C-Street Cooperative Preschool is fortunate to have two outstanding teachers, Heather Swindler and Myk Reid.  They each bring to the job a genuine sense of caring and love for the children.  They share a child-centered philosophy of education, which stretches the imagination, knowledge, and creativity of each child through a rich environment.  Together they make a great team.

Heather Swindler (she/her) has been a teacher at C-Street since 2012. Before becoming a teacher she was an active co-oping parent at the school for four years. She is a graduate of Lewis and Clark College with a degree in sociology and anthropology and a minor in religious studies. She brings to C-Street a firm belief in teaching the whole child and the importance of learning through play. Heather loves teaching science and art using the Socratic method and allowing children the wonder of hands-on exploration and experimentation. She is a member of  the National Association for the Education of Young Children and C-Street’s representative on the Virginia Cooperative Preschool Council.

Myk Reid (he/him) is thrilled to be back in the C-Street community as a teacher. His children, Eva and Lillian, graduated from C-Street in 2014. During his previous time at C-Street he served as a Co-Chair and a builder of things. Relationships are the most important things that he has built and he treasures the connections he has built in the Charlottesville community. Myk loves getting to know all the students and families of C-Street and supporting the learning and growth of the Bugs and Birds.

Myk has been teaching children virtually his entire life. He began coaching gymnastics in Richmond, Virginia at the age of 14. He has coached gymnastics on and off for over 12 years including the last year here in Charlottesville. Myk has worked with children in a volunteer capacity at Comfort Zone Camp, a bereavement camp for kids, since 2008.

From 2014-2020, Myk worked for Charlottesville City Schools as an Instructional Assistant. He worked in a Kindergarten classroom for three years, a first-grade classroom for one year and a second-grade classroom for two years all at Burnley-Moran Elementary.

Myk has earned his Preschool Endorsement from the Virginia Department of Social Services.

Myk and his wife, Shannon, are parents to twins, Eva and Lillian. He loves music, soccer, vehicles of all kinds and enjoying good food with friends and family.

Laura Sirgany is an educator, researcher, and mother of three whose youngest child is a cooperative preschool graduate and Charlottesville City Schools graduate. She has a bachelor’s degree in anthropology and a master’s degree in education both from the University of Virginia. Laura has worked and volunteered in public and private preschool classrooms in the Charlottesville area since 2017, and through local nonprofit organizations including Ready Kids. Since 2018, Laura has worked part-time as an education researcher for diversity, equity, and inclusion through the University of Virginia and North Carolina A &T University.

From 2022- 2024, Laura worked as a full-time instructional assistant in Charlottesville City Schools, supporting preschool and elementary school students in both special education and general education settings. Laura believes that humans are innately wired to love learning, and educators need to understand and appreciate the individual developmental needs and assets of every learner. When Laura isn’t busy working or advocating for educational equity, she is mostly hanging out with her three young adult children at home- who are all on their own unique educational journeys. She avidly pursues soaking up the mental health benefits of getting outdoors any way she can with running, walking, hiking, urban foraging, and (very) amateur gardening!

Weekly Teacher Email

Each week one of the teachers emails the C-Street families with an update of the week's activities and focus.  The emails offer an overview or snapshot of the week as well as keeping us informed of upcoming activities or special events.

Teacher Conferences

Teacher conferences are held twice a year:  two weeks in November and two weeks in March.  The conferences are held from 12-12:30pm or 12:30 to 1pm on school days.  Other days can be scheduled by contacting the teachers.

Teacher Workdays

The teachers transform the school on a monthly basis, putting up new displays and changing activities and materials.  This shift in focus builds on the month before and offers the children new things to explore and play with and a new emphasis for the month ahead.  C-Street Cooperative Preschool has particularly vibrant music and art programs, which grow with the children throughout the year.  Examples of monthly themes include water, colors, feelings, people’s work, cultures, numbers and letters.