All over the United States, fingerpainting projects line the walls of preschools – not merely as décor or documentation of the children’s work, but as a way of promoting each child’s confidence by putting their art on display.
So said Courtnye Carr, a childcare professional and consultant who works with the Early Learning Acceleration Institute (ELAI), a coalition created to expand the capacity and accessibility of high-quality childcare throughout Central Alabama.
A Mission to Support Childcare Providers
“I support providers at all stages of their programs — including those who need guidance in their search for commercial property and those who have opened their doors and are seeking ways to enroll families and children into their program,”
UWCA and WFA provide funding and professional development for people starting in childcare and for providers looking to expand. But Carr, a childcare expert with a background in special education, works one-on-one with center directors and staff to maximize what they offer families. That support, Carr said, looks different for each childcare provider.
“My role is focused on all things childcare,” Carr said, surrounded by books inside the library at Childcare Resources, one of the principal ELAI partners in addition to United Way of Central Alabama (UWCA) and Women’s Foundation of Alabama (WFA).
Carr said. “I can even work with those who have the building and enrollment and are looking to enhance their program quality.”
For each of the different needs that providers have, Carr can either personally assist them or connect them to others who can. Much of the guidance and support she offers comes from her knowledge of the Alabama Quality STARS system, which rates childcare providers throughout the state. The rating system is based on decades of research into best practices for early learning facilities.
“I have personally provided support to providers, in addition to the technical resources provided by the Alabama Department of Early Childhood Education Quality STARs team,” Carr said. “One program improved from a star level one to a three.”
Through more than 1,000 hours of coaching and training for more than 20 childcare programs, Carr has played a key role in helping improve quality and increase enrollment for business owners.
A Success Story: It’s Only the Beginning Childcare Center
One of the many childcare providers Carr has worked with is LaShundra Pullins, Director of It’s Only the Beginning Childcare Center in Midfield. Pullins said Carr has helped her and her teaching staff in countless ways.
“Courtnye has been an unbelievable asset to me and my program. She’s almost like gold,” Pullins said. “She wants everybody to be successful.”
Working methodically through the Alabama Quality STARS rubric (scoring guide), Carr identified areas of improvement for the center. Some were simple, such as putting photos of each child on their designated storage cubbies and displaying more of the children’s drawings and creative work.
Beyond that, Pullins said Carr identified changes in classroom layout, helped incorporate more music into the curriculum and worked one-on-one with teachers to tailor instruction for their students.
“Not only does she give providers the information; she is intentional and follows up to make sure that they understand and are applying that knowledge,” Pullins said. “With everything she has going on, Courtnye still finds time to check in.”
The times when Carr is not able to directly assist with a particular issue, she serves as the primary link between providers and agencies that can provide direct support. Chief among them are organizations such as Childcare Resources and United Way’s Success By 6 program.
Childcare Resources provides a wealth of resources for childcare programs, including training and technical assistance, financial assistance to supplement the cost of childcare, a learning resource library, as well as program accreditation and specialized services for infant/toddler classrooms.
Success By 6 offers childcare providers the services of an early-learning specialist, who works closely with facility operators and staff to implement best practices. Teachers receive training and technical help while classrooms are assessed and may be upgraded with high-quality learning tools and a library of books.
Helping Childcare Providers See the Big Picture
As childcare operators improve their businesses through the expertise and connections that Carr and other ELAI partners provide, the centers also increase their opportunity to expand their facilities through grant funding provided by ELAI.
“Sometimes, my role is helping providers see the big picture,” Carr said.
To learn more about how United Way partners and programs work to address early childhood development and education, click here.