By Michael Oliveira
The new early learning center, Ready, Set, Grow, has opened its doors at First Baptist Church and Director Ashley Campbell has a lot of aspirations.
The age groups that will be taught at Ready, Set, Grow range from 3 months to 6 years old and are separated in four different classrooms, ranging from 3-15 months, 15 months-2 years old, and 2-3 years old. The preschool program ranges from 2.9-6 years old.
Each classroom has its own curriculum based on age range, with fine motor skills, individual growth and development being prioritized.
Other priorities include teaching children, learning independence, belonging, expression, and engagement. Campbell said the church won’t have a role in the education process and the curriculum isn’t faith-based.
Campbell originally started her education at BCC in 2001 with a major in early childhood education. She had her first child in 2003, and took a break from school for three years until she went back in 2006 and eventually graduated from Fisher College in 2008.
Campbell has worked at nearly every level in the school system through her 26 years of experience. She has worked in numerous positions, including as a paraprofessional for inclusion-based and sub-separate group programs in a public school setting for children from second grade through high school. She is a mother to four boys and recently adopted two girls through DCF.
“Children are my passion, just watching them grow and learn is something I look forward to.” said Campbell.
As this learning center continues to grow, some of Campbell’s goals include keeping everyone safe. She also wants to create a nurturing environment for children in these age groups to help prepare them for elementary school and beyond
“A goal of mine is for children to reach milestones, and to create an environment where families know that their children are being safely supervised through each level of the classrooms” Campbell said.
Campbell has an open-door policy for families, meaning they can visit at any time during the school day, to ensure their children are being safely educated. The center capacity is 34 children, featuring 2 outdoor play areas.
