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History

Twenty years ago I had a vision. My vision was to create an ideal early childhood program that is based solely on the best interests of children, regardless of their abilities, differences, and their family background - "all children belong" would be the motto. It would meet and enhance the developmental stages of young children in an environment that provides state-of-the-art early learning experiences - a program where all children are treated as individuals with a need for love, security, comfort, guidance, opportunity, freedom, and most of all RESPECT. Ultimately, the fundamental requirement for success in early childhood education is the recognition and understanding of the rights of children. Children should receive equal opportunity to be in a safe and healthy environment in which they are free to explore and discover as they learn and grow. Children must be given the tools they need to learn to make good choices, guided and nurtured in a positive way in order to allow them to grow to be happy, confident, healthy, responsible, productive, and brave individuals. After much thought there came a time when I said to myself, "why not go for it?" And so I did.

Today, just as I imagined, Pride & Joy Preschool stands proud in the heart of the City of El Cerrito.

My passion for creating this program is very personal. I would like to share it with you because without knowing how it began, the history of Pride & Joy would not be as complete. The true meaning of its creation would not be the same, and it would defeat the purpose of what Pride & Joy is all about. It all began with a very special individual, who is very dear to my heart. His name is Anson. He is my son. Anson not only inspired me to create a program for him, but he also inspired me, as a parent, to fight for the rights of children to receive proper education, the rights of children to exercise their freedom to learn without fear, the rights of children to be cared for in the most human way possible, and the right for children to be respected as valuable individuals.

Anson was born with a condition called AUTISM. Autism is a word that no parent wants to hear. This is where my story begins. The Pride & Joy program derived from having first hand experience of raising a child with a disability. I searched everywhere in vain to find a suitable program that would meet the needs of a child with special needs. This ultimately changed my whole life as it put me into the position where I had to create a program for my own son. I finally decided to give up my full-time position in a major corporation to join the world of early childhood education. Because Anson is my Pride & Joy I didn't have to think too hard to find a name for my program.

Although my son outgrew my program many years ago, I have been, ever since, in the field of early childhood education and have never gotten tired of it. Although it was Anson's needs that inspired me to become a childcare professional, it was a decision I made with no regrets. My job is very rewarding and I feel that I benefit by contributing to the society at large a healthy and a good educational program for our new generation of children. I believe the program that I provide makes a big difference in the lives of these children. Thus, I feel a sense of pride in my profession. I consider my job easy because I have learned to master the skills of working with children effectively. Often I participate in workshops and conferences relating to the welfare of children. I encourage all my staff to do the same.

The information that I gather through these meetings is most beneficial for several reasons. First, it keeps me well informed of the often-revised new rules and regulations pertaining to the care of young children. Secondly, it enables me to learn the latest research and theories of how children are affected by different styles of caregiving. Finally, it allows me to implement the theories that I have learned and believe into my daily connection with children.

Over the years, I've achieved the major goals and objectives that I diligently planned for and I must say that I am perfectly happy with the outcome. However, there are still more things that I would like to accomplish that would make my life even more satisfying and rewarding. The most important is that Pride & Joy Preschool will continue to maintain its good standing with our parents, our community, and the Community Care Licensing Department for years and years to come. With that said, I would like to take this opportunity to wholeheartedly thank our parents for their support of Pride & Joy Preschool and for allowing me the opportunity to serve your children.