Our programming is focused on three areas that are important for early childhood success.
The first and most important focus is the children. In order for children to succeed, we believe they need a safe, nurturing, and stable environment. At the Center of Excellence we prepare children for Kindergarten and lifelong learning. We focus on their social and emotional needs and development. This gives them the confidence to understand and express their feelings and emotions. We combine this approach with the use of Creative Curriculum, which helps us create classrooms that are equally focused on the social-emotional and academic needs of children.
The second focus is our parent engagement experience. At the Center of Excellence it is important for us to enroll the entire family. We invest in the parents, grandparents, and caregivers that are in the child’s life, as well as the child. For example, we offer opportunities to participate in the classroom, attend family events, learning series, and other parent/child interactive activities. In addition, we have a Family and Programming Assistant Director on site to engage and meet with families throughout their time enrolled. By involving the parents and caregivers, the child’s experience is more effective and enjoyable for the whole family.
The final focus is on the continued quality and development of our teachers. We hire teachers who have made early education their passion and career; who truly love helping children grow into lifelong learners. Additionally, we require at least one teacher with a 4-year degree to be present in each classroom. Most importantly we provide ongoing training and education for each teacher. In his book, Teaching to Change Lives, Dr. Howard Hendricks states “I would rather have my students drink from a running stream than a stagnant pool.” At the Center of Excellence we believe that in order for others to grow and learn from us, we must also continue to grow and learn. We invest in our teachers just as they invest themselves in the children they teach.
