The Wean Foundation Awards CAYL Institute $20K to Bring 10 Ohio Principals to National Conference

Aug. 2, 2010 - PRLog -- Warren – The Raymond John Wean Foundation has awarded a $20,000 grant to the Cambridge-based CAYL (Community Advocates for Young Learners) Institute to bring 10 elementary school Principals from school districts in Trumbull and Mahoning counties to participate CAYL’s innovative July 2010 National Conference, Ready Schools: Your Leadership in Systems that Help Young Learners to Thrive in Columbus, Ohio.

This Conference is a result of four years of CAYL’s intense work with elementary school Principals in Massachusetts who have pre-kindergarten programs in their schools, and the demand from other states, such as Ohio, for this type of training.  

The 2010 Wean Scholars taking advantage of this unique opportunity are:

•   Roger Kitzmiller, Beloit Elementary, Beloit, OH
•   Matthew Bowen, Damascus Elementary, Salem, OH
•   Dr. Robert Walls, Campbell Elementary, Campbell, OH
•   Joe DiLoreto, Jackson-Milton Elementary, North Jackson, OH
•   Loree Richardson, Warren City Schools, Warren, OH
•   Dani Burns, Warren City Schools, Warren, OH
•   Denise Ormerod, Warren City Schools, Warren, OH
•   Donna Zuga, Lakeview Local School District, Cortland, OH
•   Mary Fran Jones, Lakeview Local School District, Cortland, OH
•   Scott Taylor, Lakeview Elementary, Warren, OH

The Principals from Ohio will join with other elementary school Principals and early childhood administrators from across the United States in a hands-on, interactive Conference featuring site visits to high quality early childhood programs in Ohio, national experts and interactive workshops. They will join CAYL’s growing network of elementary school Principals who want to increase their knowledge and skill in early childhood education for the betterment of their school’s pre-kindergarten program.

“At CAYL, we are delighted to welcome these Principals to our Ready Schools Conference and to work intensively with them,” said Valora Washington, CAYL President.  “The selected Principals will all bring a unique perspective to our Conference, and we look forward to integrating them into our existing network of Principals and early childhood professionals from across the nation.”

“We’re excited to support the important work of the CAYL Institute with our area education leaders,” Joel Ratner, President and CEO of the Raymond John Wean Foundation, said.  “Participation in events such as this shows the important commitment that educators have made to ensure that the youngest residents of Mahoning and Trumbull County become lifelong learners.”

As more elementary schools incorporate programs for pre-kindergarten children and as public recognition of early childhood education gains, Principals across the country want to learn more about appropriate ways to lead programs with pre-kindergarten children and how to align the youngest children with standard elementary school practices.

CAYL’s Ready Schools Conference, led by trained and experienced Principals and early learning experts, will offer a pathway to vision, strategy and practice for addressing the current realities that Principals face.  The Conference will create the conditions for Principals to empower themselves and create sustainable change for children.

Features of the National Conference include:
•   Panel Interviews and Interactive Discussions
•   National Experts on Early Education and Care in Public Schools  
•   Site Visits to Ohio Communities of Practice that have mastered high quality early learning environments
•   Instructional Rounds Workshops, Learning Communities and Dialog Sessions
•   Each participant will receive a USB drive early learning resource and learn about the CAYL Principals Toolkit, a universal digital media tool to facilitate the rapid dissemination of high quality best practices for America’s youngest learners.  

For more information on the National Conference, please visit: http://cayl.org/PrincipalConference2010

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About the CAYL Institute:

Community Advocates for Young Learners, or the CAYL Institute, envisions a nation where the right to high quality early education and care is embedded in public policy and professional practice. Our purpose is to organize, equip and empower people to create change on behalf of children. Please visit http://www.cayl.org for up-to-date information and early care and education resources.

About The Raymond John Wean Foundation:

The Wean Foundation was created by Warren industrialist Raymond John “Jack” Wean in 1949 with assets of more than $80 million. Annually, the Foundation gives approximately $4 million to nonprofit organizations with a majority of those funds earmarked for nonprofits in Mahoning and Trumbull Counties. Our is to enhance the community’s well-being and vitality through grant making, convening, advocating and providing leadership with a focus on economically disadvantaged people and neighborhoods. http://www.rjweanfdn.org