Attleboro Schools Early Learning Center Hosts Training Sessions for Staff of Local Preschool Programs

ATTLEBORO — Superintendent David Sawyer and Thacher Elementary School Principal Frank Rich are pleased to share that teachers at the district’s Early Learning Center (ELC) recently hosted two training sessions to support employees of privately operated Attleboro preschool programs.

The training sessions were offered to employees of local private preschools with the goal of providing them with resources and tools to help develop and increase the skills necessary to address and manage children’s needs and behavioral challenges.

ELC Team Facilitator Diane Diiorio, Preschool Teacher Lauren Mulready, Preschool Teacher Christine Genannt and ELC’s Board-Certified Behavioral Analyst Rachel Hall partnered with local Project Connect Coordinator Andrea Witherall to host the two-part training series.

Nineteen community preschool workers from nine private preschool programs attended the sessions on March 12 and 26 at the Thacher Elementary School Library. Those in attendance were from Busy Bees Learning Center, the Project Connect-Attleboro Coordinated Family & Community Engagement program (CFCE), Attleboro Arts Museum, For Pete’s Sake, Robbins Children’s Programs, Pumpkin Patch Childcare, Children’s Express, JMC Daycare and Group Childcare.

The series focused on setting up learning environments for success, the importance of consistency and routines, building positive relationships with both children and parents and the effective use of visual supports and positive reinforcement.

The first session was focused on classroom community, culture, routines and transitions. Attendees had the opportunity to express behavioral challenges they are experiencing in their programs.

The second session was centered around including visual supports in the classroom, strategies for supporting self-regulation and data collection.

With the success of the two sessions, Attleboro Public Schools hopes to provide additional continuing education opportunities in the future to further assist community preschool programs on the important topic of behavioral support.

“This professional development was a wonderful opportunity for the Attleboro Public Schools to partner with the community preschool programs to address the increasing social-emotional needs of Attleboro’s 3–5-year-old residents,” said Thacher Elementary School and Early Learning Center Assistant Principal Meghan Thomson.

###