Kindergarten Readiness

Trident United Way leading the way through collective impact

As the convener for our region’s first Kindergarten Readiness Network, and in partnership with the Tri-County Cradle to Career Collaborative (TCCC), Trident United Way (TUW) is positioned to provide the infrastructure necessary to support hundreds of early learning organizations, providers, businesses, governments, community volunteers and others to collect data for an ambitious common agenda, develop shared goals and milestones and identify and operationalize promising solutions. This move aims to improve academic and developmental outcomes for children from birth through age 5 by creating a cohesive and strategic plan in coordination with community, local and state stakeholders.

Kindergarten Readiness Network Members

Network Leadership

• Convening Partner: Trident United Way

• Primary Contacts

  • Cathy Easley, ceasley@tuw.org, Trident United Way

  • Crystal Robinson Rouse, TCCC's Director of Collective Action Networks, Crystal@TriCountyCradleToCareer.Org and LaTisha Vaughn, TCCC’s Chief Operations Officer, LaTisha@TriCountyCradleToCareer.org

Guiding Team Members

• Bryan Buroughs- Vice President and General Council, Institute for Child Success
• Crystal Campbell- Executive Director, Dorchester County First Steps
• Kim Foxworth- Executive Director of Early Childhood Readiness Programs, CCSD
• Adrienne Troy-Frazier- Executive Director, Berkeley County First Steps
• Herman Knoff- Anita Zucker Center for Excellence at Early Childhood Studies
• Kelley White- College of Charleston 
• Tiffany Howard- Training and Partnership Development Manager, Help Me Grow
• Crystal Davis- Charleston County First Steps
• Sherry Gilliam- Executive Director at Charleston County First Steps
• Samantha Janicki- Quality Coach at South Carolina Child Care Resource and Referral
   

A Vision for Kindergarten Readiness Network

The Kindergarten Readiness Network has agreed upon the following vision to guide their efforts:

• Kindergarten Readiness involves children, families, early care and educational environments schools and communities.
• Families and caregivers encourage the physical, social and emotional, cognitive, and language development of children.
• Early Childhood practitioners partner with children and their families using evidence-based, child-centered, and developmentally and culturally appropriate curricula and practices.
• Communities create a system for access and support resources and institutions that will promote and support the development of the whole child. 
• All are necessary so that all children will experience kindergarten success.

Kindergarten Readiness