The Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation has announced the launch of an initiative aimed at improving leadership development for center directors, recruiting and retaining preschool teachers, and enhancing behavioral health supports in early learning classrooms.  

The Barancik Early Learning Initiative builds on work the foundation started last year when it convened the Early Learning Coalition of Sarasota County and YMCA of Southwest Florida to advance research and development and began discussions with the Sarasota County School District about providing support for children before they enter the public school system. The foundation also commissioned research by the University of Florida and Kempton Research and Planning, in partnership with United Way Suncoast and the Community Foundation of Sarasota County, to better understand the landscape of early learning in the region.

The groups identified four areas of investment: preschool leadership, behavioral support, the teacher workforce pipeline, and public policy. To that end, the foundation awarded $408,000 to the YMCA of Southwest Florida early learning program to boost staffing and become accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). In addition, the foundation will work with the Early Learning Coalition of Sarasota County to provide retention incentives for childcare teachers who have stuck through these difficult years. And the initiative will also kick off a region-wide teacher recruitment campaign to attract more individuals to the sector.

“Historically, efforts to support early learning are insufficient and do not provide equitable opportunities for both children or the early learning professionals,” said YMCA of Southwest Florida president and CEO Gene T. Jones. “We will address critical and foundational issues deeply woven within the field. These efforts will create a best-in-class early learning model and build more opportunities for children in our communities.” 

(Photo Credit: Getty Images/FatCamera)