I'm looking into my crystal ball and it's hard to believe the great challenges and changes that have occurred in my professional journey since last May. What an incredible/stressful 9 months (comparable to both of my pregnancies years ago) as I continue to strive for patience, active listening and reacting with appropriate choices and action for a successful outcome in my current education path and the completion of my masters' project. Some days are so rewarding, overwhelming, demanding and highly frustrating, which reminds me of each change I have made during my teaching career. I'm assuming with a year under my belt and no major set backs I'll be confident to handle the unknowns with poise and patience just as I have done during the past years.
I appreciate the support from many individuals for believing that a CHUMS version of an after school pilot program is possible and, though it may sound quite simple it has required a lot of time and effort to make positive progress.
The success of my vision is finding qualified consistent mentors, reliable yearly funding, an onsite administrator, teacher partnership with student mentors, onsite director and support from the college administration.
As time moves forward, my vision would be to continue to collect data on the NEED for quality infant through age 3 childcare without competing or disrupting current childcare facilities, before and after school care, professional training and professional development center. The vision is there, now the journey continues to find what our community does and doesn't need.
Please take a moment to watch the link below and picture 50 college students from one college campus twice a week making a lifetime difference as a mentor with our elem-middle school students. This is currently happening at Tabor College in Hillsboro's public elem. and middle schools. The funding for this 17 year long after school program for Hillsboro and Smoky Valley was made possible by Bill Romaine who never wanted any recognition from others, but had his heart set on giving to others. He has since past away but his presence will be around for years and years to come.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g_efz-kMu9A
The positives that will come from setting up a program like CHUMS will be worth all of the challenges and frustrations that might come along during the journey. Does the CHUMS program have guidelines of what they have to do with students as mentors or it is all based on what the student needs? Is it more homework oriented or activities? The video was inspiring.
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