Providing education with a smile

Go back to the days where your parents brought you to school and you cried when they left you with your teacher. The days where you learned coloring in between the lines, dressed up as a firefighter, drove a bike in the school’s playground. Don’t you wish you could go back to those days?

For a child at an early learning center these lessons of life, and so much more, are part of their day. But while the importance of early childhood education cannot overstated, not every parent is fortunate enough to provide their child with it. Five Towns Early Learning Center Executive Director Pepper Robinson in Inwood is determined to change that.

Robinson’s trademark is giving a chance to those in need of support. “We want to make the lives of everyone who walks through the door better,” said Robinson, who has worked at the center for eight years.

Many of the children who attend the center come from homes where parents struggle to make ends meet their home lives, Robinson said, but when hearing the quietest children laugh out loud, you can tell that something magical is happening here. She attributes that magic to the work of her 15-member staff. “They help to change the lives of these children.”

Her staff members feel blessed coming to this job every day: “I got an interview with Pepper, and once I came to the Center I fell in love with it. This place reminded me of my own childhood,” said teacher Elsie Rosales, who has worked here for two years. “I have seen many early learning centers (during job interviews), but none of them do what is done here”.

Rosales is not the only one who recognizes the Center’s work. In 2009, the Center’s playground was certified as a nationally designated Nature Explore Classroom — a dynamic learning nature-based playground. This uniquely designed playground and its certification is something Robinson is very proud of, since many of her students do not have a backyard to play in.

Being one of the Center’s main sponsors, Woodmere -based Five Towns Community Chest has shown their appreciation and faith by supporting it for 63 years. Part of that support means that the Early Learning Center receives a yearly allotment of funding from Community Chest which is used for 10 to 15 scholarships. Robinson is also grateful for Community Chest’s ‘Neighbors in Need’ Program. As part of this program she requests financial support on behalf of her families. Often a small grant from Chest as little as $250 can go a long way to help a family with an unusual hardship.

“The Learning Center requested aid for 15 families who were struggling with basic needs. Chest answered by giving up to $750 to each family”, Robinson said. The program is not the only way Community Chest shows how much they value the Center’s work. Throughout the year, they have donated school supplies, athletic equipment, and bright orange T-shirts with blue prints the children can wear when they go on field trips. This way the teachers can easily distinguish their kids from the crowd. Chest also co-sponsored a toy drive at holiday time.

Both organizations work to maintain their important collaboration. Glancing into the future, Robinson hopes Chest will continue their advocacy for early childhood education continuing the path they follow at this moment. The support from Chest is important for the Learning Center: “We need Chest for survival. It’s for every day, the things they do for our families, knowing that they’re there like a net. It’s like family being there when you need them.”