31 Years of Caring for Shorewood's Preschoolers

As part of Shorewood Patch's recurring Faces of Shorewood series featuring the people that make Shorewood special, we caught up Connie Levings, who has been working in what is now the Connie Sunshine Learning Center in North Shore Presbyterian Church for 30 years, and her teacher Meagan Johnson.

How did you come to open the preschool?

When I started 31 years ago, it was the Fishing Pond Learning Center and then in 1994, Sharon (the owner) left and turned it over to me. But it wasn't that simple, it was really starting over, basically. She took the name with her.

I was walking through the church one-day and the reverend said, "Hi sunshine." And, I thought hey, that would be a good name.

What do you love most about your job?

I have always loved young children. I prefer the sweetness of little children to the attitudes of teenagers. I don't know if I'd want to put it that way, but I think little children have a lot to offer and a lot to give; they're very loving. The parents of the children that we take are very kind people, very generous and very considerate. I did like to babysit when I was young. My father had his own business when I was growing up, but I never thought I'd want to do that. He was a lawyer and a commercial real estate broker and on Sundays we would be at showings, and I thought, this isn't fun, why would I want to do this.

What drew you to join and eventually run the preschool?

I was looking for a summer job and happened to go through the phone book in the area and it was listed as Peanut Butter and Jelly Learning Center. I called the number and the person that worked there said... we are just starting out and we are only open a few days a week. The next summer after I graduated I happened to walk down the street and to get some things photocopied and I ran into her and she said, "We need to hire someone now."

I guess I knew, and my father recognized it — I mean I would play in the driveway with the neighborhood children and I was really interested in that.

My father died before I started college, and I knew I had to choose a major and I knew this is what I really liked. I took all types of classes, psychology and education classes, but I knew this was the age I really liked.

I grew up in the area, living on Ardmore in Whitefish Bay, and knew what people expected, though things have changed over the last 30 years.

Are there any fond memories from your time in the preschool?

When I started, it was called the Fishing Pond, and I still remember a lot of the children. Some of them have come back to help; some of them have student taught in here. A lot of the people have been very supportive even with the other competition in the area. They have been very loyal.

What makes your preschool unique?

I think a lot of people like our flexible hours; the love that we are able to give the children. If I think someone is having a hard time, we would go over to their house if they want and I would be happy to play with them at their house, if they asked. I don't know if all preschools do that. I just feel it's part of my job, and I'm always happy to help. I think it puts the parents at ease.

Meagan Johnson: Even when one of the children had stomach surgery, we dropped off a stuffed puppy and some of his favorite candy on the day that he missed. This is a really special school.