Early Learning and Development

A little girl playing with building blocks.
Our Focus

The Early Learning and Development Working Group partners with child care providers to enhance early learning programs for children.

Current Priorities
The Minus 9 to 5 initiative provides an incredible opportunity for me to contribute to big ideas that will improve our system of early care and education. The collaboration among organizations is allowing us to be much stronger together.
Lauren Small
Lauren Small Early Education Business Consultants, LLC
Working Group Members
Beth Anderson, Children’s Harbor Beverly Becker, Square One Katlynn Bodner, HRCAP Early Head Start/ Head Start Kisha Burchard-Goodfield, Infant Toddler Specialist Network Chanacy Butler, Chesapeake Thrives Kristen Carter, Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences at Old Dominion University, Minus 9 to 5 Kayla Corbitt, Operation Childcare Project Tessa Davis, Armed Services YMCA Dr. Navine Fortune, Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences at Old Dominion University, Minus 9 to 5 Sharon Howell, ChildCare Aware of Virginia Dusti Johnson-Brinker, Portsmouth Public Schools Dr. Jeanne Tardiff, Tidewater Community College Josetta Thomae, Virginia Beach Grow Smart Susanne Rakes, Child Care Aware Laura Roberts, Armed Forces YMCA Sara Rotherberg, Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences at Old Dominion University Pediatrics, Community Health and Research Lauren Small, Early Education Business Consultants, LLC Sean Wynn, United Way, SHR
Contact Beth Parker for more information at ParkerEK@ODU.EDU