Meet Sabrina Baker | Owner/ Lead Teacher of Creative Xpressions Preschool for the Arts & Owner/Lead Instructor of Creative Tots Art & Playgroup

We had the good fortune of connecting with Sabrina Baker and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Sabrina, what’s the end goal, career-wise?
My professional end goal is to continue to create a space for families of all diverse backgrounds and economic statuses to have a non-judgemental place where both children and adults feel cared for, listened to, safe, and supported. My dream is to open up a community center where I can provide Childcare services, Senior care services, and social services for families who need assistance and do not qualify for government assistance programs.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Hi there! My name is Sabrina Baker. I am the owner, founder, and lead Preschool teacher of Creative Xpressions Preschool for the Arts, and Creative Tots Art & Playgroup. I am committed to helping young children explore and learn through an art-based curriculum with hands-on play-based activities that teach students positive social and emotional interactions. From a very young age, My love for art and taking care of young children began to grow during her time in high school. My volunteering began at the local community Boys & Girls Club as a Junior summer camp counselor. I enjoy advising in creating fun, interactive art, cooking, and science projects for preschoolers and young elementary school students every day.

After 10+ years of teaching in the early childhood field, I have gained experience working as a lead teacher in various preschool/pre-k classroom settings around the Lehigh Valley & Pocono Mountains. Currently, I have a Child Development Associates Credential from the Council for Professional Recognition of Washington D.C and various early childhood professional development training from Penn State University. My future plans include gaining my Art Therapy degree in the future to care for those with mental health conditions who can use art to cope, flourish, and heal.

Dreams began to bloom into a reality during the COVID-19 pandemic when families were seeking quality childcare with small group interactions. As a professional educator, I was quickly forced to work from home as a virtual home visitor for Early Head Start. From that point, I knew that I wanted to continue to serve children and their families with affordable and high-quality childcare in the Poconos.

In August 2021, my doors opened to my art, music, yoga, and play-based preschool at the Day Street Community Center in East Stroudsburg, PA. I have since served over 20 families in my preschool program and over 30 families in my bi-weekly art & play groups. This program allows families of children 0-6 years old to meet new friends which currently meets for free to everyone once monthly. As of January 2023, our permanent location is at my private home in downtown Stroudsburg, PA.

It is essential that parents and teachers partner together to create a strong foundation to support our children of the future. I aspire for every child to be an artist, my mission is to help every child discover what makes them a unique member of our future community.

During my free time, I enjoy spending my time creating various types of arts and crafts, traveling, listening to various types of music, playing video games, shopping, and enjoying life with my loving family and friends.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Welcome to the Pocono Mountains!

We have lots of fun and exciting activities to do all year round.

During the Spring/ Summer, my favorite places to visit are;

-Columcille Megalith Park ( Bangor, PA)

– Mountain View Winery/ Park ( Stroudsburg, PA)

– Claws ‘N’ Paws Wild Animal Park (Lake Ariel, PA)

-Costa’s Family Fun Park (Hawley, PA)

-Camelback Aquatopia Indoor Waterpark (Tannersville, PA)

During the colder months of Autumn/ Winter, my favorite places to visit are;

-Camelback Lodge (Tannersville, PA)

-Country Junction – World’s Largest General Store (Lehighton, PA)

– Great Wolf Lodge ( Tannersville, PA)

– Mount Airy Casino Resort ( Mt. Pocono, PA)

-Main Street Makery (Stroudsburg, PA)

– Pocono Rocks! (Mount Pocono, PA)

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would like to send out a few shoutouts to my mentors Dommy Burgess Executive Director of Burbrella Learning Academy INC and Debby Campbell Director of Christ Episcopal Church of Stroudsburg’s Food Pantry.

Both of these ladies have helped me grow into a confident, compassionate, and respectable business owner that you are reading about today. I just want to say thank you to them both!

I would also like to shout out Mr. Eugene Campbell of ECCR Group.

He has been an amazing help in training me to learn all about the logistics of becoming a business owner for the past year. His pilot program for local entrepreneurs in my county has really given me the basics to beginning an empire from the beginning pieces to the day-to-day realities of owning a business.

My final shoutout is to all of my parents and families that I have been working with between my preschool program and my partnerships within the community.

Thank you Angels & Dragonflies Children’s Charity for all the toys and items you have donated to CXPA over the years.
Thank you Christ Episcopal Church of Stroudsburg, PA for sharing my program and partnering together for my Art & Playgroup.

Website: cxartspreschool.wixsite.com/cxpa

Instagram: @cxartspreschool

Facebook: @cxartspreschool

Image Credits
All photos shown here were taken by Ms.Sabrina of Cxartsprechool. All Parents have consented to these photos to be published and used for any marketing for Cxartsprechool.