Before the first child walked through the door for a new school year, La Casa de Don Pedro made sure its team was ready.
More than 100 Head Start and Early Childhood Education employees came together for LCDP’s annual Pre-Service Training Week, a dedicated time for learning, collaboration, and preparation before the new program year begins. It is one of the most important weeks on the Early Childhood calendar, and this year it reflected the depth of commitment that defines LCDP’s approach to serving Newark’s youngest learners and their families.
Training sessions were held across several locations in Essex County, NJ, where staff gathered for professional development designed to strengthen instructional skills, deepen their understanding of child development, enhance teamwork across classrooms and sites, and reinforce the standards of care and excellence that La Casa de Don Pedro’s Early Childhood programs are known for. The settings were intentional, offering staff a chance to step outside the daily rhythm of their classrooms and invest fully in their own growth as educators and caregivers.
The energy throughout the week was one of renewal and purpose. Whether it was a veteran teacher refreshing her approach or a newer staff member building confidence ahead of her first program year, every session was grounded in the shared understanding that what happens in an LCDP classroom in those earliest years matters enormously, not just for the child, but for the family and the community.
La Casa de Don Pedro serves approximately 660 children annually through Early Head Start, Head Start, and Pre-K programming. Behind every one of those children is a team of dedicated educators and support staff who show up prepared, informed, and committed. Pre-Service Training Week is where that preparation begins.
Here is to a wonderful new year for our children, our families, and the extraordinary team that makes it all possible.
