Admissions Office. I also draw inspiration from my work with Asian Americans United and from the mentors who I have had the privilege of meeting in my education journey. In my spare time, I enjoy baking, organizing and reorganizing my new home, and reading. |