Welcome to MPS Early Childhood Center!
Our school is an ASL- rich environment where Deaf identity and culture are celebrated. Through a bilingual-bimodal approach, students age 3-6 develop skills in both American Sign Language and English (both written and spoken), expanding communication opportunities while maintaining ASL as the foundation of learning and connection.
We strive to integrate best practice teaching methods with the unique, individual needs of each child and family we serve. Because we recognize and respect that the most important learning environment for children – especially during early childhood – is the one created at home, family involvement is a vital component in all of our early childhood programs.
EC students learn in an ASL-centered environment that fosters strong Deaf identity, meaningful relationships, and academic success through intentional use of both American Sign Language and English. Individualized language plans are designed for students to support their optimal language development through all accessible modalities (ASL, written English, and spoken English) and ensure full access and rich learning. All students build communication skills across multiple settings while remaining deeply connected to Deaf culture and community.
About our Program:
Preschool: Three- and four-year-old children attend a child-centered, full-day preschool program founded on the belief that knowledge is intuitively sought by children through their own actions and experiences. Students attend half-days on Fridays to allow for monthly home visits to families in this program.
Kindergarten: Five- and six-year-olds participate in a full-day kindergarten program which continues to foster child-directed learning opportunities while skill-building in areas of communication, literacy, math, science and social studies. Kindergartners also participate in physical education, library, art and ASL classes on campus.
Our classroom ratios are 5:1.
Inside ECC
Key Staff
Janice Wenstrom, M.Ed
Janice received her bachelor’s degree from Providence College with a concentration in Special Education. She received her master’s degree in Deaf Education from Boston University. Throughout her career, she has worked with children in a variety of capacities and settings. Much of her professional work, passion and learning experiences have been in the field of early childhood education (birth-3rd grade). Janice began working at TLC as an ECC teacher in 2008. After teaching for seven years, she transitioned to become assistant principal and has worked in this role in both Elementary and ECC departments. In 2025, she added the role of interim ECC principal.
Mary Jane Huru, B.S.
Mary Jane Huru has a deep, personal connection to TLC. She is the mother of a former PIP student, who went on to attend her entire schooling at TLC, graduating in 2010. Mary Jane received her bachelor's degree in Child and Family Services. She has worked at TLC for 25 years, 10 as Admission Director/Family Liaison. Prior, she was the Director of TLC’s Childcare Center.
Toni Ammirati, M.Ed
Toni received her master’s degree in Deaf Education from Gallaudet University and has more than 35 years of experience working in the fields of nonprofit organizations, literacy, classroom management, education reform and lesson planning. She was an Elementary Principal for 25 years prior to moving into a senior leadership role in curriculum and instruction. Toni is also responsible for supporting TLC’s educational leaders and academic programs. She is also responsible for TLC’s Educational Compliance through DESE and is a MA Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE).