As we approach the end of the school year, we are celebrating all that we have accomplished thus far, and reflecting on the importance of our work to ensure all children and early educators can thrive. In this newsletter, we are excited to share our 2021-2022 Annual Report, an update from our team’s visit to the US Deputy Secretary of Education in Washington, D.C., and our 2023 Read for the Record book launch.
Also we are thrilled to share book recommendations in celebration of Arab American Heritage Month, as well as a very special Corps Member spotlight.
We hope you enjoy learning about the work going on at Jumpstart. We are so grateful for our Jumpstart community.
-Naila Bolus, CEO
Program and Policy Updates
JUMPSTART IN THE NEWS
Check Out Jumpstart’s 2021- 2022 Progress in the Annual Report
FEATURED BLOG POST
PROGRAM UPDATE
As the school year heads towards its close, Jumpstart sites are shifting their focus to all things year-end: end of session celebrations with preschool program partners, end of service celebrations for Corps members, and program year close-out tasks. At the same time, sites are creating plans for next program year by participating in Jumpstart’s annual site application process.
POLICY UPDATE
On April 4th, Jumpstart’s CEO, Naila Bolus, and Vice President of Programs, Dr. Ashley C. Williams, had the honor of meeting with US Deputy Secretary of Education Cindy Marten in Washington, DC. They had a great conversation about improving conditions for our youngest learners, including addressing teacher shortages. We look forward to continuing to partner to “Raise the Bar” so all children and early educators can thrive!
Read for the Record
Are you ready?
Are you ready for Read for the Record 2023? Well, get excited, because on Monday, we will reveal this year’s book! Please join us for a special Instagram live at 5:30 PM ET on April 24th, hosted by our CEO Naila Bolus with the author to announce this year’s book.
Follow us on social media to tune in for the Instagram live and stay connected with us!
Corp Member Spotlight
Yovani Gonzalez
We would like to introduce one of our Corps Members at Fresno State, Yovani Gonzalez. He is currently in his second year at Jumpstart, and his first year as a Team Leader. Yovani shared a heartfelt moment as his best memory during his time at Jumpstart: at an end-of-the-year party with the children that he served, they surprised him “with drawings of their favorite moments of us during the Jumpstart session, which made me feel appreciated and fulfilled”.
Yovani’s Jumpstart service has helped him get more involved in the community through different volunteer opportunities at several non-profits. He appreciates being able to give back to the community where he grew up and commented that his service allows him to have “a chance to help people through impactful service such as Jumpstart. For example, Jumpstart has allowed me to help provide quality education and materials for classrooms that do not have as [many] resources as other classrooms in Fresno. Serving in my current position has given me the opportunities to meet new people such as the teachers and students we work with and create meaningful interactions in the classrooms.”
Yovani’s service has helped him grow professionally and personally, mentioning that “Through service, I have improved my communication skills, learned how to facilitate meetings and provide support to my team members, and the environment I work in.”
Yovani also gave advice to the current Corps Members in Jumpstart to “ask for help and not isolate yourself from challenges you are facing. I have learned that it is better to ask for help from others because it will help you find effective solutions and less stress on yourself. It also will help you provide the best service to the classroom when you are supported by your team.”
Thank you Yovani for sharing your experiences with us and for your time of service. We can’t wait to see what other community engagement events you participate in!
Work With Us
We invite you to share the below opportunities with your networks and we welcome your referrals!
Jumpstart is committed to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, and we encourage candidates to demonstrate an ongoing commitment and interest in social justice or diversity, equity and inclusion work. To learn more about Jumpstart’s current employment opportunities, visit us at Careers – Jumpstart.
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