Giving rides to school and paying for repairs to the center out of her own pocket are just a couple ways West Dallas resident Michelle Brown goes above and beyond for the preschool children she cares for. Educational First Steps, a nonprofit organization mentoring Brown and her center’s staff on national quality standards, has named her the Dave Munson Director of the Year for her tireless devotion and leadership at Katie’s Little Angels Learning Center on Singleton Boulevard.
“Thanks to Michelle’s dedication, Katie’s Little Angels is a kind of haven for families of young children in West Dallas, and the children are getting a truly exceptional start that is going to prepare them for success in school,” said Samantha Moya, director of Early Learning Programs for Educational First Steps.
By the fall of 2016 and with the guidance and support of Educational First Steps, Katie’s Little Angels expects to become one of only three nationally accredited preschools in West Dallas.
Moya presented the award, named after Educational First Steps’ founder and education advocate Dave Munson, at the nonprofit’s annual conference for early education providers this month. In addition to the surprise recognition in front of her peers, Brown, owner and operator of Katie’s Little Angels, received a check for $500. Educational First Steps is a North Texas nonprofit organization that helps childcare centers to achieve national quality standards and close the learning gap for children.
Running a preschool has many challenges, but Brown constantly makes sacrifices to put the wellbeing of her teachers and children first. She keeps her fees affordable and accepts subsidies so the children in her West Dallas neighborhood have access to a quality early childhood education.
Many of the preschool’s parents don’t have a car, so they have to take the bus to work very early in the morning and arrive home late at night. Brown picks these children up from their homes in the morning to take them to preschool and drives them home at night. She knows the parents are under a lot of stress and doesn’t want the kids to ride the bus for hours.
The building that houses Katie’s is old and in need of repairs. After paying for roofing repairs, the air conditioner broke this summer, and Michelle is currently saving for a new one. For smaller repairs, Michelle does the work herself.
Katie’s doesn’t have any playground and equipment, because items left outside frequently are stolen. Michelle and her teachers become experts at creating fun activities for the kids to do outside. Encouraged by their partnership with Educational First Steps, they have learned that caregivers who make kids feel loved and safe will enable them to thrive even if they don’t have much.
The award from Educational First Steps is not the first recognition Brown has received for her work. Last fall, Michelle submitted a wish to The Meredith Vieira Show to give the children at her center, who often do without at holiday time, the best season ever. The Meredith Vieira Show, moved by her genuine caring and her sacrifices to bring children the best early education possible, selected Michelle from dozens of hopeful wishers across the country. On national television, Vieira presented Michelle with toys for the preschool, a gift certificate to Learning Express for teaching tools, and four computers from HP to start a technology center at Katie’s Little Angels.
“Michelle has made Katie’s Little Angels far more than babysitting for families. It is a safe, enriching place where children get the educational start they need and deserve,” said Moya.
To prepare at-risk children for school and life success, Educational First Steps improves the quality and availability of high-quality early learning environments. The North Texas-based nonprofit organization goes to the neighborhoods, daycare centers and homes where children in poverty are cared for and provides their caregivers with proven tools and techniques for teaching. Educational First Steps currently supports 370 classrooms and their teachers, building a foundation for lifelong learning for 4,000 children in Dallas and Tarrant Counties. For information, visit www.educationalfirststeps.org.