Lisa Ross, Keystone STARS Quality Coach for the Northwest Regional Key shares her experience working with Beacon Day Care in Indiana PA.
In the nearly three years I have been working with Beacon Day Care, I have seen them make AMAZING progress and most recently they are the first provider I have had choose to have the CLASS Assessment done in their quest for movement. They have excitedly achieved their STAR 3 using this tool.
This program has come a very long way in the past three years. When I initially began supporting them in 2015, they were having some struggles.
Fast forward to approximately a year ago when Suzy took over as Director and began educating the staff (and the owner) about the value of quality and of making improvements to their program. In Suzy’s tenure, there have been encouraging changes in many positive ways. The owner has taken huge steps in making environmental improvements at the facility (even adding on a new addition with two classrooms) with additions and renovations.
Suzy told me in their movement to STAR 3 they were going to opt for CLASS assessment. She spent time with her staff familiarizing them with CLASS and educating them on how to put these skills into action in their facility. Along the way, the owner came to realize the value of Quality Improvement and how Keystone STARS fits into the big picture. When sharing the CLASS reports and congratulations on their achievement he responded, “YAY!!!! I have to say I really was not intially fond of all this STAR stuff when first approached years ago. But after working through it all with Suzy and you and truly understanding it, I really see the need.”
I’m excited by what we can pass on to the children through this program.