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Best Beginnings Early Childhood Conference Brings Change

Thursday’s 16th annual Best Beginnings Early Childhood Conference on St. Thomas was unlike the previous 15, showcasing a new program style, two powerhouse keynote speakers, and an emphasis on continuing education and teacher certification.

The 2014 conference was also different in a very simple way: the entire conference took place in one day and brought together nearly 380 early childhood education professionals for a program focused on creating better cohesion between educators, families and legislators.

The program was themed “It Takes a Village,” and according to Christopher Finch, commissioner of the Department of Human Services, this was the first time this group of educators, administrators and childcare providers had come together in the same room.

Participants represented private service providers and schools, Head Start, the Education Department and independent childcare providers.

Finch emphasized the importance of including legislators in the early childhood education community, as well as resources such as guest speaker Brocklin Qualls, the director of Partnerships for The Council for Professional Recognition.

Qualls’ participation in the conference marks a change in attitude about early childhood education both nationally and in the territory. While in the Virgin Islands, Qualls worked with representatives from Human Services, University of the Virgin Islands and local high schools to create dialogue for cooperative training programs for current and upcoming early childhood educators.

Qualls said the goal is "to support the USVI for competent teachers.” Local early childhood professionals would demonstrate this competency by completing the Child Development Associate national credential.

Human Services, the conference’s funding source, is spearheading the effort to ensure that all lead early childhood education teachers are certified in the next 18 to 20 months, according to Assistant Commissioner Michal Rhymer-Browne. Rhymer-Browne, who is also acting director of Child Care and Regulatory Services, said the training is available to all early childhood professionals.

Ellie Hirsh, coordinator of the Early Childhood Advisory Committee of the Governor’s Children and Families Council Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands, emphasized the importance of moving the territory forward, rather than playing catch-up to future federal regulations.

"We’ve done a lot to catch up to other states in best practices," Hirsh said, but added that another benefit of the certifications will be a perception of early childhood education as a true profession.

Finch said preschool is one of the areas in which the territory still lags. A comprehensive preschool program remains unfunded, although the legislature approving such has been in place for years. Finch did state that he is hopeful that the program might still benefit from the Lonesome Dove Settlement, once the funds are made available.
In June, Gov. John DeJongh Jr. vetoed a modified bill from the Senate that would have entrusted the funds to the Government Employee Retirement System, partly to shore up its failing pension plan. (See links below)

The conference included a keynote speech by V.I. native and lifelong educator Maureen Moorehead, currently the district coordinator of special education with the Education Department. Moorehead also emphasized the need for V.I. early childhood professionals to continue their education.

"No profession, if it is to remain a profession, can afford to remain still," Moorehead said. In keeping with the day’s theme, she reminded attendees that educators and service providers have a responsibility to empower parents, quoting research to support the vital connection between family involvement and academic success.

She also quoted a 2012 statistic published by Kids Count which found that just over half of all 5 year olds in the territory lack the language and understanding expected of their age, leaving them inadequately prepared for kindergarten.

The conference was optimistic overall, and featured break-out sessions with local professionals and experts on topics such as the CDA credential, parent engagement, providing care for special needs children, disease prevention, and mental health and well-being concerns.

These sessions focused not just on information providers could draw upon immediately, but also addressed longer reaching impacts of early childhood education, such as substance abuse and personal safety.

In yet another departure from previous years’ programs, the conference included a “Village” of resources. Thirteen organizations, programs and departments were organized into a sort of “speed-dating” set up for 15-minute rounds with each. Participants could choose which resources to date, then spend the session learning about it from its representative, asking questions and making connections with other attendees with similar interests.

Participants in the resource village included Disability Rights Center of the Virgin Islands, Family Assistance/Support Services, Head Start Program, Infants and Toddlers Program, Maternal Child Health, Office of Child Care & Regulatory Services, Office of Intake and Emergency Services, Partners 4 Kids, St. Thomas East End Medical Center, The Latch Patch, USA School Lunch, Virgin Islands Partners for Healthy Communities and Women Infant Children.

The 16th annual Best Beginnings Conference was sponsored by Early Childhood Advisory Council, Department of Health – Maternal Child Health and Infants and Toddlers Program, Lutheran Social Services of the V.I., University of the Virgin Islands Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities, and V.I. Partners for Healthy Communities, in addition to Human Services.

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