 Janis Hewitt
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(12/24/2008) At 26, Jessica Weeks made a bold move from Patchogue out east to become the new director of the Montauk Child Care Center at the Montauk Playhouse Community Center. She did not know a soul in the hamlet and had only visited on day trips and the occasional weekend, but she knew she wanted the job.
“The director from my former job told me, ‘You can do it,’ and it was like a promotion for me,” she said, adding, “It was a big move personally and professionally.”
Certified in child development and elementary education, Ms. Weeks replaced Gail Gregorio in September. She was a teacher at Tutor Time in Patchogue, which is run by the Economic Opportunity Council of Suffolk, a management group that also runs the day care program at the Playhouse.
Her new position allows her to mingle with the children, but also entails a lot of paperwork. “We’re licensed by the state, so we answer to a lot of people,” she said.
There are now about 30 children enrolled in day care at the Playhouse, which accepts children from 6 weeks to 5 years old. In her former position she had 30 children in just one class, and a total enrollment of 150 children.
When the teachers at the Playhouse have lunch, Ms. Weeks and the assistant director, Norah Hegarty, take care of the children, one of whom is 5 months old. “We love watching her. It’s been so much fun to see her little milestones,” Ms. Weeks said, adding that the lunchtime shift gives her a good opportunity to see what is going on in the classrooms.
The parents in Montauk are impressive, Ms. Weeks said, noting that they are very involved with the program socially and economically. “It’s very different out here from the center where I was working. The parents want to do so much,” she said.
Even though she has her cat, Fritz, to keep her company, Ms. Weeks does at times miss home. She returns to Patchogue most weekends, and she will spend Christmas there.