Barbara Schenkein
Founding Director of Education    

For nearly 50 years it has been my privilege and passion to work in the field of early childhood education. Whether teaching in elementary school classrooms or filling multiple roles in preschool and childcare settings, my career has given me joy and fulfillment on a daily basis.

Since 1995, it has been my pleasure to serve as CDCW’s Director of Education. During that time, I have seen CDCW grow from “a concept on paper” into an active and flourishing community. I am proud of CDCW’s commitment to creating a nurturing environment that encourages social and emotional development, promotes high-quality early learning, and strives to develop strong and meaningful relationships with our children and their families.

After earning my BA at The State University of New York at Stony Brook and my Master of Education at the State University of New York at Buffalo, I moved to Richmond and joined the staff at the JCC as a preschool teacher and, later, as Early Childhood Director. In 1995, my career path headed in a somewhat different direction when I joined the Hungerford family and helped make their vision for a state of the art child development center a reality.

While working at CDCW, I have had an active role with the Richmond Early Childhood Association, heading up multiple committees and projects, and was named the 2016 Educator of the Year. I am a “weekend paper crafter” who loves working with stamps, dies and inks!

It is an honor to work with our children, our families, and CDCW’s dedicated team of early childhood professionals. Of course, my family is at the heart of all that I do. My greatest accomplishment is being a mother and grandmother to my warm and loving family who are truly a blessing to me. As my retirement begins, I often reflect on nearly 30 amazing years being part of the CDCW family. Fortunately, retirement does not mean that it is time for me to say goodbye to CDCW, but instead, retirement provides an opportunity for me to embrace my role as Founding Director and remain part of the CDCW team. Special events, book club meetings, continuing education and significant friendships will all keep CDCW as an important part of my life. I am proud of the success of CDCW’s leadership team. Their vision and direction have earned the Child Development Center at Wyndham a truly respected place in the early childhood community.