EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION
"High-quality early education is the key to breaking the cycle of poverty and closing the achievement gap.”
For the last 8 years, Bridge of Grace’s focus on academics has included programming for students in first through twelfth grade – but now we are expanding to include early childhood, reaching children ages 0-5! With this expansion of services, we hope to meet the need of high-quality early care and education in our community.
Javier Mondragon, the founder and CEO of Bridge of Grace, is a firm believer that education is key when it comes to breaking the cycle of poverty. Javier has learned about the research and understands how crucial the first two years of life are in the area of brain development. “If we truly want to make a difference, we need to start as early as we can in the life of the child,” Mondragon says.
The Bridge of Grace Early Childhood Education Initiative seeks to maximize the potential of children by ensuring their wellbeing and optimal development in the first three years of life. Development of the whole child includes cognitive, social, emotional, physical, and spiritual development. This has a huge impact on children’s success in kindergarten and beyond.
To close the achievement gap and prepare children for success, Bridge of Grace believes that research and partnerships are critical in developing a strong and sustainable plan. A key element is forming an integrative framework with a leader that will help them do more research, find successful early learning center models in other cities (especially in urban areas), create strong relationships, and develop a business plan for a state of the art, high-quality early learning center.
Kelli Packnett now serves as the Early Childhood Development Director. In her work of serving our community, Kelli has seen firsthand the achievement gap that exists in public education today. “I am a believer and supporter of public education” Packnett states, “but K-12 educators are struggling to meet the needs of our children in this country and they will not be able to address this gap on their own. It starts in early childhood (0-5) and high-quality early education is the key to breaking the cycle of poverty and closing the achievement gap.”
The Bridge of Grace Early Childhood Initiative will be transformative in their approach. Building a high-quality early care and learning center is just one step of the process. “Our initiative also includes partnering with other learning programs in southeast Fort Wayne and providing professional development and support.” The initiative will focus on advocacy, parent education, and learning opportunities for adult students seeking to become early education professionals. “I look forward to creating the type of center and support southeast Fort Wayne deserves,” says Packnett.
“If we truly want to make a difference, we need to start as early as we can in the life of the child.”
High-quality early education is the key to breaking the cycle of poverty and closing the achievement gap.”
For the last 8 years, Bridge of Grace’s focus on academics has included programming for students in first through twelfth grade – but now we are expanding to include early childhood, reaching children ages 0-5! With this expansion of services, we hope to meet the need of high-quality early care and education in our community.
Javier Mondragon, the founder and CEO of Bridge of Grace, is a firm believer that education is key when it comes to breaking the cycle of poverty. Javier has learned about the research and understands how crucial the first two years of life are in the area of brain development. “If we truly want to make a difference, we need to start as early as we can in the life of the child,” Mondragon says.
The Bridge of Grace Early Childhood Education Initiative seeks to maximize the potential of children by ensuring their wellbeing and optimal development in the first three years of life. Development of the whole child includes cognitive, social, emotional, physical, and spiritual development. This has a huge impact on children’s success in kindergarten and beyond.
To close the achievement gap and prepare children for success, Bridge of
High-quality early education is the key to breaking the cycle of poverty and closing the achievement gap.”
For the last 8 years, Bridge of Grace’s focus on academics has included programming for students in first through twelfth grade – but now we are expanding to include early childhood, reaching children ages 0-5! With this expansion of services, we hope to meet the need of high-quality early care and education in our community.
Javier Mondragon, the founder and CEO of Bridge of Grace, is a firm believer that education is key when it comes to breaking the cycle of poverty. Javier has learned about the research and understands how crucial the first two years of life are in the area of brain development. “If we truly want to make a difference, we need to start as early as we can in the life of the child,” Mondragon says.
The Bridge of Grace Early Childhood Education Initiative seeks to maximize the potential of children by ensuring their wellbeing and optimal development in the first three years of life. Development of the whole child includes cognitive, social, emotional, physical, and spiritual development. This has a huge impact on children’s success in kindergarten and beyond.
To close the achievement gap and prepare children for success, Bridge of Grace believes that research and partnerships are critical in developing a strong and sustainable plan. A key element is forming an integrative framework with a leader that will help them do more research, find successful early learning center models in other cities (especially in urban areas), create strong relationships, and develop a business plan for a state of the art, high-quality early learning center.
Kelli Packnett now serves as the Early Childhood Development Director. In her work of serving our community, Kelli has seen firsthand the achievement gap that exists in public education today. “I am a believer and supporter of public education” Packnett states, “but K-12 educators are struggling to meet the needs of our children in this country and they will not be able to address this gap on their own. It starts in early childhood (0-5) and high-quality early education is the key to breaking the cycle of poverty and closing the achievement gap.”
The Bridge of Grace Early Childhood Initiative will be transformative in their approach. Building a high-quality early care and learning center is just one step of the process. “Our initiative also includes partnering with other learning programs in southeast Fort Wayne and providing professional development and support.” The initiative will focus on advocacy, parent education, and learning opportunities for adult students seeking to become early education professionals. “I look forward to creating the type of center and support southeast Fort Wayne deserves,” says Packnett.
“If we truly want to make a difference, we need to start as early as we can in the life of the child.”
Grace believes that research and partnerships are critical in developing a strong and sustainable plan. A key element is forming an integrative framework with a leader that will help them do more research, find successful early learning center models in other cities (especially in urban areas), create strong relationships, and develop a business plan for a state of the art, high-quality early learning center.
Kelli Packnett now serves as the Early Childhood Development Director. In her work of serving our community, Kelli has seen firsthand the achievement gap that exists in public education today. “I am a believer and supporter of public education” Packnett states, “but K-12 educators are struggling to meet the needs of our children in this country and they will not be able to address this gap on their own. It starts in early childhood (0-5) and high-quality early education is the key to breaking the cycle of poverty and closing the achievement gap.”
The Bridge of Grace Early Childhood Initiative will be transformative in their approach. Building a high-quality early care and learning center is just one step of the process. “Our initiative also includes partnering with other learning programs in southeast Fort Wayne and providing professional development and support.” The initiative will focus on advocacy, parent education, and learning opportunities for adult students seeking to become early education professionals. “I look forward to creating the type of center and support southeast Fort Wayne deserves,” says Packnett.
“If we truly want to make a difference, we need to start as early as we can in the life of the child.”
High-quality early education is the key to breaking the cycle of poverty and closing the achievement gap.”
For the last 8 years, Bridge of Grace’s focus on academics has included programming for students in first through twelfth grade – but now we are expanding to include early childhood, reaching children ages 0-5! With this expansion of services, we hope to meet the need of high-quality early care and education in our community.
Javier Mondragon, the founder and CEO of Bridge of Grace, is a firm believer that education is key when it comes to breaking the cycle of poverty. Javier has learned about the research and understands how crucial the first two years of life are in the area of brain development. “If we truly want to make a difference, we need to start as early as we can in the life of the child,” Mondragon says.
The Bridge of Grace Early Childhood Education Initiative seeks to maximize the potential of children by ensuring their wellbeing and optimal development in the first three years of life. Development of the whole child includes cognitive, social, emotional, physical, and spiritual development. This has a huge impact on children’s success in kindergarten and beyond.
To close the achievement gap and prepare children for success, Bridge of
High-quality early education is the key to breaking the cycle of poverty and closing the achievement gap.”
For the last 8 years, Bridge of Grace’s focus on academics has included programming for students in first through twelfth grade – but now we are expanding to include early childhood, reaching children ages 0-5! With this expansion of services, we hope to meet the need of high-quality early care and education in our community.
Javier Mondragon, the founder and CEO of Bridge of Grace, is a firm believer that education is key when it comes to breaking the cycle of poverty. Javier has learned about the research and understands how crucial the first two years of life are in the area of brain development. “If we truly want to make a difference, we need to start as early as we can in the life of the child,” Mondragon says.
The Bridge of Grace Early Childhood Education Initiative seeks to maximize the potential of children by ensuring their wellbeing and optimal development in the first three years of life. Development of the whole child includes cognitive, social, emotional, physical, and spiritual development. This has a huge impact on children’s success in kindergarten and beyond.
To close the achievement gap and prepare children for success, Bridge of Grace believes that research and partnerships are critical in developing a strong and sustainable plan. A key element is forming an integrative framework with a leader that will help them do more research, find successful early learning center models in other cities (especially in urban areas), create strong relationships, and develop a business plan for a state of the art, high-quality early learning center.