Episode Details

David Zatta is the principal South Plainfield Preschool in New Jersey.  He makes sure his Tiny Tigers identity as part of everything they do. Through their words, visuals, celebrations, and family involvement, they help thier youngest students and their families feel like they belong.

He is proud of their hands-on, theme-based curriculum and the strong connections we have built with parents through real-world connection events. They invite families to join their school-wide events, share their skills, and help shape their themes. This shows children that their families are important partners in learning. He focuses on equity by making sure all students have real-world, first-hand experiences and by removing barriers to help everyone access the curriculum. These efforts have built trust, increased engagement, and created a lively school community where learning goes beyond the classroom. Davis was also honored to be recognized for instructional leadership in a Tools of the Mind article and as a presenter at the Tools of the Mind–TEACH national conference.

David Zatta shares their process of creating meaningful preschool pathway opportunities for his Tiny Tigers school community. He discusses the following on this episode: 

Tiny Tiger Pizza Palace

Veterinary

Medical 

Utility services

While these themed experiences create opportunities for his students to explore these roles in their community, it also exposes them to scenarios which create competence in interacting in these environments.  

Contact for more information:

Email - dzatta@spboe.org

Instagram - @dazatta