Lead Teacher
Cheryl Broadhurst
Ms. Cheryl Broadhurst has been working at Space Coast Early Intervention Center since 2005. She has an AA degree in Early Childhood and a Child Development Credential (CDA). She is currently working toward a Bachelors in Early Education. She uses the same teaching style that worked for her own children – “kind, firm but loving.”
Teaching has been a life-long dream for Cheryl. She says, “I knew in first grade that I wanted to be a teacher.” The opportunity presented itself in 1987 when she saw an add for a teaching assistant at a local preschool. They told her she was overqualified and asked her to take over the class as Lead Teacher. She accepted and has been teaching ever since.
Ms. Cheryl has a special interest in working with visually impaired students. Cheryl says, “ Although teaching special needs children brings with it a certain degree of challenge, it also brings great joy.” Cheryl’s students can expect to learn much more than the ABC’s in class. She teaches social skills such as sharing, taking turns and places a strong focus on skills of independence.
Teaching Assistants
Jenn Riolo
Jennifer Riolo has been working for SCEIC for over a decade. She attended Brevard Community College, where she obtained a Child Development Credential (CDA). She first became interested in early education in her senior year of high school. One of the requirements for her Palm Bay High childcare course was to visit real childcare centers. When she came to SCEIC, she asked if she could volunteer. Jenn volunteered every single day, until she was offered a job!
For Jenn, the most rewarding part of the job is seeing the progress the students make, “When a child comes in with barely any language, no social skills and won’t play with others, it’s amazing to see them progress to playing with everyone and talking up a storm! It doesn’t get any better than that.”
Jenn looks forward to one day getting married and having children of her own, but for now she plans to stay at SCEIC where she says, “I learn something from the kids every day.”
Amanda Gonzalez
Amanda joined SCEIC in 2010. She holds a Bachelors degree in Psychology from the University of Central Fl and has a Florida Childcare Professional Credential (FCCPC). She is currently working toward a Doctorate in Psychology, and hopes to one day open her own practice working with children.
Amanda began her career working with children at the Brevard Community College Child Development Center in 2008. She has always enjoyed being around kids, and when she was offered a position as a teaching assistant, she quickly accepted. Amanda says, “It still fascinates me what children are capable of and their thought processes. There is never a dull moment with children.”
