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Education should be gentle and stern, not cold and lax. ~ Joseph Joubert |
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| SPOTLIGHT | ||
In September, 2006 the second annual Child Care Director of the Year Luncheon was held at the Centre Club in downtown Tampa. There are over 450 licensed child care centers in Hillsborough County. One of our directors, Robin Pentz, was not only nominated for this prestigious award, but was one of only two runners-up. Robin has always exemplified the very best of what an early childhood center director should be.
Since receiving this award, Robin has led her center, the HCC-Ybor Child Development Center, through National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) accreditation and is already providing the leadership and guidance necessary for re-accreditation under new, more stringent NAEYC guidelines. Currently the CDC-Ybor is one of three centers in the county participating in the center-wide Positive Behavior Support program that involves ALL parents and staff in developing strategies to prevent and/or remediate challenging behaviors. Finally, the initial ELM Director of the Year honor was bestowed on Robin in May, 2007.
We are happy and proud to let the following letter speak for itself, as we honor one of our own, Ms. Robin Pentz. We thank Ms. Buffy Irwin from Forest Hills Presbyterian Learning Center for allowing us to share her thoughts with all of us.
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June 5th, 2006 Dear Janet Stuzman, I am writing this letter on behalf of the Director of the year award candidate, Robin Pentz. Ms. Pentz has been dedicated to the early childhood field for 33 years. Her intense knowledge and commitment to reaching the highest professional standards has driven her to accomplish NAEYC accreditation at three child development programs. I first met Ms. Pentz during an interview at A Brighter Community Inc. She was the director of the program and hired me for a Pre-School teacher position. During the interview process she shared with me her goal to let families in our community know that children in her program are getting the best care and early learning experiences. She had a mission, to provide a program that is developmentally appropriate and meets the industry and community standards for the highest quality. She provided childcare that is safe and enriching, to serve as a resource for parents on issues of child development and parenting. I knew then that my place was there with a leader like Robin Pentz. I continued to work for Ms. Pentz for 10 years. She supported many others and me by creating a work environment that encouraged growth and professional development, and honor our commitment to the children we serve. Ms. Pentz makes a difference in the lives of children and families in our community in which we do business. After 20 years as a leader and administrator Ms. Pentz moved on and then became the director of St. Joseph’s Childcare Center and invited me to join her as the Assistant Director. For 10 years I grew and learned from her as a Teacher in our profession and then I had the opportunity to learn from an administrator perspective. It was an opportunity that allowed me to see our profession through her eyes. I gained knowledge, personal attribute and professionalism on a different level that gave me the skills to work with families and employees. After the three year contract ended Ms. Pentz and I went in different directions. Ms. Pentz is now the Hillsborough Community College Ybor Child Development Center Coordinator. I am the Director of Forest Hills Presbyterian Learning Center. We both continue to enrich the lives of children and families in our community. It is Robin Pentz that enhanced my profession with her individual contributions and that is why I am where I am today. As I have worked towards Accreditation with NAC and have been a leader to my employees, I reflect on the decisions I have to make, my approach and my training techniques, I laugh to myself because I realize how much I am like Robin. I am truly thankful I had Robin in my life to encourage, support and direct me in what I believe is one of the best professions anyone could have. Ms. Pentz is truly an early childhood Professional. Sincerely, Buffy Marie Irwin- Director of FHPLC |