By Jenny Miller | Executive Director
Election season has turned up the volume on the early learning conversation -- more and more studies are pointing to the connection between quality early ed opportunities and high performing school districts and communities. Educare Arizona is a perfect showroom for the impact on development -- as always, we'd love to have you visit! If you can't get to Phoenix, remember that there are 20 operational schools in the Educare Learning Network (here's a map!), and all of them are proud to show you what they're up to.
This fall marks the beginning of our 4th school year at Educare Arizona, and we're fully enrolled at 191 infants, toddlers and preschoolers gracing us everyday with their attitudes of inquiry and indomitable energy. For the first time, we have two full infant rooms, and our older children couldn't be more taken with these brand-new learners - a full continuum of ages at play, work, and wonder.
The adults at Educare Arizona are just as remarkable: through our partnership with Arizona State University, Educare is providing training and mentoring in the field of early childhood for new teachers about to enter the field. This year, 28-30 degree canditates will be on-site, where four previous ASU students are now employed as teachers!
Educare Arizona's wonderful programmatic partner, Southwest Human Development, works closely on our Child Development Associate program which provides Early Head Start and Head Start parents training in early childhood education, to afford them career opportunities in the field. Since beginning in the 2012/2013 school year, 46 candidates have completed the program, with 37 now employed with a SWHD Head Start/Early Head Start program (including 17 right here at Educare Arizona!). This year, another 40 candidates are registered, and we can't wait to see where it takes them.
At the Steve Nash Foundation, we've raised over $2million for Educare Arizona, which we think is among the most critical of resources available to children and families. Educare Arizona thrives with community support from people like you, and we are so proud to count you among those investing in children and communities with us. Thank you for your continued assist . . . and don't forget to vote for kids this autumn!
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