Педагог Лиза Шэrp отметила 40-летнюю работу в детском саду, ставшей для неё вторым домом

For Lisa Sharp, 40 years at Portage Day Care Centre has meant far more than simply showing up for work every morning. It has meant watching generations of local children grow up, welcoming some of their own children through the doors and building relationships that have lasted well beyond their daycare years. Sharp is celebrating her 40th anniversary with Portage Day Care Centre today, where she now serves as the assistant director at the preschool site. However, her career began much closer to the floor, in the daycare's "Bunny Room." From babysitting to a 40-year career Sharp graduated from Arthur Meighen High School in the early 1980s and wasn't initially sure where her career would take her. After doing plenty of babysitting, she decided to try early childhood education, taking a position at West End Day Care Centre. "I had done a lot of babysitting and looking after kids in the summers, so I thought I should give that a try," Sharp says. She spent two years there before an opportunity opened at Portage Day Care. "Soon after, the position opened up here, and the rest is history. I've been here for 40 years." That decision has allowed Sharp to become a familiar face to generations of Portage families. She has cared for children who later returned with their own children, while some former daycare children have even come back as staff. "It's come full circle, and it's been very rewarding. Especially when you talk to people that used to come here, and now they're all grown up and say they remember me from the Bunny Room.'" Related stories: - Community Connections program brings helicopter to Oakville Early Learning Centre - Children and seniors build lasting connections through monthly visits - ▶️ Listen to this news story on the radio: Country 93 / Mix 96 / CFRY 920 Growing alongside generations Sharp says one of the most rewarding parts of the job has been watching children grow through the various stages of their time with the centre. The organization now has four sites, allowing some children to remain connected to the daycare from infancy through their school-age years. Sharp has experienced that progression firsthand. Her favourite age group, however, remains the 18-month to two-year-olds in the Bunny Room, where she started her career. "I think I like it in there because they're all shorter than me," she jokes. "It's such a fun age, and you can really see their curiosity starting to form." While the children have changed over the years, Sharp says she has also watched the daycare profession evolve. She completed childcare courses early in her career before earning her EC3 classification through a management course in 2010. She became assistant director around 2009, giving her a new perspective on the organization after decades spent primarily working directly with children. The move has also given her a chance to ease up on the job's physical demands. "It's taken me off the floor a bit, which is good for my back. After 40 years of picking up kids, it can really take a toll on you. But it's nice to be in here, have a different view and do some of the office work." A changing world Four decades in early childhood education have also given Sharp a front-row seat to changes in parenting, technology and childhood itself. She says each generation brings something different, with technology becoming an increasingly visible part of children's lives. "Each year, I would say that some of those two-year-olds talk to you like they're seven-year-olds now. Just constantly advancing." Despite those changes, she says the fundamentals of the job have stayed the same. Children still bring plenty of laughter, stories, hugs and surprises into the workplace. A job that's become a second home Sharp says she never expected to spend four decades at the same daycare when she first walked through the doors. Now, the idea of leaving is difficult to imagine. "This is my second home. I couldn't imagine doing anything else." She says anyone considering a career in early childhood education should understand that the work can be noisy, busy and physically demanding, but the rewards make it worthwhile. "It's the most rewarding job you could ever have. Your heart and soul go into it, that's for sure, because you're raising little lives. Just to see their faces light up when they come in in the morning is very rewarding." Sharp says she isn't quite ready to say goodbye yet. She expects to remain at Portage Day Care for at least a few more years. And when retirement does arrive, she suspects the daycare doors won't stay closed to her for long. "I can't picture staying gone for good. I think I will have to come back and volunteer." For now, Sharp continues to greet familiar faces, help guide the next generation of children and enjoy the simple moments that have kept her coming back for 40 years. "There’s nothing more rewarding than walking in the room and them all running up and hugging you. It's a wonderful thing, and a lot of people don't get to have that every day at their jobs. So I consider myself pretty lucky."