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Early Learning Coalition of SWFL Welcomes new Executive Director

(Fort Myers, FL - April 30, 2008) --- The Board of Directors of the Early Learning Coalition of Southwest Florida recently announced Kathleen Reynolds, Ph.D., as the new Executive Director.

Charged by the State of Florida with running this area's coalition for school readiness services and Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten (VPK), Reynolds will guide the coalition's programs in Lee, Collier, Hendry and Glades counties. The coalition's mission is to help area families access early learning opportunities for their children, ages birth to five, with the goal of increasing educational success through quality preparation for school.

Reynolds has an extensive and varied career in education and school administration from preschool through college in New York, Florida, and, most recently, served as a superintendent of schools in the Tantasqua Regional School District in Massachusetts. Reynolds earned a doctorate in Reading, Language and Cognition from Hofstra University, and a bachelor's and master's degree from New York University.

"Dr. Reynolds brings a wealth of knowledge to our Coalition that is a perfect fit for our current and future needs," said Sabra Cecil, Chairperson of the Early Learning Coalition of Southwest Florida's Board of Directors, a governor appointed position. "Her shared passion for improving the quality of education for the area's underserved made her the clear choice for this important task."

In 1999, the Florida Legislature enacted the School Readiness Act which consolidated each of the early childhood education and childcare programs into one integrated program of school readiness services. This act created the Florida Partnership for School Readiness to coordinate programs administered by local coalitions at the county or multi-county level. In addition, coalitions oversee the delivery system for VPK programs, comprised of private pre-kindergarten providers and school-based sites operated by public and nonpublic schools.

"I have a strong commitment to enhancing the quality of community, preschool and school services for historically underserved populations, and to helping children successfully prepare for a lifetime of learning," said Reynolds. "I am pleased to be in a position to support increased educational outcomes for all youngsters."

The Early Learning Coalition of Southwest Florida is governed by a 25-member volunteer board of community leaders, employees of private businesses and parents. For more information on the Early Learning Coalition of Southwest Florida, please call 239-267-4105 or visit www.elcofswfl.org.

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Southwest Florida Apartment Association and 4C's Bowling Night

The Southwest Florida Apartment Association is hosting a bowling event on Friday, June 20th from 6:30 to pm at the Bowland Woodside Lane, 8525 Radio Lane, in Naples. As the Association's charity of choice, 4C will receive a portion of proceeds from the event for the Early Learning/Match program.

Download the flyer

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Early Learning Coalition Executive Director Open House

Monday, June 16
5:00-7:00 p.m.
Location: 4C main office in Naples
201 8th St. South
Suite 200
Naples, FL 34102

Tuesday, June 17
5:00-7:00 p.m.
Location: Early Learning Coalition of SWFL Office
5256 Summerlin Commons Blvd.
Suite 201
Fort Myers, FL 33907

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Open House

December 4, 2007 4 - 6 pm
at the Administration and Community Resource Center
5256 Summerlin Commons Blvd., Suite 201 Fort Myers, FL 33907

You're Invited
Please join us for some holiday cheer and tour our new administration offices and Community Resource Center.

General Area Map


Driving Directions

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Healthy Start of Southwest Florida Announces Their Holiday Outreach Events

November 14, 2007

Healthy Start Holiday Flyer

Claus with a Cause

As part of The Bell Tower Shops, Claus with a Cause event scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, December 1-2, 2007, Healthy Start will be operating the Photo with Santa area to raise funds for their programs. Photos may be purchased in advance by contacting Cat Petrik of Healthy Start at (239) 425-6936. Advanced pricing is $8.00, $10.00 at the door. Healthy Start will also be collecting unwrapped toys for their annual toy drive at this venue.

Healthy Start of Southwest Florida 3rd Annual Toy Drive

Healthy Start of Southwest Florida will kick off its 3rd Annual Toy Drive on Saturday, Dec. 15th. Toys collected at this event go to benefit the children and families in the five counties served by Healthy Start. Healthy Start's collection point will be located at the Cape Coral - Wal-Mart Supercenter. Donated presents should be unwrapped and can be for children of any age:

Sponsors of these holiday events include Azteca America, The Bell Tower Shops, D'Latinos, The News-Press, PAETEC, Premier Backup Solutions, The Prawnbroker Restaurant Group, Telemundo, Univision, Jackson Hewitt Tax Services, Starbucks Coffee Shops, United Way, Wal-Mart, Latino 97.7 FM and more.

Last year, Healthy Start was able to collect more than 1,000 toys, making the Christmas wishes of more than 430 children come true." This year we are hoping to collect 2,000 toys. With the support of our local sponsors and the generosity of the people of Lee County, we feel confident we will reach our goal. This will allow us to double the reach of our program, providing even more kids with a chance for a Merry Christmas," said Carlos Navedo, PR and Development Director of Healthy Start.

About Healthy Start

Healthy Start is a not-for-profit 501C(3) organization serving Collier, Glades, Hendry, and Lee Counties since 1992. Healthy Start's goals are to:

Healthy Start helps ensure moms and babies have access to needed medical care and other community services to help give their baby a Healthy Start in life. Each year, Healthy Start serves more than 18,000 pregnant women, babies and young children up to the age of three who were at higher risk for poor health outcomes.

CONTACT: Carlos Navedo, PR and Development Director, Healthy Start of Southwest Florida, 239-425-6926, or email carlos@healthystartswfl.com

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Save the Date

December 14, 2007

Renowned author and journalist, Pete Earley will discuss his research into mental illness within the judicial system and his experience in having a son diagnosed with a mental illness.

11:30am - 1:00pm
Hilton of Naples
Please RSVP to 434-6726

Save the Date Flyer

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Jack Hartman Concert

Monday, December 3, 2007

Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall 13350 Edison Pkwy, Ft. Myers

$5.00 per ticket - one free after 20 paid (courtesy to teachers) Register early - limited seats - Jack's concerts sell out quickly Pay early for best seats - payment due by Nov. 3, 2008 Jack's shows sell out quickly!

Jack Hartman Concert Flyer.

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Multiple Intelligences in Multiple Spaces

Saturday, October 27, 2007. 8:30 - 12:30 (doors open at 7:30am).
Edison College, Barbara B. Mann Hall, Fort Myers
Cost: $12 via online registration OR $20 at the door

Featured Speakers

View the Multiple Intelligences in Multiple Spaces flyer for complete details.

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2005-06 Voluntary PreK Readiness Rates now available

August 8, 2007

The Florida Department of Education/State Board of Education is required by law ( Section 1002.69(5), Florida Statutes (F.S.)) to calculate a kindergarten readiness rate every year for each private or public school VPK Provider of either the School-Year (540-hour) or Summer (300-hour) program.

The VPK Provider Kindergarten Readiness Rate measures how well a VPK provider prepares four-year-olds to be ready for kindergarten based upon Florida's VPK Education Standards. The VPK Standards describe what four-year-old children should know and be able to do by the end of the VPK experience.

View the 2005-06 Voluntary PreK Readiness Rates on the Florida Department of Education website.

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30 Hour Introductory Training Now Available Online!

See Dept of Children & Families handout for complete details.

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2nd Annual Walk to Prevent Child Abuse

September 29, 2007
Pelican Preserve
Colonial & Treeline Ave
Just East of I-75 Exit 136

Contact the Children's Network of Southwest Florida at (239) 226-1524 for more information or view the flyer.

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Annual Back-to-School Festival 2007

Saturday, August 5, 2007. 11am - 3pm.
Fort Myers Harborside Event Center
1375 Monroe Street
Fort Myers, Florida

Parents can register at 11am to receive school supplies. Supplies will be available after 1:30pm for pickup. View the Annual Back-to-School Festival flyer for more information.

This event is sponsored by the Multicultural Centre of Southwest Florida, Inc..

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United Way Dunbar Neighborhood House VIP Breakfast & Community Festival

Saturday, July 14, 2007
Event flyer

Please RSVP by July 4, 2007, to 239.332.7687.

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Archived Mar 12, 2007

Lt. Governor Jennings Hails Enrollment Milestone in VPK Enrollment

May 22, 2006

TALLAHASSEE - Lt. Governor Toni Jennings announced last Friday at the Early Learning Advisory Council meeting that the total enrollment in Florida's Voluntary Prekindergarten program (VPK) surpassed the 100,000 mark in the program's first year. That total includes the nearly 5,000 children who have so far enrolled for the summer session.

"Florida has established itself as a leader in early learning programs and we continue to be heartened by the responses to this new initiative," said Lt. Governor Jennings. "With summer enrollment increasing by leaps and bounds I am hopeful that parents will see the value of enrolling their children in a quality program that will further prepare them for kindergarten in August. This is an exciting opportunity for all of Florida's four-year-old children to get the skills they need to be successful students and productive citizens."

A recently issued annual report on state preschool programs by a Rutgers University early learning institute shows that Florida's VPK program is now the second-largest program in the nation in terms of total enrollment and it is the fifth-largest in the percentage of eligible four-year-old children enrolled. The lead states are Oklahoma, Texas, Georgia and Vermont with programs that are 10 to 20 years in existence.

"Our Early Learning partners around the state have really stepped up to the plate and delivered a quality product that is meeting the needs of Florida's families," said Linda H. South, Director of the Agency for Workforce Innovation. "The high levels of satisfaction with Voluntary Prekindergarten being expressed by parents and providers alike indicate we are delivering on our promise to Florida voters."

Registration is currently underway for Florida's summer VPK program which has starting dates that vary by school district. Parents can contact their local Early Learning Coalition for details. Parents can also register their four-year-old child for the fall session at this time.

Florida's Voluntary Prekindergarten program is administered jointly by the Agency for Workforce Innovation's Office of Early Learning, the Florida Department of Education and the Department of Children and Families. For more information about program details and registration go to www.vpkflorida.com.

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Archived Mar 12, 2007

Child Care Providers Indicate High Level of Satisfaction with Florida's VPK Program

The Agency for Workforce Innovation (AWI)'s March 2nd news release on the VPK program in Florida.

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Archived Feb 1, 2007


Southwest Florida Docs For Tots
... Because we care for children!

January 10, 2007

Please join us Wednesday, January 10, 2007, at the Three Oaks Banquest Room for a luncheon and a dinner with George Askew, M.D., the founder of Docs for Tots. Dr. Askew will present and discuss the role of the physician in helping children reach their highest early learning potential. Docs for Tots is a nationwide network of doctors advocating for young children.

Luncheon flyer - Open to early learning providers for a $15 fee. Register online to attend.

Dinner flyer - Open free to doctors and pediatricians serving young children in southwest Florida. Call 239-267-4105 to attend.

The goal of the Early Learning Coalition of Southwest Florida is to make certain that children, ages birth to five and beyond, have access to high quality child care and early education experiences to cultivate their natural enthusiasm for learning. This presentation is offered by a partnership with Southwest Florida Professional Development Partnership at FGCU.

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