Tuesday, Dec 8, 2015
Rony Adams has been promoted to the position of Director of the Early Learning Division, a new role created by consolidating management of GLCAC's three early childhood education programs.
Adams previously served as operations director in GLCAC’s Head Start, a federally funded early childhood program serving more than 700 children from Greater Lawrence. In addition to overseeing Head Start, Adams will manage the GLCAC’s Child Care Center and Lawrence Early Achievement Partnership, two largely state-funded pre-kindergarten programs.
“Our agency has a proud history of providing high-quality early childhood education to the children of Greater Lawrence, and we are continuing that tradition by finding efficient ways to improve management and put more resources into the classrooms,” said Evelyn Friedman, Executive Director of the GLCAC, a social services agency serving more than 29,000 individuals each year through 16 different programs. “Rony has the experience, education and trust of the community to take on this new role and find ways to improve our services to children and families.”
A native of Argentina, Adams holds a master’s degree in education from Merrimack College. Bilingual in English and Spanish, she joined GLCAC 17 years ago as a case manager.
“As an immigrant who moved here 34 years ago, I can relate to our clients’ challenges, such as learning a new language and a new culture. I can speak from experience and understand how our programs help families both educate their children and assist the families in adapting and succeeding in their new home,” Adams said.
Adams plans to build on efficiencies already in place, including a centralized kitchen and transportation services for GLCAC early education programs. Other areas for greater efficiency include:
- A central intake for families seeking early education services to determine which of the three programs meets the children and parent’s needs and eligibility.
- ?The ability to move substitute teachers and “floating” teachers to fill staffing gaps in the three programs.
- ?Managing billing and recordkeeping in a single office.
- ?Increasing outreach to low-income families to improve their access to early childhood education.
In its 50th year, GLCAC provides a wide range of services, including heating and energy-savings assistance, WIC, lead poisoning prevention, consumer protection, English-language classes and a variety of other services. The mission of the GLCAC is to help lift families out of poverty and set them on a pathway to stability and prosperity