Childcare Resources Holds Summer Community of Practice, Motivating Early Educators

Childcare Resources Early Education Coach Todd Morrow, center, hosts a Community of Practice with local educators from First Impressions, Green Large Family Child Care, Whispering Pines Child Development Center, Kendall Academy, Redlands Christian Migrant Association, Vero Beach Preschool, Small Wonders Preschool, Childcare Resources of Indian River, Douglas Head Start, First Baptist, and Wood Family Home Daycare.

Coach Todd Morrow discusses concept development and quality of feedback with educators.

This June, local early educators came together for fellowship and collaborative learning at Childcare Resources of Indian River. Community of Practice, an indispensable part of Childcare Resources’ early educator coaching program, brings together passionate teachers of infants, toddlers, and preschoolers to engage in team-based learning while also offering a support network to address the challenges encountered in the classroom.

Funded by Early Learning Coalition of Indian River, Martin, and Okeechobee, and available at no cost to early childhood educators, the summer Community of Practice meets weekly, a change from the month-to-month meetings held in spring and fall. Hosted by Childcare Resources Early Education Coach Todd Morrow, Community of Practice meetings are fashioned to mirror family gatherings, fostering a sense of camaraderie among educators as they brainstorm together.

Lisa Bishop, an educator at Small Wonders Preschool, has gained valuable insight from the sessions. “Meeting weekly has really been wonderful. The connections made with the other teachers comes easier since not much time passes in-between each meeting,” she says. “It’s a great feeling to be able to go straight back to work and implement everything learned here to the children.”

Early educators participating in a collaborative discussion of best practices for the classroom.

Morrow enjoys instructing Community of Practice as he believes that establishing a supportive community dedicated to the advancement of early childhood education is important for Indian River. “My goal is that these educators will leave with intentional plans for their classrooms that have been crafted by the motivation, encouragement, and experience of everyone involved.”