Thank you to all our early childhood educators, and their vast network of support for creating a comprehensive, interesting, informative and enjoyable Early Childhood Guide for this community. This is a perfect way to highlight The Month of the Young Child.

I am constantly in awe of the highly proficient, dedicated, well-educated, thoughtfully trained and experienced early childhood educators with which Addison County is blessed.

Having these resources available to children and families is crucial for our future. Understanding early childhood development and using infinite kinds of play helps ensure that we will have a constant source of new leaders, workforce, teachers, skilled trades people, caregivers of all kinds et cetera. We will have individuals who have skills to remain calm and think, can negotiate diplomatically and respectfully, will learn from experiences past and present, who are kind, compassionate, and who possess a sense of humor, curiosity and wonder.

Thanks to our early childhood community our hopes and prospects are strong and bright. I feel so very grateful.

Johana “Jody” Brakeley, M.D. retired

Early Care and Learning Partnership

Middlebury