Learn more about Miss TT, as her students call her. You'll hear about her mission, motivation for teaching, and the core values she brings to Sunshine Academy!
Sunshine Academy, open Monday - Friday, 7AM - 5PM provides the best Universal Preschool and Daycare program you can find in this area! Sunshine Academy utilizes a HighScope Curriculum with a Montessori influence serving students of a mixed age group from 18 months to 5 years old. Run by a Montessori trained educator, our staff supports a child’s ability to make choices, take risks and solve problems. Children learn to facilitate rich vocabulary in the context of play and natural conversation. In our safe, organized environment we provide materials that are relevant, creative, challenging and create a sense of curiosity. Our daily routine is structured yet flexible enough to meet the needs of the individual child. At Sunshine Academy, children are immersed in a print and vocabulary rich environment as well as immersed in materials and activities that teach letters, sounds, numbers, shapes, colors and patterns. Our large and small group activities include art, story time and music and movement!
Come visit our two fabulous toddler classrooms where children sing, dance, play instruments and enjoy a fun filled story time every morning. We learn our letters, shapes, colors and numbers by engaging in daily arts and craft activities.
We are open 7am until 5pm, Monday through Friday and offer childcare for your preschoolers! Our days are structured yet flexible enough to provide the freedom for your child to become independent, confident and empathetic.
Our Universal Preschool and Daycare program is a cut above the rest! We provide a morning class where students are immersed in a environment rich in materials and practices that enhance reading and writing readiness.
If you would like to schedule a visit at our facilities then click below to get in touch! We would love to show you the environment your children will be learning in!
We are a childcare facility that offers a Pre-School Program with a mixed age group of 3 to 5-year- old children. We provide extended opportunities for children to explore and manipulate materials. Our large and small group activities include art, story time and music and movement. We utilize the highly researched and validated HighScope curriculum. Our Mission: At Sunshine Academy we create an atmosphere where children feel safe, unconditionally loved and respected. All social and emotional well-being begins with unconditional love and acceptance. This is accomplished by providing a community that builds healthy relationships where self-confidence, independence and empathy for others are encouraged. We also welcome parental involvement and supportive relationships between parents, teachers and children.
Our trained staff supports a child’s ability to make choices, take risks and solve problems. They facilitate rich vocabulary in the context of play and natural conversation. In our safe, organized environment we provide materials that are relevant, creative, challenging and create a sense of curiosity.
Our environment is designed to encourage children to persist and repeat skills which lead to exploring new learning opportunities without fear of failure. In essence, our goal is to create active lifetime learners.
We provide daily routines and activities that are predictable, yet flexible enough to meet the needs of an individual child. Enhanced learning takes place during brief teacher directed, large and small group activities. Our print and vocabulary rich classroom emphasizes reading stories that rhyme, repeat and illustrate order. Fine motor materials that motivate manipulation and exploration are supplied. Singing is also promoted during music and movement times and used effectively throughout the day. Children are encouraged to care for oneself by supporting personal hygiene, good nutrition, gross motor physical activities and rest.
Our daily routines and activities are predictable yet flexible to meet the needs of each child.
Our educators are highly experienced and educated in the field of early childhood education! Some of the certifications held include: HighScope, Montessori, TESOL, elementary education, early childhood education and special education for elementary aged children.
Sunshine Academy is licensed by the New York State Office of Child and Family Services.
Our Small Groups provide an intimate setting which helps to foster a more one-on- one environment between teacher and student.
A brand new outdoor space allows us to spend time in play as well as learning activities outdoors as weather permits!
Sunshine Academy prides itself in holding the safety of the students above all else. We take all the necessary precautions to ensure your child’s safety.
There was no question as to where she would attend UPK once we found out about Sunshine Academy. Theresa and her staff are caring and extremely loving, making each child feel so special and one of a kind.
Rachel V
The genuine affection and concern that the staff show the children at school truly makes Sunshine Academy a child’s “home away from home”. I know it is rare to find a pre-school with all these outstanding qualities which is why I cannot recommend Sunshine Academy enough to friends, family and anyone who wants a wonderful caring and nurturing learning environment for their child.
Nicole P
My granddaughter has been a student at Sunshine Academy for the past two years. It has been a wonderful experience. I am amazed at how Rylie has blossomed over the past two years!
Peggy G
We can be at ease when he is at school knowing he is cared for, safe, and in a place that facilitates his future success. To top it off, our son is excited to go to school every day and returns home to share his experiences!
Kathryn T
Every day my daughter can't wait to go to Sunshine Academy! She loves her teachers and friends - and so do I! I am so happy to have such warm, friendly and truly kind hearted people caring for my child.
Amy F
There was no question as to where she would attend UPK once we found out about Sunshine Academy. Theresa and her staff are caring and extremely loving, making each child feel so special and one of a kind.
Rachel V
The genuine affection and concern that the staff show the children at school truly makes Sunshine Academy a child’s “home away from home”. I know it is rare to find a pre-school with all these outstanding qualities which is why I cannot recommend Sunshine Academy enough to friends, family and anyone who wants a wonderful caring and nurturing learning environment for their child.
Nicole P
My granddaughter has been a student at Sunshine Academy for the past two years. It has been a wonderful experience. I am amazed at how Rylie has blossomed over the past two years!
Peggy G
We can be at ease when he is at school knowing he is cared for, safe, and in a place that facilitates his future success. To top it off, our son is excited to go to school every day and returns home to share his experiences!
Kathryn T
Our team members are not only qualified, but feel a calling and passion for what we do. We come from diverse backgrounds, but one thing we all have in common is our desire to create a peaceful, engaging learning environment for our students. We can't wait to meet you!
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Owner, Director
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Owner, Director
Asst. Director, Art Teacher
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*Click name to read bio!
Changes to the daily schedule are discussed and important information is conveyed to the children. This is important because the children feel secure and have less anxiety when they know what to anticipate. Children view the message board at the morning meeting which is the agenda for the day. The visual description of the days helps the children feel more settled when they begin to understand the idea of a routine. Discussing what is different about the day begins to prepare children for a change in their routine.
Large group activities usually consist of singing songs and music and movement. Children choose songs to sing and incorporate musical instruments and make up their own movements. Every week, parents are sent the songs of the week to encourage practicing with their children.
Children are divided into small groups of 5-7 children based on developmental level. This is a teacher-led activity where children have a set of materials in which they interact with. Teachers support the creative process by interjecting pertinent information in the appropriate context.
Students are educated in healthy hygiene and eating habits as a part of the curriculum at Sunshine Academy. They are able to choose the snacks and lunch provided for them which gives them a sense of ownership and independence. During lunch time usually a story is read to the children.
Sunshine Academy has a recently renovated playground for the children that is directly outside of the premises. Outdoor play is valued and we try an get the children outside as much as possible and as much as weather permits!
Call us +1 631 - 398 - 2286
We are located at 90 Meeting House Road Westhampton Beach, NY 11978.
My name is Theresa Caponi and I am the owner and Director of Sunshine Academy, a preschool/daycare center located in Westhampton Beach, New York. I have six children, nine grandchildren and counting!!! I have had the privilege of being a stay at home mom while raising my six children. Prior to having a family, I taught at the Southampton Montessori School as a lead and co-teacher for five years. I was also the arts and crafts Director of The Brookhaven Country Day School. I directed the Westhampton Country Club Junior Sports program and opened Little Me Busy Bee, a group family daycare located in Speonk during 2008 when my youngest child entered Elementary school. In 2016 I opened Sunshine Academy in Westhampton Beach. As a certified Montessori Preschool and Kindergarten teacher and a HighScope Preschool teacher and trainer, I have combined these qualifications with my experience as a mother of six children to establish Sunshine Academy. I have a Child Development Associate and I am working toward completing my Children's Program Administrator Credential. I graduated with a Bachelor of Science Magna Cum Laude Degree and an Associate Degree in Early Childhood Education.
I am currently the assistant director and art teacher at Sunshine Academy. I was also a teacher at Little Me Busy Bee and I moved over to Sunshine Academy to help establish our program. I am a mother of two children and I am bringing my knowledge and experience to our program. I am bi-lingual, hardworking, responsible and great with children. I am currently working on getting my CDA and I am CPR and First Aid certified. I am very happy to be a part of the team here at Sunshine Academy of Westhampton Beach.
The education of a child is of utmost importance to me. I have my Bachelors and have worked with children since 2015 when I graduated college. I ran multiple Children’s ministries for five years that included children from newborn to twelve years old. I then enjoyed working at the previously known Little Me Busy Bee daycare where we cared for toddlers on a daily basis. Then when Little Me Busy Bee closed, I joined the team at Sunshine Academy and have been here ever since. I love being able to teach my preschool classes and seeing their progress from the beginning of the year to the end is truly one of the Greatest things to witness and makes my job so fulfilling. I also help with administrative responsibilities at Sunshine Academy such as posting on social media, editing videos and sending out our Dojo Parent communication system app and Sign up Genius invitations.
My name is Sarah Cammarato and I am the Biller at Sunshine Academy. I am a mom of 2 and I live in West Sayville, NY. After many years of working as a childcare provider and Director at Little Me Busy Bee I am excited to now be working on the business side of childcare while I take some time to focus on my family and work from home! In my free time I enjoy spending time in the kitchen, restoring antique furniture and playing with my kids!
I joined Sunshine Academy in the spring of 2022 while completing my certification in Early Childhood Education Birth through 2nd grade through Suffolk Community College. I earned a certification in TESOL K-12 through Long Island University and hold a Masters of Education in Curriculum and Instruction and a Bachelors in English from George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia. I taught in Florida, New York, Virginia and Washington, DC. My teaching experience ranges from preschool, kindergarten, 2nd, 5th and 6th grades, Reading for 6th through 10th grade, and middle school Speech and Debate.
Aside from being a preschool teacher, I am also a dance instructor and first and foremost a mother. I have been teaching dance for 26 years and besides having a background in all genres of dance I specialize in the dance education and creative movement for ages 2 thru 5. I studied Early Childhood Education at St Joseph’s College and in 2011 I owned my own preschool. I have a passion for early childhood education and fostering the needs of our little ones with love and compassion. I am currently working toward completing my Child Development Associate.
I am a mother of 3 adult children. I have worked as a Nanny/childcare provider for over 35 years. The last few years I have worked as a teacher's assistant in a preschool setting, as well as during summers, as a lead counselor for the Toddler classroom for Future Stars in Southampton. I am currently working toward my Child Development Associate and I teach one of our toddler classes at Sunshine Academy.
I have always had a love for working with children. I started working in a childcare setting in 1996, as a summer helper at Just Kids Learning Center. I attended SUNY Cortland, where I studied Business Administration. Happily married, I was a stay at home Mom for many years. During that time, I was the treasurer of the executive board for my children’s school. I worked hand in hand with the teachers and administrators and ran book fairs, dances, school events, and I was able to make a difference in the lives of many children, something I was so passionate about. I have been continuously enrolled in Child Development courses. With my children, all teenagers and young adults, I was ecstatic to get back in a classroom at Sunshine Academy. I pride myself in my patience and warmth, and my first priority is making sure our children have a place to make them feel at home and comfortable while learning and growing.
My name is Keyla, and during high school, I had my mind set on pursuing a career in the medical field. I became a licensed medical and nursing assistant and phlebotomist through BOCES. In my first year of college, I majored in health science at NYIT and continued down the medical path. But after my first year of college and with the pandemic, I took a year off. Within that year, I started working at Sunshine Academy and fell in love with working with young kids. Getting to teach them valuable skills and knowledge is truly rewarding, but the addition of spending time and creating a special bond with them is equally as special. It’s been roughly three years since I started working here, and I saw many children enter as toddlers and leave as soon-to-be kindergarteners. Being alongside their journey of growing and learning taught me valuable lessons and reevaluated what I truly wanted to do. Teaching and supporting children through their learning journey is now my new passion. Though working with children has its challenges, there is nothing else I would rather do! I'm now continuing my education at Suffolk and will be transferring to St, Joseph’s to become an elementary school teacher or, more specifically, an ESL teacher.
My name is Michel and I am a preschool teacher at Sunshine Academy and I co teach with Miss Brittany. I am 24 years old and I attended Suffolk Community College and Stonybrook University. I am passionate about working with children. It is so rewarding to watch them grow and learn and I feel so blessed to have a job as fulfilling as this one. I also enjoy reading and cooking as well as spending time with my family and God.
I am a mother of four children. I studied Early Childhood at Suffolk and St Joseph’s. I had the opportunity to be a parent member of many CSE meetings and I am familiar with IEP goals. I was an active member of the PTO and have worked in the school system for the past 8 years. I have many years experience with multi-modality instruction.
Hello. Let me introduce myself. I am Miss Jeannie. I am one of the preschool teachers at Sunshine Academy. I went to SUNY Cobleskill for Early Childhood Education where I obtained my Associates Degree. I then wanted to further my education so I went to SUNY Oneonta where I obtained my Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education. I also went to Dowling College and Southampton College where I took several Masters Classes. While working on my Masters classes I wrote and published two children’s Books, ‘ My Best Friends Troubles’ and “Star’.However, Sunshine Academy is not my first job working with children. I started at Riverhead Central School working as an aide for 4-5 summers. I then moved on to working as an aide becoming a teacher assistant for 5-6 years. I left this position to have my daughter Haley. I worked at Kiddie Academy for a short time over a summer moving onto Pine Tree Nursery School. I also took a job as a leave replacement teacher at Headstart for 6 months. Once my time was done there I moved onto Bright and Early Discoveries where I worked for 2 years. However this did not satisfy me. I continued to look at different daycares and I found Sunshine Academy. I immediately fell in love. I have been working at Sunshine Academy for about three years now and I am very happy not only with my boss, but with my co-workers, the children and the parents. I absolutely Love working with children and working at Sunshine Academy.
I love working with children and this is my second year as a teaching assistant at Sunshine Academy. I am finishing up at Suffolk County Community College and I am transferring to Stony Brook University soon to complete my degree in Adolescent English Education. I have a background in competitive dance, and love to bring music and movement into the classroom. I was on my high school dance team and was a camp counselor at the annual summer camp my dance team hosted. I worked with children ages 5-12 throughout all 4 years of high school. My main priority is to provide a safe, fun, and caring environment for all of the children.