Lisa Greene is the administrator for YMCA Batavia Heights Christian Child Care. While participating in 4C for Children’s Step Up Direct series in January, 4C coaches worked with her program to prepare for and then apply for a one-star Step Up To Quality (SUTQ) rating.
“Having a rating adds a depth of quality that wasn’t there before,” Lisa says. “It’s like a stamp of approval for parents to know that we have been through this process and it’s an opportunity for our teachers to shine and feel motivated to do more for the kids in their classrooms.”
When she came on board to the YMCA in 2018, Lisa knew she wanted to apply for Step Up To Quality, but it seemed like a daunting process. After hearing about 4C’s Step Up Direct series, Lisa took the leap and registered for the four-session Direct. Lisa expressed that she’s grateful for all the encouragement and support she and her teachers received from 4C coaches, which made the process much less “daunting.”
“Our teachers have grown so much!” she says. “Once you get a taste of learning how to help children learn, you are eager to learn even more. Their profession is not just about coming into work and watching kids play.”
SUTQ has helped the teachers see the benefit of having professional development goals and how that can have an impact on their daily interactions with the children in their program. Two of her teachers are currently working toward earning their Child Development Associate (CDA) credentials through 4C for Children, and two more have expressed their interest.
“They have really caught the vision for what their work with the kids can be each day,” Lisa says. “They are excited to help kids learn!”
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