Educational First Steps, whose mission is to increase the number of economically disadvantaged children receiving high-quality early childhood education, held its sixth annual One Childhood One Chance luncheon on November 13 at Renaissance Dallas Hotel. Co-chairs were Wendy and Marc Stanley and Michele Valdez and Gary Kennedy.

Emcee Shelly Slater welcomed nearly 600 guests and introduced the students of Creative Steps Academy, an Educational First Steps accredited preschool. The students sang a welcome song for the guests, after which Slater said, “Thank you to these students who benefit from EFS. Today’s luncheon theme is Grow the Future, and EFS does that every day.” Then, she introduced Wendy Stanley and Michele Valdez.

Valdez commented, “Wendy and I and our husbands love EFS because of its focus on children, family and community. A solid academic beginning and the support of a loving family are keys to a bright future, and Educational First Steps helps families across North Texas, regardless of income, to provide their children with the academic, social and emotional foundation they need to achieve bright futures. We cast a wide net by working directly with existing daycare centers in neighborhoods throughout North Texas and help turn these babysitting centers into accredited pre-schools. We invite you to join our Culture Club, which creates special experiences for EFS children, including by reading to them.”

Stanley thanked luncheon sponsors including presenting sponsor, ISN Software Corporation, and talked about the one-of-a-kind hand-painted tote bags in the silent auction that Fossil artists adorned with the luncheon theme. “Marc and I joined the team because of our longstanding commitment to this community. For us, the EFS mission is personal. Our children started school in Dallas’ public schools after attending many years of quality pre-school, but many of their elementary schoolmates lacked basic vocabulary skills and knowledge of letters and numbers. Every day, Educational First Steps plants seeds of learning long before children get to that first day of school.  And for that reason we are committed, like EFS, to grow the future, our luncheon theme. We invite you to join us on this mission to give every child the educational beginning they need.”

Van Sheets, EFS executive director, addressed some stark realities:

1. One in four Dallas families has an annual income less than $25,000 and more than half the families have an income less than $50,000.

2. Childcare is “home” for these children for 10-12 hours a day so these families can work.

3. Only 18% of daycares in Texas meet minimum standards, just to babysit a child, much less teach a child.

4. A high quality child care center can give these children developmental opportunities they would not get anywhere else.

Sheets added, “What sets us apart is that we mentor and educate our teachers and directors, providing the best training possible. We provide help with improving facilities to make sure they are safe and have all the things needed to teach children.”

Beth Gold, EFS board member, spoke next. “The bottom line is that every child has just one chance at childhood, hence our luncheon title One Childhood One Chance. Poverty robs children of their opportunity to succeed. Educational First Steps gives children a chance at success and changes lives and grows the future not only for the children, but also for the teachers we train, and ultimately the neighborhoods and communities we touch.” Gold then shared a story and video about a struggling family helped by EFS.

After the video, Gold asked people to donate by texting on their phones or writing a check. She announced an exciting match. “Thanks to a generous donor, every dollar you give today will be matched, so give generously.”

Slater introduced Brad Sham and Rolando Blackman. “Brad Sham has had a 47-year broadcasting career and is known as the Voice of the Cowboys. Brad will interview NBA legend Rolando Blackman. His story is a successful immigrant’s tale. Born in Panama City, he moved with his family to the United States in pursuit of a better life. An inquisitive student, Blackman took advantage of the American educational system, and developed his basketball skills. He attended Kansas State University and was drafted by the Dallas Mavericks. Rolando Blackman was a college All-American, FOUR-time NBA All-Star, and US Olympian.  His basketball accomplishments are legendary.  Currently, Rolando is entering his third season as the Dallas Mavericks Director of Basketball Development.”

Sham and Blackman had a conversation about education, basketball and giving back. Both were able to visit and to read to the Creative Steps Academy students earlier this fall, so they were familiar with EFS. Blackman said, “Programs like Educational First Steps are so important to be able to give our youngest children a chance to learn and a chance in life. We need to give them the tools, so that they can have a base to develop their talents.”

Sham asked about his second career. “Basketball was Rolando’s first career. Today, he is focused on the development of the Rolando Blackman Education, Athletic, and Cultural Development Foundation, which will advance programming initiatives to foster STEM education, athletic preparedness, and multi-cultural awareness.”

Blackman concluded, “Through this program, we need to teach our children about the world around them. It’s important for them to know about school, but it’s also important for them to know about the world around them and of course, about basketball!”

For information about giving, contact Erika Dzangare, edzangare@educationalfirststeps.org or 214-824-7940. From now until May 31, 2019, a generous donor is matching new and increased donations, thus doubling one’s contribution. More information can be found at http://educationalfirststeps.org/.

A special thanks to the sponsors:

Presenting Sponsor: ISN Software Corporation

Grow the Future: Lydia and Bill Addy, Jennifer and Jon Mosle, Keli and Charlie Munson, David Munson Jr., John Munson 

Grow the Center: Anonymous

Grow the Classroom: Michele Valdez and Gary Kennedy, Michelle Lockhart and Brett Levy, Ann and Mike Ochstein/Deborah and Patrick Stern, Julie and Trem Smith, Margaret and Jaime Spellings

Grow the Teacher: Bank of Texas, Colleen and Peter Bowler, Beth and Jim Gold, Kathryn Lake/Suzanne Keohane, Brett and Lillian Kirstein, Denise and Daniel Lynn, Mona and David Munson, Gwen and Doug Parker, Wendy and Marc Stanley, CiCi and Giffen Weinmann

Grow the Child: Sara and Gary Ahr, Debbie Andres/Gilian Baron/Sandy Diamond/Betsy Kleinman/Julie Weinberg, Linda and Bob Appel, Alice and Bill Barnett, John and Nancy Breitfeller, Mary Lee and Michael Broder, Marie and Peter Brookhart, Dallas Mavericks, Audrey Decherd, Claire Dewar, Laura and Jim Einspainer/Beverly Goulet, Friends of Michele Valdez & Gary Kennedy, Frost Bank, Barbara and Dan Garton, Marnie Glaser, Rita Sue and Alan Gold, Lisa and Neil Goldberg, Rachel Goldberger, Cathy and Gary Golden/Lee and Paul Michaels, Susan and Evan Griffiths, Margaret Hirsch, Melinda and Jim Johnson, Suzanne Keohane, Lisa and Peter Kraus, Kathryn Lake, Locke Lord, LLP, Marconi Group, Mary Ann and Bob Marshall, Lee and Paul Michaels, Margot and Ross Perot, Carolyn and Karl Rathjen, Beverly and Cary Rossel, Brenda and Van Sheets, Marianne and Roger Staubach, Karla and Larry Steinberg/Fran Toubin, Gail and Stan Stoke, Jane and Doug Taber, Texas Capital Bank, The Neiman Marcus Group, Carolyn and Dave Westberry, Ken and Linda Wimberly, Linus and Joyce Wright.

Media Sponsor: Good Life Family Magazine.

Educational First Steps (EFS), whose mission is to improve the availability of quality early childhood education for economically disadvantaged children, has named Van Sheets as its new executive director. He succeeds John Breitfeller, who is retiring from the position after leading EFS’s growth to serve 6,000 children daily across the Dallas/Fort Worth region, by helping child care centers raise their quality through becoming nationally accredited preschools.

Sheets said, “I’m looking forward to helping EFS further its mission to provide even more access for our youngest children to quality early childhood education, thus giving them a solid foundation that will help them reach their potential.”

Brett Kirstein, EFS board chairman, said, “After interviewing many qualified people, we selected Van because of his passion for the organization, his background in educational endeavors, his successful business career leading multiple organizations and his relationships in the North Texas community. The fact that he has had an opportunity to learn about EFS by briefly serving as a board member is a plus.”

Sheets began his career as a consultant with Price Waterhouse and has been a successful CEO across diverse industries. He led dramatic growth of an international petrochemical company, recently renamed Rain Carbon, and led the national expansion of Yamas Controls. He has co-founded companies in e-commerce and building technology and served as a board member of early-stage companies in several industries.

During his career, Sheets has held volunteer leadership roles in social sector organizations, particularly in the areas of education and economic opportunity, in Boston, New Orleans and San Francisco as well as Dallas/Fort Worth. He is active with several civic organizations, including the GroundFloor social innovation accelerator of United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, the board of ScholarShot, an innovative nonprofit that dramatically increases at-risk students’ college completion rates, and the board of the Maverick YPO chapter. He has volunteered in The Episcopal Church nationally and as a leader at Saint Michael and All Angels Church.

After growing up in a small town in the North Carolina mountains and attending local public schools, Sheets earned a bachelor’s degree with honors in economics from Duke, and an MBA from Harvard University, where he co-founded a consulting firm through which MBA students volunteered as consultants to hundreds of Boston-area nonprofits.

Sheets believes that his own most important education was from birth to kindergarten. He said, “My mom is a retired second grade teacher, and I now realize that my play as a child sort of followed her lesson plans for us. That age is critical to a child’s development, which is why I’m passionate about this new role in education.”

He is married to Brenda, and together, they have three adult daughters.

On November 17, EFS will hold its fifth annual One Childhood One Chance luncheon with guest speaker Sonia Manzano, “Maria” of Sesame Street, at Omni Dallas Hotel where many will be able to meet Sheets. Co-chairs are sisters Merry Munson Wyatt, Kathryn Munson Beach and Meg Munson McGonigle. Honorary co-chairs are David Jr., Charles and John Munson, cousins of the co-chairs. For information, contact Judy Schecter at JSchecter@educationalfirststeps.org or 214.824.7940.

EFS partners with 93 daycare centers in at-risk neighborhoods, carrying out a results-driven program for becoming nationally accredited preschools, at no cost to the centers, teachers or parents. These centers progress from daycares providing little more than babysitting to nationally accredited early education centers that become anchors in their neighborhoods, while preparing more children for school and life success. About 6,000 at-risk children ages birth to 5 years old are receiving quality early education because of EFS’ investment. EFS, which started in south Dallas, has grown to serve Tarrant, Denton, Johnson, Collin and Grayson counties, collaborating across 22 school districts. More information can be found at http://educationalfirststeps.org/.