Steve Nash: Quality Early Learning For Little MVPs

"Educare Arizona is an opportunity to really grow our children into healthy, strong, confident, intelligent students that can then go on and thrive and follow their dreams and therefore improve our workforce, our economy and our communities." - Steve Nash, President, the Steve Nash Foundation, Two-Time NBA MVP

Steve sums it up well!  Since opening its doors in 2011, Educare Arizona has been a growing voice in the early childhood education discussion: more than a high-quality preschool for 191 children in Arizona, Educare Arizona provides critical teacher training, policy advocacy, and expertise in a field recognized for its vital role in community and economic growth.

Among the latest developments at Educare Arizona:

• the 2013-2014 Child Development Associate (CDA) Credentialing program for parents began in September with 35 participants.  Upon completion of this 35-week 20-hour a week program, participants will receive an infant/toddler credential or preschool credential.  This is a great job creating opportunity, allowing our Head Start and Early Head Start families access to vocational training in early ed, and possible job placement right at Educare -- a win-win for Educare, and the community.

• We have begun planning for the upcoming 2013/2014 Art Festival that will occur in February.  The goal is to expand the art media opportunities for families and children to investigate, explore and enjoy together.

• Our 2013-2014 Raising a Reader program will begin in November.  This month, Educare Arizona will host our first parent training associated with this program, in which book bags are sent home weekly with the children, giving families the opportunity to be exposed to over 100 books together during the school year.  Our families will receive training and information on promoting family literacy habits, language and literacy skills and a love of reading.

Come in for a tour of Educare Arizona, and you'll be immediately struck by the beautiful learning environment - some photos of our building are included here, but Educare Arizona is more than its wrapper.  It's the voices of kids as they come into their own, nurtured by highest-quality programs, guidance, and instruction; it's the sight of their creativity - whether in song, paint or play; it's the growing engagement of parents as they get the resources they need to foster learning and development with their kids; it's a catalyst for change.  Educare Arizona is changing the way we perceive of the first five years of life and learning.

We so appreciate your support, and hope you'll continue to grow health in kids with us -- you'll be glad you did!

Links:

• The Evidence Base on Preschool - article on why early ed counts!
• Educare Arizona