Our Teaching Philosophy

Pixie Preschool's Founder

Our Director

About Our Teachers

Handbooks & Forms

Recognizing that preschool-aged children are growing physically, socially, spiritually, emotionally, and intellectually, Pixie Preschool believes in the development of the “whole” child. We support this with theme based, age appropriate curriculum that balances teacher-directed with hands-on activities.

In addition, we believe that teachers are an essential part of a quality program. For this reason Pixie Preschool’s standards are high in choosing qualified educators who meet and or exceed minimum state licensing requirements.

We believe in providing a program that offers opportunities for children to gain experiences and an understanding of the world around them.  We believe that it is necessary to individualize and reevaluate a program continually, in order to meet the needs of families. 

Ms. Woodard received her teaching degree from Lyndon Teachers College in Vermont in 1954, after which she taught public school for 5 years. She later moved to Kentucky where she became a teacher and director for a private kindergarten program. While there, her younger daughter attended a private pre-school called ‘Pixie Preschool’. Ms. Woodard’s  experience working with preschool children and with the Pixie program in Kentucky inspired her to create a similar environment when she returned to New Hampshire several years later.

In 1970, Ms. Woodard’s dream of starting her own Pixie Preschool became reality. From 1970 to 2009 the Kindergarten was housed in the Red School House next to her home. She opened Pixie II in 1984 to accommodate the popularity and growth of her programs and today the Preschool, Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten Enrichment and Summer Educational programs are in a three-classroom facility on Buttrick Road.

Mary Beth Cox, Executive Director

Mary Beth Cox has extensive experience in education and leadership of childhood programs and has been recognized for her teaching performance. She has had the rare opportunity to live in five states across the country and in each one has earned valuable insight into different educational environments. She holds a B.A. from the University of Massachusetts and an M.Ed from Lesley University. She is a certified teacher in two states and attends professional development workshops in elementary, early childhood, and gifted and talented education on an annual basis. She holds certificates of eligibility in the state of New Hampshire as a Reading and Writing Specialist, Early Childhood and Elementary Special Educator.

Currently, she is also associated with a federally funded government education program that staff highly qualified educators in major metropolitan areas across the United States. Additionally, she is a member of the National Association for the Education of Young Children, the National Kindergarten Alliance and the Alliance for Excellent Education. As Executive Director, she is deeply committed to the success of each individual child, as well as to the overall program and works to create a caring and nurturing environment. Her own children attended Pixie Preschool.

When she is not directing at Pixie Preschool she enjoys spending time with her husband and two children. She has always been very involved and committed to the education of her children. She enjoys reading, traveling, bicycling, golfing, tennis, singing, playing the piano and guitar. She also has enjoyed volunteering in her community and at the schools her children attended.