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Ideas to Impact: Your Gifts at Work!
PCSD Preschool
- PCSD half-day Preschool started in the fall of 2011
- Serves 200 three and four year-olds at all four elementary schools
- PCEF provides $100,000 in annual support, including gifts from Vail's EpicPromise, United Way, and individual families
- PCEF's support is used to lower the cost on a sliding scale for all students
From the beginning , PCEF has been a partner to the District in providing high quality and affordable preschool. Study after study shows the impact of early childhood education is immense, and that is proving to be true here in Park City. In fact, the half-day program has been so successful that an all-day 4 year-old class is now being tested at McPolin Elementary.
Debbie Freeman has been teaching Preschool since it's inception, and is teaching the all-day class. "It's opened the door to more working and middle class families who needed an all-day option," she says, "and the longer day is beneficial. We do assessments three times a year and the mid-year scores blew us away, with results we don't normally see until the year-end. Some kids are reading already!
"What's been fun is we've been able to add enrichment in the afternoons. We have dance, library, PE, and art once a week. We go to lunch in the cafeteria. The Kindergarten teachers are very excited that they won't have to teach all that. These students are going to be great role models for the children coming into all day kinder next year!
"But the most important thing is they love school. It's a safe place where they can express themselves, where their ideas matter. They are like a little family, and they take care of each other. They work really well together. Academically they are doing great, but more importantly, they are happy here and want to be here, and hopefully that will carry on. It's a good start for them." Long-term studies show that early childhood education minimizes the achievement gap. High school graduation rates, years of education completed, and earned income are positively affected as well. The return on investment for affordable high quality preschool is a remarkable $13 for every $1 invested!
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PCEF Early Childhood Education Facts
- Early Childhood Education is one of PCEF's six areas of interest for program funding
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Early Childhood Education Programs we support:
- PCSD Preschool, including gifts from Vail's EpicPromise and UW
- All Day Kindergarten curriculum development
- Read Across America/Dr. Seuss Day
- Together with our donors, we will fund three Early Childhood Education programs this year, totally over $110,000. See a complete list here.
To give to these or any PCEF program, please click here.
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Running with Ed
Early-Bird Pricing Ends February 29th!
Win $5,000 for Your School!
- Take advantage of early-bird pricing.
- Teams of 5 -10 people: anyone and everyone can do it.
- Only team captain is needed to register.
- Win $5,000 for your school! School with the highest runner participation will win the $5,000 Ragnar grant!
- All proceeds go to PCEF School Grants such as the PCHS National Competition Fund, Leadership Class at TMJH, and reading programs at the elementary schools and Ecker.
- Great swag, great parties, great community event.
- Be part of Park City's Favorite Fundraiser!
- REGISTER now!
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Read Across America Day
March 2nd, 2016
Celebrate Dr. Seuss' Birthday by reading to students! Read to Park City School District elementary students for half an hour and the Park City Education Foundation will buy a book for their classroom library!
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Men4Ed
Men4Ed is building a membership of 1,000 men who care about kids, education, and the Park City community. Membership is a one-time donation of $1,000 and with it comes a lifetime of benefits. Join here!
Want to learn more or already a member?
Join us at an upcoming Men4Ed Event: Men4Ed Ski Day - Feb 11th, 9:00 - 11:00am. Meet in the coffee shop at the base of Park City. Enjoy taking a few turns with other Men4Ed members.
Casino Night - It is time for our second annual Casino Night! We had a great time last year and are working to make this our marquee event every year. This year's event will be held at a private residence, have more tables and is sure to be sold out! This event is open to Men4Ed members and perspective members.
Casino Night: Feb 26, 2016, 8:00pm - 11:00pm
Desserts and Drinks, Location information when you RSVP
Please RSVP to Abby McNulty at amcnulty@pcschools.us
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When: February 11th, 6:30 Screening, 7:30 pm Panel discussion
Where: Jim Santy Auditorium, Park City Library
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PC Bands Sweetheart Gala
Enjoy our community party!
Valentine's Dinner and Dance
Live Music by PCHS Varsity Jazz
February 12, 2016
St. Mary's Church Grand Hall
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Teacher Spotlight - Kathy Anderson
- PCSD Early Childhood Program Specialist (Preschool)
- Elementary teacher for 27 years - 25 in PCSD
- Double major in Early Childhood Education and Elementary Education from New Mexico State, Master's Degree in Reading Instruction from University of New Mexico, Endorsements in ESL, Reading Level I and Reading Level II
- Grew up in Colorado Springs and Georgia
"I thought I would go into journalism originally," says Kathy, "and I was majoring in English. I got a part-time job at the university day-care, and I knew then I wanted to work with kids! My dad was a college professor, and his passion for teaching really inspired me, too. Out of the five kids, four of us are teachers!"
Kathy started teaching Kindergarten in Albuquerque, but wanted to move to Park City. "My husband was working in Salt Lake, and I said if I can get a job in Park City, we'll move. I started teaching Kindergarten at Parley's, moved to Jeremy Ranch when it opened and taught 2nd grade for 6 years, then became a Reading Specialist for 12 years. When I heard about the new District Preschool opening up, I called Tom Van Gorder and said 'What do I need to do to be there?!'
"I was hired as the Early Childhood Program Specialist overseeing the four Preschool sites and have also taught one of the classes for the past four years. This year I'm helping write the new all-day kindergarten curriculum, so I'm not teaching. But as the Specialist, I can sub when they need me! The best part of my day is seeing the joy on the kids' faces as they grasp a concept.
"It's special to work where you live. I've watched my students grow up to become amazing adults, and now some have come back and are teachers here. When we moved here my daughter was three and in the District daycare, and now she's graduated from college. My twin boys are juniors at PCHS. I've been inspired by their teachers - they are incredible.
"The difference teaching in this District is the parent support. It's incredible. And we have far more resources. I remember being excited that I didn't have to ask permission to use the copier! And having PCEF has changed this district in so many ways. Teachers have dreams that can become reality with funding and support from the Ed Foundation. You can think, 'I really wish I had this,' and then it can happen! It ignites a fire in us as teachers."
Kathy loves anything outdoors, Sundance and yoga. She did a segment of 'Take My Job' with the sportscaster from Channel 2, where she did the 6:00 am sports, and he came up to teach her class. "He read to them and then took them out for an hour recess!"
Teacher Spotlight - Laura Bechdel
- Spanish Language and LIA teacher at Treasure Mountain Junior High School
- Teacher for nine years - six in PCSD
- BA in Comparative Sociology with a minor in Spanish from the University of Puget Sound, Master in Teaching from Westminster, TESOL certificate from Seattle University, Endorsements in ELL, Spanish and Gifted and Talented
- Moved to Peru to learn to surf
Originally from McCall Idaho, Laura was not planning on becoming a teacher. "My passion for teaching happened serendipitously. After college I traveled and worked in Mexico and Central America. I moved to the northern coast of Peru in order to learn to surf and began volunteering as an English Foreign Language teacher with a local non-profit. I was hooked; I knew I had found my passion and my career for life!
"I taught for a year there, and then got my TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) certification. I taught English at a public high school in the Galapagos Islands, then taught for two years in Ecuador. I met my future husband on a rafting trip through the Grand Canyon, and moved to Park City six months later to be with him!
Laura loved teaching in rural schools, but also feels very fortunate to teach here. "I don't have to charge my students 10c a page to take a test! Most of all, I appreciate the standard of excellence in this district: phenomenal teachers, strong administrative leaders, supportive tech and instructional coaches, and access to professional development and endorsement programs. Besides that, my students are amazing and are the reason I come to work happy every day.
"The best part of teaching, for me, is finding ways to help my students connect to my curriculum in an engaging, relevant way. I love seeing students build curiosity for learning and our world, expressing their own individuality and critical thinking in the process."
When asked what PCEF means to her, Laura replies, "PCEF is a true community organization. It is supported and funded by community members-- from generous yearly donors to hard-working families bringing cash in white envelopes. With the support of PCEF grants, teachers can take their ideas and transform them into innovative and powerful teaching and learning."
Laura's passions are anything to do with the outdoors, including white water rafting, kayaking and surfing. She loves travel, cooking, yoga and spending time with her family and friends. She and her husband are expecting their first child in April!
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Park City Education Foundation | 435-615-0235 | www.pcef4kids.org
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