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Childcare Resources Board Members Gail Nourse, Melissa Shine, and Gerri Smith represented the organization at the Windsor Charity Polo Cup tailgate, hosting the “Heart of Early Learning.” The Childcare Resources booth featured an interactive activity where community members voted for their favorite classroom horse. Love was in the air at this year’s Windsor Charity Polo Cup as Childcare Resources of Indian River proudly participated as one of the event’s beneficiaries. Held on Valentine’s Day, the annual gathering brought together community members from across Indian River County for an afternoon of sport, generosity, and celebration in support of local nonprofits. At Windsor, the Childcare Resources tent became a lively hub where guests learned more about the power of high-quality early learning and the hardworking families and children served each year. Visitors even got in on the fun, voting for their favorite classroom horse, each one decorated by the program students. David and Suzu Neithercut with Childcare Resources Executive Director Shannon McGuire Bowman at the Windsor Charity Polo Cup luncheon. Across the polo field, Board Members Melissa Shine, Gail Nourse, and Gerri Smith represented the organization at the tailgate, hosting a “Heart of Early Learning” tent. Guests stopped by to enjoy pink lemonade, sweet treats, and conversation about the lasting impact of investing in the first five years of life. “Representing Childcare Resources at the tailgate was such a meaningful experience,” said Board of Director Melissa Shine. “I believe deeply in our mission because I’ve seen how access to quality early education changes the trajectory of a child’s life. Events like this give us the chance to share that message with the broader community.” Executive Director Shannon McGuire Bowman expressed gratitude for the opportunity to participate. “We are so thankful to have been selected as a beneficiary of this year’s Windsor Charity Polo Cup,” said Bowman. “The generosity shown by this community allows us to continue serving children and families who rely on access to high-quality early learning.”

Starfest presenter Major General Mike Hall and Childcare Resources Executive Director Shannon McGuire Bowman. Childcare Resources of Indian River celebrated another successful Starfest on February 10, its signature fundraising event dedicated to strengthening early childhood education. With the support of nearly 400 attendees across the luncheon and evening celebration, Starfest once again rallied the community around the urgent need to invest in young children and working families. The luncheon, held at Quail Valley River Club, featured keynote speaker Major General Mike Hall. Drawing on decades of military leadership and national service, Hall delivered a compelling message about the connection between strong early childhood systems and the long-term stability of our nation. “If we want to fix the challenges facing this country, we have to start at the beginning,” said Hall. “High-quality early childhood education is not optional. The security and future of our nation begin with our youngest learners. When we invest in early childhood education, we invest in a stronger, more prepared America .” Hall emphasized that the first five years of life shape everything that follows. He shared that long before leadership is developed or careers are chosen, the foundation is laid in those earliest years, where encouragement and access to quality education make all the difference. “Major General Hall echoes how important our mission truly is,” said Childcare Resources Executive Director Shannon McGuire Bowman. “When we support our youngest children, we are shaping the future resilience and success of our nation. That work starts right here in Indian River County.” The evening event was held at Quail Valley at The Pointe, where guests gathered under the stars for a cocktail reception and further conversation about the organization’s expanding impact, including its new downtown campus currently under development.

Phen Kennedy and Juanita Ayora advanced their careers in early childhood education by earning Associate of Science degrees through Childcare Resources’ Higher Education Program. Childcare Resources of Indian River is proud to celebrate two graduates of its Higher Education Program, Phen Kennedy and Juanita Ayora, who recently earned their Associate of Science degrees in Early Childhood Education from Indian River State College. Both women are dedicated early educators at Kid City USA and represent the heart of Childcare Resources’ commitment to strengthening the early learning workforce across the community. Through academic support and mentorship, the Higher Education Program helps early educators pursue degrees that elevate classroom quality and expand opportunities for children and families throughout Indian River County. Phen Kennedy shared her gratitude upon completing the program. “I’ve completed my A.S. degree and am deeply grateful to my mentors at Childcare Resources for their guidance and support,” Kennedy says. “It’s a privilege to care for these children and watch them grow.” Juanita Arroyo (left) and Phen Kennedy (right) each earned an Associate of Science degree from Indian River State College. Shannon McGuire Bowman, Executive Director of Childcare Resources, emphasized the broader impact of the program. “Supporting early educators beyond our own classrooms allows us to extend our mission far beyond the walls of our school,” she said. “By investing in educators in our community, we are reaching more children with high-quality early learning experiences and helping to build a stronger foundation for lifelong success." Kennedy and Ayora took part in many of Childcare Resources’ outreach offerings, including Communities of Practice and professional learning workshops, while also receiving mentorship and support through the Higher Education Program. Childcare Resources’ Higher Education Program reflects the organization’s belief that when educators thrive, children thrive. Celebrating graduates like Kennedy and Ayora underscores the powerful ripple effect of investing in education, mentorship, and professional growth.

Donors like you can ensure families have access to more than just early education; they can also have access to opportunity, stability, and a brighter future. Make A Gift Today ! Brianna and Luca A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL-FREE WITHIN THE STATE 1-800-HELP-FLA OR VIA WWW.FLORIDACONSUMERHELP.COM . REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE. Registration #CH5623

Explore our upcoming professional development workshops for early educators. Professional Development Professional development workshops offer knowledgeable presenters and exciting topics to provide you with new and helpful strategies for your classroom. Workshops are free to attend specifically designed for early childhood educators open to all educators in Indian River County Workshops provide CEUs through FLAEYC a certificate of in-service hours follow-up technical assistance through the Childcare Resources Coaching Program To subscribe to emails about our upcoming workshops and other opportunities, click here. To view previous professional development opportunities offered by Childcare Resources, view our Past Workshops page. Register Today! I'll Bring the Joy Join us Saturday, March 14 for I'll Bring the Joy: Finding Purpose, Passion, and Peace in Early Childhood Education with Dr. Nefertiti Poyner. Connect personal experiences and core values to your purpose in early childhood education. Identify workplace misalignments and examine how internal and external noise disrupts your purpose, passion,peace, and moments of joy. Develop a simple Listen for Joy practice to quiet the noise and realign with your purpose. Workshop will be held at Vero Beach Museum of Art Register View Flier Take Post Test Frequently asked questions Why do I have to provide my demographic data? Childcare Resources outreach programs are funded through grants that allow us to provide these programs at little or no cost to you. Grant makers ask us to report on the demographics of those that benefit from these programs. Demographic data is kept confidential. Do you share my contact information? No. We will use your contact information to contact you about training opportunities. You may opt out of these communications at any time. Do training opportunities provide CEUs or in-service hours? Outreach programs like workshops and communities of practice offer a certificate of in-service hours. CEUs are available through FLAEYC. Is there an attendance policy? We ask that you let us know if you are unable to attend a workshop or other training opportunity so that we can provide your spot to another educator. "No-shows" (when you do not attend and do not give us notice) may be prevented from attending future training opportunities.

The Pathway to Quality Coach's Column Paulette Maggiacomo April 1, 2021 I truly hope that you enjoyed our professional development workshop on “Ensuring High-Quality Early Learning: A Coherent Vision Matters” with Judy Jablon and Christine Shrader of Leading for Children . They began the day with this: 'Five out of ten children will fail.' That chilling statistic resonated deep within my heart and that is why I am now looking differently at quality and equity in classrooms. When you look at the picture at the bottom of the page, are you able to identify how we can ensure that all children succeed? Based on that picture above, how do we improve outcomes for all children? I found the introduction to the Coherent Path to Quality fascinating. We learned that the Path has three dimensions with eleven Simple Rules to follow. When we take the time to look at our Relationships & Interactions , the Emotional & Physical Environment , and Learning Experiences within our classrooms and then weave the rules in, the coherent path to quality can be achieved. At this point, you may be thinking that you are having a hard time incorporating successful new strategies into your classroom because the world has turned upside down and you can’t move forward. If that is the case, then please join us for our final professional development workshop of the year on Saturday, April 10th from 9:00 – 3:00. The amazing Kim Hughes, Master Instructor, from Conscious Discipline will be presenting How to Get Unstuck with Conscious Discipline . Join us as Kim presents new adult skills so we can manage our upset, offer self-care reflection for yourself and the families you support, and teach us how to coach ourselves, children, and families so we can feel our feelings in healthy ways. This will be Kim’s second appearance with Childcare Resources. Her upbeat enthusiasm will bring a smile to your face as she discusses Compassion Fatigue, Knowing Your Personal Triggers, Understanding & Internalizing Conscious Discipline’s 5 Steps for Self-Regulation, and delving into the Feeling Buddies Curriculum. Until next time, I wish you well! Paulette Back to Coaching Back to Newsletters