Mariel Lewis, ReadyKids Lead Infant Toddler Specialist, is a trusted resource for early childhood educators across the Blue Ridge. As part of the Growing Minds program, Mariel observes classrooms, consults with teachers, and provides individualized...
Dr. Edmund Gordon is a renowned Black psychologist known for his work improving early childhood education. As one of the founders of the Head Start program, he has dedicated much of his life to fighting...
Located on 4.5 acres in Earlysville, Virginia, Ms. Alison’s Kangaroo Preschool provides play-based, individualized learning with an emphasis on time spent in nature. Owner and lead teacher Alison Trimpe opened her school in 2015 after...
By Shannon Banks, ReadyKids Director of Community Education Building, strengthening, and maintaining collaborative relationships with families is a key pillar of ReadySteps. When not in a pandemic, the staff of our family-focused program bring two vans with...
The child care industry is in crisis. Though many news outlets have reported a growing concern, the average American family likely will not feel the full impact until the pandemic is over. The ReadyKids Growing...
By Sabrina Wilson “Community Voices” is a series of blog posts to elevate community voices, especially those of people of color. We invited individuals, without stipulations or rules, to submit their writings and we paid them...
A cardboard box turned make believe boat fills Jesse Gandy’s living room. Books and educational toys line every shelf. A pet bullfrog croaks from a terrarium in the dining room. Gandy’s second grade daughter, Austin,...
First Baptist Preschool has been a steady presence in the Charlottesville early childhood scene for decades. Their early childhood educators have an average of ten years of experience working with children. They were one of the...
We are excited to announce that the program previously known as Child Care Quality will be transitioning to be known as Growing Minds! Here's the thought process behind the change: The term "child care" does not accurately capture...
When you’re small, emotions like anger and fear can feel huge. And scary. One of our STAR Kids Educators, Loretta Willis, was recently in a Head Start class presenting a lesson called, “When Someone’s Mad –...