Rita Van Sickle
Rita Van Sickle is a native Houstonian and is married to Ed Van Sickle. They are very proud parents of three adult, married children and eight grandchildren. She attended University of Houston and later earned her CDA while teaching in Louisiana.
Rita’s life-long passion and profession was teaching young children during their early years. During her first eleven years of teaching, she taught children 12 months to 5 years old in different states and socio- economic environments. After moving to The Woodlands, Texas she served 25 years as Director of The Early Learning Program of The Woodlands Community Presbyterian Church. During those years she also served on several Woodlands start up boards as a consultant and served as a validator for the National Association of Education of Young Children (NAEYC) accreditation process. Her passion was writing curriculum and training and educating teachers, fellow administrators and families on the importance of excellent practices in early childhood education.
A highlight in Rita’s career was the inclusion of families of All Ears! Listening and Language Center into The Early Learning Program. With the leadership of Shelley Mathay, the founder of All Ears!, children who were born deaf or hearing impaired learned from typical hearing children how to have conversation, follow spoken directions and make friends. At the end of their years at ELP/All Ears!, the children were able to transition into public kindergarten with little or no assistance.
After retirement, Rita served on the All Ears! Board of Directors and currently serves on the Advisory Board of All Ears! She enjoys travelling, writing, painting and spending time with Ed, children, grandchildren and friends. She quite often finds herself on the lake at the “Family Fun House”.