Featured Chapter
Name: Pittsburgh Association for the Education of Young Children
Geographic Area: Ten counties; Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Fayette, Greene, Indiana, Lawrence, Washington, Westmoreland
Contact Info: www.pghaeyc.org, 5604 Solway Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15217, 412.421.3889, Michelle Figlar, Executive Director, mfiglar@pghaeyc.org.
Number of Members: 1283
Board Composition: Our board is comprised of an Executive Committee (President, Past-President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer) and nineteen at-large board members. Our board members come from the Early Childhood, K-12 Community, Early Intervention, Higher Education and Business communities.
Photos from PAEYC's
Month of the Young Child Kick-Off Event
Board Members: .jpg)
· Executive Committee: President: Jacqueline Thomas; YWCA of Greater Pittsburgh, Past President: Linda Wagner; Seton Hill Child Services Vice-President: Tom Smith; Long Run Children’s Learning Center, Secretary: Sandi Koebler; Beginning with Books, Treasurer: Kari Redman, Tender Care Learning Center.
· At-Large Board Members: Christine Battista, Tender Care Learning Center, Thom Burns, Point Park University Children’s School, Sarah Byrne-Houser, Ligonier Valley YMCA, Sharon Carver, Carnegie Mellon University Children’s School, Debra Forsha, accessAbilities, Barb Ginsburg, Carlow University, Linda Hancock, Carnegie Mellon University Children’s School, Bill Hillgrove, School Specialty, Lauren Laird, Consultant, Shelley Martin, University of Pittsburgh Child Development Center, Sally McCrady, PNC Grow Up Great, Mary Beth McCulloch, University of Pittsburgh Child Development Center, Sue Polojac, Fayette County Head Start, David Pribish, The Consortium for Public Education, Darcy Stiteler, Beaver County Community 
Engagement, Cyndi Syskowski, Community College of Allegheny County, Charzzi White, Tender Care Learning Center, Angela Wtorkiewicz, Westmoreland County Community Action Head Start.
Committee Info: Accreditation, By-Laws, Policies and Procedures, Conference, Development, Membership, Month of the Young Child, Nominations and Elections, Professional Development, Personnel and Public Policy. Ad Hoc: Communication and Technology, Human Resources, Growth and Collaboration.
Annual Activities:
- Month of the Young Child (April)
- In 2009, PAEYC partnered with a variety of community organizations to hold events in several of PAEYC’s counties. In collaboration with the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, Beginning with Books, Kohls Cares for Kids, University of Pittsburgh and Duquesne University students, the Pittsburgh Steelers, and the Aviary of Pittsburgh a MOYC kick-off event for children and families was held at the East Liberty branch of the Carnegie Library to celebrate the PA One Book, “If You Were a Penguin”.
- Other Month of the Young Child partners include the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh, Allegheny County Department of Human Services, Council of Three Rivers American Indian Ctr., United Way of Westmoreland County, United Way of Allegheny County, Starting Early Together, Pittsburgh Public Schools, PNC Grow Up Great, Allegheny Intermediate Unit, Becker’s School Supply, Shady Lane Resources, Allegheny County LICC, Tender Care Learning Centers and the Southwest Community Engagement Collaborative.
- Celebration/Member Dinner during Month of the Young Child
- Over 250 people attended the 2009 Celebration Dinner located at Rodef Shalom Congregation and was planned in collaboration with the above partners.
- Conference: May 14 and 15, 2010; Creativity: Where the Future Begins
- May 14th at the Omni William Penn and May 15th at the David Lawrence Convention Center. This year we will partner with Allegheny County Family Support and the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts to bring this first time two-day event to life!
- Public Policy
- PAEYC coordinated a bus trip from Western Pennsylvania with fifty participants to attend Early Childhood Action Day in Harrisburg, with support of the United Wayof Allegheny County and United Wayof Westmoreland County.
- In partnership with the United Wayof Westmoreland County, PAEYC hosted the 2009 Early Childhood Legislative Breakfast at the Pittsburgh Athletic Association with 45 attendees. The Master of Ceremonies was Michael Bartley from WQED and co-hosts were Senator John Pippy and Representative Dan Frankel. Speakers were Congressman Mike Doyle and Congressman Tim Murphy.
- Membership Services
- PAEYC is reaching out to local colleges and universities in our ten counties to convey the benefits to ECE students of PAEYC membership. As a result of that outreach, a few of the universities have expressed interest in creating student groups, as potential partners with PAEYC in scheduling activities and events.
Other:
- Accreditation Project: Funds from the Grable Foundation and Heinz Endowments makes it possible for PAEYC to support programs through the NAEYC accreditation or re-accreditation process.
- PNC Grow Up Great with Science project: PNC Grow Up Great issued a grant to the following partners; PAEYC, California University of Pennsylvania, Private Industry Council of Fayette/Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, and the Pennsylvania Parks & Forests Foundation to provide support to PIC teachers for implementing science activities in their classrooms.
- Kids Play/Market Square: In collaboration with Beginning with Books Read 365, Shady Lane Resources, Reading Is Fundamental, Pittsburgh Downtown Partnerships, PNC and PAEYC, local early childhood programs are treated to guest readers and literacy activities on Fridays throughout the summer in downtown Pittsburgh’s Market Square.
- Contracts with the Northwest and Southwest Regional Keys to offer professional development for Early Childhood and School Age practitioners as well as the School Age Professional Credential. PAEYC serves on the Leadership Council for the Southwest Regional Key.
- OCDEL Leadership: The PAEYC Executive Director and Assistant Director represent the region on several statewide committees; Early Learning Council, Keystone STARS Advisory, Early Learning Career Preparation and Development Committee, Infant/Toddler Systems Committee.
- Grable Community Cabinet: PAEYC’s Executive Director participates on the Grable Community Cabinet, whose focus is to help Pittsburgh become the most livable city for children.
- Community Engagement: With the University of Pittsburgh Office of Child Development, PAEYC’s Executive Director coordinates community engagement activities in Allegheny County as well as collaborates with the other community engagement groups in the Southwest region on regional advocacy activities.
- Teacher Induction project: PAEYC provides mentors and evaluators for teachers going through the induction process through the Allegheny Intermediate Unit.
- Business Boosting Early Learning: PAEYC, in partnership with Beginning with Books, the Office of Child Development and United Wayof Allegheny County, business mentors/volunteers are assisting facilities with business practices and reading to children.
- CDA Advisor project: PAEYC provides advisors for practitioners going through the CDA process. Advisors as well as practitioners must meet certain criteria to be eligible for this project.