Article Link: http://exchangepress.com/article/starting-from-scratch/5021422/
How many times have you thought “If only I could start from scratch and open my own center”? Financial resources, real estate realities, and business know-how are often huge barriers for the typical early childhood educator to bring this fantasy to life. Sometimes I wonder, though, if starting a new center really is harder than trying to turn around an existing center where you haven’t been able to make the changes you long for. Both approaches seem rather daunting. While most of us will stick with trying to improve existing centers, I’m impressed by those who boldly step out and open a new center. Hearing a firsthand account might help others who’d like to give it a try.A Conversation with Rukia Monique Rogers
I first meet Rukia some years ago when she worked as a preschool teacher in Atlanta. As a gift to honor her finishing early childhood classes, her mentor teachers gave her a copy of The Art of Awareness, one of the books I co-authored with Deb Curtis. When Deb and I came to her center to do a presentation, Rukia took the opportunity to introduce herself. Over the next few years I made visits to Rukia’s classroom and delighted ...