CONVERSATIONS WITH THE CEO: GETTING TO KNOW LESLEY WEBBER

Lesley Webber is a passionate educator in our YWCA Early Learning Program. She has been with us for 17 years and is deeply committed to our mission. Read the conversation between CEO Diana Sierra and Lesley here. 

DS: Hi Lesley, I am so happy to connect with you today, will you tell us a little about yourself and what you do?

LW: Well, I like to have fun! Quiet and boring don’t work for me, which may be why I love working with kids. You get a little routine but every day is different. Working with children is why I chose to go to school and become a teacher. Currently, I am a certified NC Pre-K teacher and I specialize in teaching children to write. I feel lucky to have a great relationship with my co-teacher Laurie who I’ve partnered with for almost 6 years.

DS: What are you most proud of in your work with the YW?

LW: I am most proud of the impact that I know I can make with the children. Sometimes I see them a few years later and they recognize me. It’s so fulfilling to talk to them and see them growing. I really love connecting with them and they are what I am most proud of.

DS: Who was an important woman in your life growing up (and why)?

LW: My Aunt Paula for sure. I am an Asheville native and growing up here in the 90s it didn’t feel like there were a lot of people who looked like me. I got to spend summers with my aunt in DC and I loved being around such a deeply diverse area where people looked like me who I could relate to. My Aunt Paula always empowered me. She encouraged me to go to college and she is the reason I chose to attend an HBCU (Historically Black Colleges and Universities).

DS: Thank you Lesley for all that you have done and continue to do for our community. We greatly appreciate you and our fabulous team of teachers in both our Early Learning Program and Empowerment Child Care.