Directors :
Christa Niven, M.Ed.
Jennifer Dock, M.Ed., CAS School Psychology

Christa Niven, M. Ed.
Christa Niven is a graduate of the University of Minnesota where she attended the Institute of Child Development. While studying there Christa conducted research in infancy, social development and linguistic development. It was during this time that Christa also directed the Friday Night Out/Kids First Drop-In Center where she provided respite care for homeless families and children impacted by poverty living in the greater Minneapolis area. Christa became a licensed foster parent in 1999 while completing her masters degree in education. She and her family provided emergency shelter to over twenty children between 1999 and 2001. In 2001 Christa became a therapeutic foster parent working with drug and alcohol addicted teens and their children. Christa is also the founder and former director of the Summit School of Chapel Hill, an alternative high school serving sober and pregnant teens. Christa sold the Summit School in 2005 after directing the program for five years in order to co-found the Little School of Hillsborough with Jennifer Dock.

Jennifer and Christa share a love of inclusion and a mission to create a school environment where all of the children are nurtured and supported as individuals. They also share a love for the Regiio-Emilia approach and its tremendous potential. The Little School is the fruition of a dream for Christa and the culmination of a long and very meaningful learning process. In the future Christa hopes to continue her education earning a doctorate in education.  Christa lives in Hillsborough with her husband Jim and their boys Grayson and Talen. In their free time the Niven family enjoys gardening and playing with their dogs Katie and Willow.

Jennifer Dock, M.Ed., CAS School Psychology
Jennifer Dock has worked with children her entire career. The child of a school superintendent and a private school principal, it is easy to see Jennifer as a school director and accomplished school psychologist.  Jennifer is a graduate of the University of Delaware where she earned a masters degree in education and a specialist level certificate of advanced study in school psychology. Jennifer worked as a middle school teacher while she completed her masters degree. During that time she enjoyed implementing and adapting curriculum in order to meet the individual needs of her students. After graduation, Jennifer became a school psychologist working for the Alamance County schools.

In 2005 Jennifer joined the Autism Team and began specialized training in sensory-specific testing methods. Jennifer has used that training as well as her knowledge earned in all of her settings to create and implement the Little School curriculum. In addition to working with the teachers, Jennifer helps to coordinate the adapted curriculum used for the Little Schools children with autism and sensory disorders. In
the future, Jennifer hopes to further develop the services the Little School offers to exceptional children while also collaborating with other Reggio-inspired schools in order to improve the Little School curriculum overall.

Jennifer lives in Hillsborough with her husband Steve, their sons Bryan and Collin and the family cat, Alexis. In her spare time Jennifer attends as many yard sales as possible and loves to find new and interesting chocolate!