What is Norwalk Kids Start Smart?

We are a collaborative of community members, parents, business, government, schools and non-profit organizations advocating for quality early childhood education and care to prepare all Norwalk’s children for success in school and life!

Goal 1: Create an Integrated System – Community Organizations working together: Early care providers, elementary educators, social service agencies, health care providers and parent groups work together to coordinate communications, resources and practices to prepare children for success in Kindergarten.

Goal 2: Increase Parental Knowledge and Involvement:
-- Parents have the information and skills they need to actively support their child’s development and help prepare their child to enter kindergarten ready to learn.
-- Parents are well organized to impact policies and practices affecting young children in Norwalk.

Goal 3: Build Community Will: Norwalk demonstrates a commitment to high quality pre-K education and care as an essential foundation for future success in school.

What Can You Do?
Learn more about the importance of early childhood education – we can provide you with information.
Are you a parent or grandparent or family member of a young child? Talk, Listen and Read to your child as often as you can.
Are you a parent or community member that wants to work with parents of young children? Support the outreach work of our Parent Advocacy and Parent Engagement Teams.
Are you a business person that has communications or technology skills? – our Community Mobilization Team needs help to get information out to parents and the community at large.


NORWALK KIDS START SMART COORDINATING TEAM

Sonja Ahuja.
Community Liaison
WC Graustein Memorial Fund
sonjagai@optonline.net

Betsy Bain
Chair
School Readiness Council
Bain06853@aol.com

Mary Budrawich
Director, Early Childhood Education
Norwalk Public Schools
Budrawichma@norwalpublicschools.net

Cathy DeCesare
Campaign Director
United Way of Norwalk & Wilton
cdecesare.uwnw@snet.net

Aida Frese
Coordinator
Norwalk Kids Start Smart
kidsstartsmart@norwalkpublicschools.net

Eisybell Garcia
Parent PLTI Alumni
garciem@snet.net

Sally Grose
Board Member
NEON
sallygrose@snet.net

George Hensinger
PLTI Alumni
hensin@localnet.com

David Kennedy
President & CEO
United Way of Norwalk & Wilton
Dkennedy.uwnw@snet.net

Bruce Morris
Human Relations Director
Norwalk Public Schools
Brucemorris1955@aol.com

Mary Peniston
Assistant to Superintendent
Norwalk Public Schools
maryp@norwalkpublicschools.net

Victoria Schilling
Coordinator
Norwalk Healthy Families Collaborative
Hschill838@aol.com

Paula Trujillo & Christine Miller
Kids Start Smart Parent Advisory Group – Co-Chairs

Linda Wilock
Director
Norwalk Youth Services
LWilock@norwalkct.org