Making A Difference Sue Ammirato

Sun., Sept. 27, 1998

By Heather Lalley heatherl@spokesman.com

Southside Co-op 20 years in education

Preschool teacher Sue Ammirato once enlisted a parent to stick sponges on the bottom of his sandals to make dinosaur prints across the floor.

Breaking down the inhibitions of shy toddlers and their often shy parents is Ammirato’s mission. For the past five years, she’s worked as a program facilitator for the Community Colleges of Spokane Community Co-op, splitting her time between teaching 3- through 5-year-olds and teaching their parents.

She says enhancing creativity for kids is her first love, but sometimes the parents are even more eager to participate than their children.

“We’re teaching the parents to be the first teachers of their children,” Ammirato said. “I have parents who are so excited that they come and do the projects. There are moms who want to do them more than the little ones.”

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