Venda Mercer

Venda rejoined the WSYMCA team as a lead preschool teacher in September 2021 after taking time off during the recent challenging years. Venda is passionate, creative, driven, caring, organized, patient, flexible and energetic teacher who is dedicated to creating and implementing play-based lesson plans filled with art & crafts, STEM & sensory activities, as well as great books and fun fine and gross motor skills activities. As educator Venda strives to meet the social, physical, intellectual, creative, cultural, and developmental needs and interests of all children, and to build strong relationships with parents and colleagues alike by maintaining open communication.

Venda was born and raised in the Czech Republic and came to the United States after graduating with a degree in Travel and Tourism from a college ARITA in Prague. During her exchange program she cared for 5 children of the host family she lived with while attending NIU and obtaining there her Bachelor’s degree in Hospitality administration and Hotel Management. Those five children and later Venda’s own two boys changed her career trajectory and brought her to her newly found passion - teaching. Venda received her Certificate in Early childhood education from UCLA Extension. Prior to teaching at the WSYMCA Venda taught at preschool in Ashland, MA for a few years.