Our History
Community Solves Pre-K Access.
In 2014, a small group of Orcas educators and community members understood that some young children on the island were not attending pre-school. Others could not fully participate due to the financial situations of their families. Almost half of our students entering kindergarten were at risk on national literacy assessments.
This realization led to the founding of the Early Childhood Education Initiative. The group committed to turning this challenge into a collaboration of members from three state-licensed preschools, generous private donors, county officials, and experts. They began providing quarterly funding to those pre-schools in 2019 to ensure that all young children of Orcas had access to quality early learning opportunities regardless of the family’s financial constraints.
The work of the Committee continues to support the youth on our island and equips them to meet the challenges of K-12 with excitement, preparedness, and enthusiasm.
Founding Members
Susan Anderson, Orcas Island Children’s House
Teresa Chicano, Orcas Montessori School
Joe Cohen
Jim Connell
Martha Farish
Dale Heisinger
Sage McCleod, Early Childhood Education & Assistance Program
Eliza Morris
Amber Paulsen, Kaleidoscope
Despite the good and hard work of existing preschools, all students who needed preschool weren’t getting it and, all students completing preschool were not arriving at kindergarten at common and sufficient readiness for school. The Early Childhood Education Initiative was built to close and ultimately eliminate these gaps.
Jim Connell, Founding Member
Our Team
The Early Childhood Education Initiative brings together educators and advocates on Orcas who are committed to securing permanent, universal access to high-quality early childhood education on the island.
Get Involved
We operate on the generosity of local community members, private foundations, and public sources. Find out how your donation of financial support or volunteering can make a difference.