There’s a quiet revolution going on in early childhood education programs. This new educational philosophy is designed to prepare young learners for the challenges that lay ahead of them. If you haven’t adapted your program to develop 21^st Century skills, you may be missing an incredible opportunity to maximize the potential of the students who attend your school. Considering that 90% of brain growth takes place before age 5, your program can be a springboard for the rest of your students’ education, their careers and their lives. That’s a big responsibility.

That’s why taking stock of your program is so important.

If your goal is to ensure that your program has School of Excellence status, then it’s time to examine what you’re doing, how you’re doing it and why you are doing it. And, let’s face it. Today’s early childhood programs aren’t just about the students. Especially in a private, not-for-profit program, you have to consider all the stakeholders—the parents, the lay leaders, administrators and teachers—and the philanthropists who support your work.

But your day is already busy. Your calendar is full and retraining teachers and changing the perceptions and expectations of lay leaders and parents may seem overwhelming. How are you supposed to stay current with the latest research and best practices? And that’s before you rethink the curriculum, the budget and so many other pieces of your daily puzzle.

Sometimes an outside set of eyes is just the insight you need.

Every educator—no matter what position they hold— will benefit from a coach, a professional they can turn to when they want and need perspective, guidance and inspiration —or simply an empathetic sounding board. And if that person has been through a similar situation, all the better.

And that’s where educational consultant, Veronica Maravankin, comes in. Veronica is a uniquely talented educator who spent 12 years as Director of the Kay Early Childhood Learning Center in Palm Beach, Florida. A committed advocate of children and 21st Century education, voracious reader and doggedly determined visionary, she transformed a mediocre school into a progressive, nationally-recognized program.

Some of her achievements included: 

• Transformed a school known for implementing research-based practices and a progressive approach to education
• Led the Early Childhood Learning Center to become a nationally-recognized model program where educators from different states came to learn and be inspired
• Received a grant from the Covenant Foundation to create The Paradigm Project for early childhood education, a program that today draws hundreds of educators each year.

Veronica’s skillset includes: