nothin New Haven Independent | New BECC Director Steps Aboard

New BECC Director Steps Aboard

With Permission

Michele Krumenacker became the Branford’s Early Childhood Collaborative (BECC) new executive director this week, a position that seems ready made for her experience in developing programs for children and families.

My experience in developing programs and working collaboratively with children and families fits well with the BECC’s focus,” she said in prepared remarks.

The BECC was formed approximately 13 years ago and like similar programs in Connecticut and throughout the nation its purpose is to increase the number of school-ready children, beginning at birth.

In my new position I look forward to working with Branford to help kids have a strong support system from birth, have safe and healthy early life experiences and are prepared to enter school by age 5.”

Most recently, she was the program director at the Women and Family Life Center in Guilford, where she implemented a number of programs including revamping the Center’s peer-mentoring program for girls ages eight to sixteen.

She also served as a community facilitator with the Hamden Transition Academy for more than 10 years and worked in Lehigh, Pa. as a program coordinator and probation officer. Many of the programs she developed there are still used today.

The organization receives significant funding from the William Caspar Graustein Memorial Fund as a Discovery Community, and aims to create a collaborative local early childhood system to ensure early learning success for all children aligning with Connecticut’s Early Childhood Investment Framework, Ready by 5, Fine by 9.”

Last year the BECC, a non-profit entity, received $10,000 from the town of Branford, a portion of which went to a children’s dental needs program. In collaboration with the East Shore District Health Department and Branford Cares, the BECC recently completed a dental survey of Branford residents and children to better understand the dental health of the community.

Some of the BECC’s recent events include: the 2013 Not a Box” town-wide literacy celebration in honor of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) Week of the Young Child; and Are You Smarter Than a Third Grader?” event in September, which was also its first fundraiser.

BECC Chair Robin Comey told the Eagle that in addition to the organization’s primary goal of programming to make sure kids are healthy, supported and ready to enter school, the BECC plans to work with stakeholders on school readiness. 

School readiness became an issue last year when schools superintendent Hamlet Hernandez did not apply for a competitive school readiness grant, a state-wide program that expands early learning for families unable to afford pre-school for their child. He did not apply, he told the Eagle back in June, because he learned Branford would not get funding that year.

He said he did intend to apply for a school readiness grant for the 2014 – 15 school year. To get the grant process rolling the top town official and the top school official are required to agree. And both he and then First Selectman Unk DaRos signed off on the letter. 

Krumenacker takes over leadership of the BECC from Jennifer Ballen Riccards, who served as Interim Executive Director after the departure of Jodi Kelly, who left in September of 2013.
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