Hi! I’m the Director of First Friends Child Development Center. I have over 25 years of experience as a developer, administrator and teacher in high quality Early Childhood Education programs. My love of children has been a lifelong gift, therefore pursuing a degree in Early Childhood Education was an exciting decision I made right out of high school. I began my career in corporate childcare at the Johnson & Johnson Child Development Center. I served as a teacher and administrator as well as Project Coordinator for Resources for Child Care Management, developing corporate child care programs for the J&J system of families. Upon the birth of my second son we moved to Flemington and I became the Director and Head Teacher of St. Magdalen’s Nursery School for 15 years. During those years, I had three more children making me a busy mom of five! In 2011, we transitioned our program from St. Magdalen’s and became First Friends Child Development Center. Our school is designed to be a “treasure” pouring out into the community a variety of programs for children and families of Hunterdon County. I am a constant presence in each class while maintaining my commitment to the mission of the whole school as an onsite Director. While the need for education may be the reason your child and I meet -my deepest desire is that all children that attend our center know they are uniquely made and deeply loved. This is my goal, my objective, my mission. I look forward to working with all the young children and new families becoming a part of First Friends Child Development Center.

My name is Cori Brandon, and I am so pleased to be teaching at First Friends Child Development Center. I had the privilege of starting my time at First Friends by teaching in our one-year old classroom. Teaching our youngest friends was a wonderful opportunity to learn and develop ways to engage the growing minds of little ones and create a nurturing and stimulating classroom environment.  I am a Licensed Social Worker, having earned my Master of Social Work from Arizona State University in 2003. I went on to serve as a social worker in adult day health care, in which I created programs and provided support to older adults and their caregivers. My training and background as a social worker provided me with many skills which are vital to my current role, particularly reflective listening and empathic communication.  I am also a mother to five children who have done their part in helping me to gain an understanding of the social and emotional needs of young children as well as a deep appreciation for the wonders of childhood discovery and learning. In my class, it is my hope to do the same for your children--to foster a love of learning and exploration through play and discovery.  I hope to see their eyes light up when they hear their favorite part of a story or mix blue and yellow paint into green.  I hope to see them happily engaged as they explore a sensory bin or create their own world from blocks and matchbox cars.  I hope to hear their laughter as we play our instruments to a silly song.  I hope to see the pride in their faces when they've successfully shared a favorite truck or prepared a toy-kitchen meal for a friend.  Most of all, I hope that our class will be a place where your child feels joyful, loved, and nurtured!   I look forward to having a wonderful year with you and your children!