UNC’s Frank Porter Graham Institute Hosts First BBF Field Trip

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"It's great to know that professionals are working together to create bright futures not only for the children, but also for the teachers who practice their profession with love and dedication.” - Yesenia Henriquez, Apprentice and Event Attendee

On July 28, apprentices, mentors, and center directors from across the state converged at UNC’s Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute in Chapel-Hill as part of BBF’s first field trip for participants. The event provided a closer look into some of the early childhood research being conducted by the Frank Porter Graham (FPG) Institute and how this research benefits communities of families, educators, and policy makers across North Carolina and the nation.

Brian Boyd, Interim Director of FPG, gave opening remarks, stating, "The work of FPG has been, and continues to be, dedicated to improving the quality of life for young children in every way, from developmental disabilities and early care and education, to physical, social, and emotional health, and racial, ethnic, linguistic, cultural, and socioeconomic diversity."

Attendees heard from a number of early childhood researchers, covering such topics as autism, equity and inclusion, implementation practice, and long-term benefits of early childhood education. Those who presented included:

• Ann Sam, PhD, Senior Research Scientist, whose special interest areas are early childhood education 
  and autism, shared examples of Autism Focused Intervention Resources & Modules (AFIRM) online 
  modules and toolkits. Many of these resources can be downloaded for free and in multiple languages
  and serve as support materials for individuals with autism, their caregivers, and other professionals.
• Jani Kozlowski, MA, Technical Assistance Specialist with FPG’s Early Childhood TA (ECTA) Center spoke
  to the importance of early childhood inclusion at all levels – from individual classrooms up to the state 
  level. She highlighted the ECTA systems framework which involves working with state and local systems 
  to develop and implement evidence-based practices benefitting children with disabilities and their 
  families.
• Alana Gilbert, MPH, Implementation Associate with the NC-Implementation Capacity for Triple P 
  Project began her work at FPG through a summer internship. Gilbert reviewed her research in
  implementation science, implementation practice, and the Triple P—Positive Parenting Program, a 
  parenting and family support system of interventions.
• Robert Carr, PhD, Research Scientist discussed how early childhood education programs, particularly NC Pre-K and Head Start, influence a child’s development of academic and social-behavioral skills throughout their school years.
• Nicole Telfer, PhD, Postdoctoral Scholar, shared her research that addresses equity gaps and challenges in the Early Childhood Environment Rating Scale, third edition (ECERS-3) as well as a new project considering ethnic-racial socialization practices among Black children with disabilities. 

Following the presentations, BBF apprentices and mentors had the chance to connect and share thoughts and ideas over lunch and a roundtable discussion. They were able to speak directly with some of the presenters, connect with each other, and ask the BBF team questions. 

An integral benefit of participating with BBF are opportunities to hear from industry professionals and leaders throughout the state who are dedicated to the important work of early childhood education. Gathering with fellow apprentices and mentors provides an extra layer of camaraderie, allowing participants to share experiences with those who are on a similar career path.

Jennifer De La Jara, Workforce Development Director at Charlotte Bilingual Preschool, attended with several apprentices and mentors who are participating in the Building Bright Futures initiative. “This in-person experience provided me the opportunity to begin the apprentice-mentor relationship. Sometimes opportunities outside of the regular work environment allow for deeper relationship building.”

Apprentice Stephanie Torres, commented, “As a new apprentice, in-person events like the FPG field trip are extremely beneficial for my teaching career. The FPG event offered a lot of information, useful tips, and resources, and I enjoyed connecting with other mentors and apprentices around the state who are committed to making a change in early childhood education.”

Building Bright Futures will continue supporting participants through professional development opportunities. Save the date for our next field trip with The Hunt Institute and DCDEE in Raleigh on October 27! If you have an idea for a field trip, experience, or topic you would like to explore, please reach out to us.

August 2023 Newsletter Article