ParentCorps at NYU Langone Health

We’ve officially re-launched our podcast, Tiny Big Moments, where we share stories about the tiny moments in early childhood that teach us big lessons. Our latest episode is about the puppet we use in Friends School, our social-emotional learning program for preschoolers. “The puppet is really meant to be this model student,” shared ParentCorps manager Dr. Dana Rhule. “And model not meaning perfect or perfectly behaved, but really just your average child, and also a child that follows the directions of the teacher, but also can bring in their feelings and their concerns, their worries or struggles or problems, so that they can really provide an example for students to walk through skills as they learn them together.” Check it out on our website and on Spotify! #SELtools #puppet #earlychildhood https://lnkd.in/gNWMXJBS

https://lnkd.in/eYUWsTRz Thanks to tireless advocacy across the city, NYC’s pre-K and 3-K programs will receive additional funding to expand their days and hours, and fill vacant seats. Working with the children, families, and educators of NYC Public Schools is a huge part of our work, and we’re looking forward to years of collaboration to come. #nyc #prekforall #3kforall

At ParentCorps’ 25th anniversary party back in June, we honored some of our partners who’ve been integral to ParentCorps. We want to share those honors here too! felicha daley helps make ParentCorps a better program. Ms. Daley is the assistant principal at NYC’s P.S. 398 in Brooklyn – she is hardworking, no-nonsense and committed to making lives better for the children at her school. ParentCorps Manager Michelle Mondesir was the first ParentCorps coach to work at P.S. 398, and she remembers the tea parties that Ms. Daley hosted every year for the school’s young girls. She used her own real china and encouraged the students to get dressed up for the event, where they danced, read books, and affirmed one another. Thank you Ms. Daley for all the lessons you’ve taught us about bringing your full self to a school community and engaging children and families. 

https://lnkd.in/g_Vc9sWv We’re so pleased to see Michigan among the many states expanding access to pre-K! Families will now qualify for free preschool if their incomes are at or below 400% of the federal poverty line – for a family of four, that's $124,800. And if open spots in the pre-K program remain, families who earn more money might still qualify. This means an estimated 5,000 more children will have access to pre-K! #prek #michigan #educationaccess

ParentCorps is celebrating 25 years of supporting schools to partner with families to build a world where all children can thrive. Over the next few weeks, we want to celebrate four people who we honored at our 25th anniversary party, each of whom has helped bring ParentCorps into their communities in meaningful and impactful ways. First up is Mia Roberts, an Early Childhood Social Worker within NYC public schools. “I have never met anyone like Mia. She has the biggest heart and cannot see a need without finding a way filling it,” said ParentCorps Educator Regine Dunn, LMSW. “It doesn’t ever feel like work when you’re in a session with Mia. It’s more like eating at a kitchen table with friends.” Through ParentCorps, Mia has touched the lives of so many people. Mia facilitates our program for the families of preschoolers. She starts session 1 with a group of strangers, and by session 12 she has turned them into a family. To quote one caregiver who participated in Mia’s parenting program, “Miss Mia, I just wanted to let you know that you are amazing. You are valued and appreciated. Continue shining and being an inspiration to myself and others!”

"Find a group of people who challenge and inspire you and it will change your life forever." - Amy Poehler Consider me forever changed! 💜 #stillcelebrating #ParentCorps

Boys are falling behind in school—they're less likely than girls to be ready for kindergarten, read at lower levels, and graduate high school at lower rates. 👨🏫 Men who teach kindergarten are uniquely positioned to help put boys on the right track, yet only around 3% of kindergarten teachers are men. Check out this The New York Times article to hear male kindergarten teachers share how they use their own experiences to create a brighter future for their students. https://nyti.ms/3RTvnx8

We're so grateful Kai made the leap, and so happy to have her as our leader all these years later!

For this week’s staff spotlight, we’re introducing you to one of the newest members of the ParentCorps team: Maya Dennis! Maya joins us as a Research Coordinator for the Data team. Her background is in public health, with a focus on social and behavioral health. “My favorite part about working in early childhood is knowing that the work I do will help support the wellbeing of kids now and in the future,” she said. She also loves movies – Back to the Future is her favorite – and as an undergraduate, she studied screenwriting and film studies. Welcome Maya! #staffspotlight #earlychildhood #research

Three years ago, thanks to an $80 million fund from the city, DC implemented massive raises for early childhood educators – some as significant as $20,000 over the three years – to help bring these teachers up to parity with K-12 educators and decrease turnover in the field. The fund was slated for removal during this city budget season, but thanks to tireless advocacy from those in DC, that didn’t happen! We hope the experimental fund can serve as an example to other cities that fairly compensating educators benefits everyone: https://lnkd.in/guerZkgq #DC #payequityfund #teachershortage