We’re celebrating the accomplishments of Family Provider, Cheryce Sullivan, Owner of Noah’s Ark Christian Learning in Cumberland County!
Cheryce opened her family childcare home in 2016. She has a nursing background, working in a local medical facility but was laid off. She then worked at a friend’s childcare center for four years and found her new career. Her experiences at the center were very positive as she worked with the Pre-K Classroom and discovered her passion.
Cheryce enrolled in the Mentor/Mentee Program and found the program to be what she needed. By being matched with an experienced family provider, Cheryce gained a wealth of knowledge that has really helped her to become educated on things she didn’t know about having your own family childcare. She took advantage of extra trainings, using the resources that were provided as incentives and met other mentors and mentees who were sources of information. This past year Cheryce was a mentor in the START UP TA Mentor Program. Cheryce has stated that she wouldn’t be where she is today if it weren’t for Keystone STARS and the Mentoring Program.
By participating in the networking that occurs among the family providers, Cheryce feels her education is continuing. She credits this with helping her to create good lesson plans that incorporate the Early Learning Standards. Using these contacts as well as her mentor/mentee contacts, Cheryce is providing a great learning atmosphere for the children she serves. This is what is most important to her – the growth of the children.
Taking advantage of the T.E.A.C.H. Scholarship Program, Cheryce is currently enrolled with Clarion University online program and is working towards her Bachelor’s Degree in ECE. Her goal is a Master’s Degree.
Another goal that Cheryce is pursuing, is working toward National Association for Family Child Care (NAFCC) Accreditation. She has started reviewing the program and all the requirements that need to be met. She anticipates enrolling in the process very soon.
Perhaps what Cheryce is most excited about is that in April 2018, her site became a STAR 4! She moved from a STAR 2 to STAR 4! She was thrilled with her ERS scores that allowed this movement to take place and felt going through the ERS experience was a great learning experience.