www.WAAEYC.org

2008-2009 Annual Report

            The WAAEYC Public Policy Committee sponsored the bi-annual WAAEYC Legislative Officials and Candidates breakfast on October 24, 2008 at the Worcester Technical High School on Skyline Drive in Worcester. The theme of the breakfast for this year was Staff Compensation. A delicious continental breakfast was prepared by the Tech High students in the Hospitality Program.

            Eight legislators and/or candidates attended along with 47 WAAEYC members including several students from the Technical High School Early Childhood Program and Quinsigamond Community College.

            Charlene Mara from Quinsigamond College spoke about the challenges of providing adequate compensation to early educators in a difficult economic environment. A preschool teacher gave personal testimony about her struggle to survive on a preschool teacher’s pay. Legislators and candidates had the opportunity to respond, and all took advantage to comment on their thoughts on the importance of early education.

WAAEYC sponsored two public policy committee members to travel to Washington, DC to the NAEYC Public Policy Forum February 10-11, 2009. As the economic recovery bill was being debated and voted on at the time of the Forum, it was an exciting and energizing experience as the attendees visited their senators and representatives on Capitol Hill.

The Public Policy Committee also sponsored three family events for the Week of the Young Child in April, 2009. Sparky’s Puppets performed at libraries and community halls in Oxford, Northboro and West Boylston. Donations of baby food, diapers and toiletries for local shelters and neighborhood centers were collected at the events.

Fee: $330. ($275. show plus $55 mileage)

Fee: $325. ($275 show plus $50 mileage)

Fee: $ 320. ($275 show plus $45 mileage)

Directors whose programs were recognized in 2008 were invited to be mentors, 3 volunteered. Invitations will go out to directors recognized in 2009 over the summer of 2009.

Twenty-six centers and three family child care providers were recognized and honored at the WAAEYC annual meeting in beautiful Gordon Hall at First Baptist Church, Worcester. Over 80 people attended and enjoyed a wonderful keynote address by motivational speaker Norm Bossio. Honorees were photographed and given flowers and a framed certificate.

A functional web site was developed in 2008-2009. The Board utilized Magnet Mail to provide information to members and to promote events and new membership.

Thirty student member scholarships were provided for the MassAEYC Conference. Ten general membership scholarships were provided for the WAAEYC Conference in January. Membership was encouraged through free training and networking opportunities (in collaboration with other agencies including MassAEYC, Edward St. Child Services, Bessie Tart Wilson Foundation, Greater Worcester Community Foundation), including DAP training, Reggio Emilia training, technology training, Bessie Tart Wilson Town meeting.

WAAEYC held its annual conference in collaboration with Child Care Connection on January 23, 2009, at the Hilton Garden Inn, from 8:00 am to 1:00 PM. The topic was “Building Educational Foundations for Infants & Toddlers, and offered an assortment of topics including “Observing, Screening, and Assessing Infants  and Toddlers” with Cheryl Hovey; “Understanding the Power of Routines-Based Interview in a Child Care Setting” with Joan Kelly Rafferty, OTR/L;”The Importance of Social Emotional Development in Infants & Toddlers” with Patricia Maloney, CNS & Gail Bowes MA,LMHC; “Touch,Tinker, and Talk: Toddler Tactile Art” with Julie Ugalde, MS; and “An Introduction to T. Berry Brazelton’s Touchp[oints Approach to Child Development & Supporting Families” with Jayne Singer, Ph.D. & Marliee Zammuto, BA.  In addition, participants enjoyed a keynote presentation by Jayne Singer, Ph.D. on Building Relationships with Parents. A panel of early childhood experts, including Diane Boss, M.Ed., Anne Bureau, David Keller, MD, and Joan Kelly Raferty OTR/L provided educational resources and family supports.

A total of 72 people attended.

In addition to the success of our annual regional conference, WAAEYC was able to collaborate with MassEYC to promote and conduct two additional local professional development workshops for area teachers and directors on the new NAEYC developmentally appropriate practice and on-line learning and technology. WAAEYC also applied for and received a grant from the Greater Worcester Community Foundation to co-host with Edward Street Child Services and Davis Publications a sold out workshop highlighting the Reggio Emilia approach and its application in the NAEYC accredited preschool classroom. There were 118 registrations with 108 attendees on a sunny Saturday morning. They represented a true cross-section of the early childhood field, including center based, family childcare, and Head Start. Seventy-four participants agreed that the conference met their expectations.

Nancy Knight         Co-Past President ‘08

Lezli Lee         Co-President ‘10

Eve Gilmore    Co-President ‘10

Dianne Starkey Vice President ‘08

Meghan Martin Treasurer ‘08

Sara Humiston Secretary ‘10

Darlene Belliveau ‘11

Joann Borinski’10

Lisa Burns

Kathleen Dow ‘11

Sara Leaman ‘08

Danielle Morrow ‘10

Maria Rosado ‘11

Shirley Sherman ‘11

Kim Sullivan ‘11

Darlene Belliveau

Kathleen Dow

Shirley Sherman

Kim Sullivan