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Igniting Success From Birth

We provide an unrivaled cradle to 5 yrs old experience for all in an intentionally diverse community complemented by targeted parent support

$2,900
pledged of$10,000 goal
27
0Days Left

Project Description

Through an innovative preschool model grounded in language development and an intentional approach to diversity and parent support, we will provide young children from all backgrounds a foundation for learning, friendship, and citizenship, preparing them to thrive in an constantly evolving world. Focusing initially on parent education, we aim to be much more than an innovative pre-school model for three-, four-, and five-year olds; we believe that strong starts and community development for families of our youngest citizens will have lasting impacts well beyond student achievement.  

The Problem

A child's brain is nearly developed by the age 5, making the first few years of life the most critical years of our lives.  Further, environments play a massive factor: differences among the cognitive abilities of children growing up in differing income brackets are evident at only 9 months old and further widen by the time children reach their second birthday. The need for excellent birth to age 5 development and supports for children and caregivers from across the spectrum of income and background are absolutely critical for all families and children.

Our schools, meanwhile, are nearly as segregated now as they were fifty years ago, rendering the wide majority of schools, especially those serving pre-Kindergartners and their families, limited in their ability to focus on the whole child, their social and emotional development, and their exposure to peers from backgrounds different than their own.  Mounting research is proving economically diverse learning environments are resulting in higher levels of academic and emotional development for children from all backgrounds, but those options are few for families in most communities across the country.

Achievement and opportunity gaps begin even before the children and families they affect are born. Supporting both families and their young children to not just be Kindergarten ready but to develop a foundation for lasting academic success, social fluency, and self-confidence is society’s best chance to address inequality for children and families from all backgrounds.

The Solution

SparkED was founded to provide every child, regardless of income level, a world-class preschool experience and support and development for families starting at birth to ensure equity in outcomes from the start, and an innovative approach to fostering the development of the whole child. SparkED not only ensures equity for all but believes it’s only through access and authentic relationships across lines of difference families and students are able to realize a true sense of community.  

Through the combination of an exceptional language-first approach, social-emotional development explicitly taught and integrated into every part of the day, and a diverse community of families and staff we will provide students opportunities to experiences and outcomes that will result in both a solid foundation for and momentum towards unparalleled growth and opportunity across their lives.

Our Vision & Mission

Vision:

Through an innovative preschool model grounded in language development and an intentional approach to diversity and parent support, we will provide young children from all backgrounds a foundation for learning, friendships, citizenship, and essential skills to thrive in an evolving world.


Mission:

SparkED will provide all children, beginning at birth and extending through preschool, access to rich experiences and a diverse community that serves the whole child, whole family, and whole community.

Our 3 Pronged Approach

Early Family Academy

The Early Family Academy serves caregivers of newborns and young children from low-income communities. In the EFA, families are provided with supports, coaching, resources, and access to other families with the goal of ensuring their children meet key language and social-emotional developmental milestones.

SparkED Preschool

Providing a world-class pre-Kindergarten education that mimics elite programs across the country, anchored by a deep focus on language development and the social-emotional health of every child. Children will have access to a diverse range of rich experiences, incorporating the arts, music, drama, foreign language, and scientific investigation, among others.

Family Lab

Family Lab provides family-to-family support and development through meaningful coaching and support, access to research and best practices, and a diverse community grounded in common goals. Early Academy is exclusively for families of children enrolled in SparkED preschool program.

 

Our High Impact Program Model

We seek to open a birth to 5 support and development program for caregivers and children in the next 18 months. We need your help to make that happen!

We Need Your Help

We need your help in bringing a world-class preschool to a diverse group of children and families that will ensure that every child has the development, from their youngest years of life, to thrive!  To do that, SparkED is seeking to raise $15,000! 

To begin our next phase of growth, we are raising money to:

  • Purchase curricular and development resources for our Early Family Academy’s first cohort of 25 families starting this summer! The curricular resources are grounded in providing development and strategies related to social-emotional learning and key milestones and language development.

  • Operating costs for our first Early Family Academy cohort

  • Advertising expenses to start outreach to families both related to Early Family Academy and our SparkED Preschool

 

Founder

A career teacher and elementary school leader, I most recently oversaw a national network of high-performing charter elementary schools that served over 8,000 students, primarily from low-income backgrounds, across the country.  Through my career, I’ve seen firsthand the gaps that exist for students by age 5, and the struggles families have encountered in finding quality preschool programs. Conversely, in my leadership of one of the highest-performing elementary schools in the state of California serving students, I have seen what happens when families make connections across lines of differences engage deeply in dialogue around best practices, and partner closely with educators to best support their children, and I’m driven to extend this impact to thousands of more families.

 

 

 

 

Updates

The Campaign FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions:

How many families do you serve in the Early Family Academy? 

We seek to serve over 75 families per year. Each year we hope to have 12 cohorts of 15-20 families. Each cohort engages in 13 weeks of group meetings and classes. 

What is the programming for Early Family Academy and Preschool? 

In our Early Family Academy, we will be using the innovative technology and programming from LENA Start. LENA Start is an early-language program designed for parents of children aged birth to three. It employs LENA technology and targeted coaching to improve interactive talk and generate measurable results for all children and families. 

To learn more about LENA Start, click here

Love to learn more! Where can read more about the details of SparkED? 

Click here! You will be directed to a lengthy google.doc that contains TONS of info about SparkED. 

 

 

 

 

02/27/2019
SparkED T-Shirt
$50
Allison Cochran
02/23/2019
SparkED T-Shirt
$150
GoJaclyn
02/18/2019
Monetary Contribution
$150
Ben Russ
02/15/2019
SparkED T-Shirt
$100
Jennifer Hill
02/14/2019
Monetary Contribution
$100
Jackson Lowery
02/14/2019
SparkED T-Shirt
$50
OB
02/13/2019
SparkED T-Shirt
$100
Rayna and Kevin
02/11/2019
SparkED T-Shirt
$50
Casey Rowe
02/11/2019
SparkED T-Shirt
$50
02/10/2019
SparkED T-Shirt
$50
Monetary Contribution

Just Because I Care

8 Supporters
Select this reward
50.00 USD
SparkED T-Shirt

Who loves a great t-shirt? We do! Donate 500.00 and receive a SparkED t-shirt that you can wear to show your amazing support!  

 

 

18 Supporters
Select this reward
1,000.00 USD
Featured Backer on SparkED Website

Backers who support with $1,000+ will be featured on the SparkED website. This will allow the entire community to see your support of children and families in Nashville. 

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1 Supporter
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About the Entrepreneur

Nashville, TN
Created 1 Campaign
Social Good

Rewards

Monetary Contribution

Just Because I Care

8 Supporters
Select this reward
50.00 USD
SparkED T-Shirt

Who loves a great t-shirt? We do! Donate 500.00 and receive a SparkED t-shirt that you can wear to show your amazing support!  

 

 

18 Supporters
Select this reward
1,000.00 USD
Featured Backer on SparkED Website

Backers who support with $1,000+ will be featured on the SparkED website. This will allow the entire community to see your support of children and families in Nashville. 

99 Left
1 Supporter
Select this reward