Partner of The Month: Stephanie Feeney
The end of 2018 is nearly upon us! After a year of leveraging research and community input in order to refine our early childhood investment priorities, it’s quite appropriate to recognize Stephanie Feeney as December’s Partner of the Month! A Partner sInce 2012, Stephanie brings decades of experience in early childhood education, benefiting both SVP and our Community Partners/Investees.Earlier this year, Stephanie participated in SVP’s internal “Access to Preschool” Task Force. With SVP evolving our broad “Ready for Kindergarten” goal to a more focused one of increasing access to quality early learning experiences for our priority populations (children of color, children experiencing poverty, and children whose first language isn’t English), the Task Force was convened to clarify terminology, investment criteria, and SVP’s role in influencing Multnomah County’s Preschool goal. Stephanie has been involved in research and writing designed to inform the work of Multnomah Preschool Task Force. Her paper “Quality in Early Childhood Education Programs” explored definitions of preschool quality, expanding the definition to include family perspectives. She is currently working on a paper about programs that serve multi-generations (children and their caregivers), an approach that can be implemented to supplement traditional preschool programs.This Fall Stephanie joined forces with SVP’s Director of Equity & Engagement, Melinda Gross, to facilitate a workshop session for KinderCare on the topic of a “bird’s eye view” of early education. This work supported the workshop’s broader objective of giving members of KinderCareʻs senior leadership knowledge and practices for serving as effective nonprofit Board members. Stephanie provided participants with a broad understanding of the early childhood field, which was greatly appreciated.
In addition to sharing her expertise with the community, Stephanie has written extensively about early childhood education and co-authors a column about professional ethics for NAEYC (the National Association for the Education of Young Children). She has also written five childrenʻs books about Hawaii. The latest book, A is for Aloha, was published by the University of Hawaii Press this September.
AN INTERVIEW WITH STEPHANIE:
Why did you join SVP?
I joined because I was new to Oregon and looking for a way that I could use my experience, knowledge and passion for early childhood education to make a difference for children in my new home. I was introduced to Mark [Holloway] and Kerry [McClenahan] through a neighbor and learned about SVPʻs commitment to work on school readiness. I had been involved in efforts to define and assess school readiness in Hawaii so this struck me as the perfect opportunity. I joined SVP and have been an active and dedicated Partner since that time.
What is your vision for early childhood in our community?
Like all of our Partners, I would like to see every child and family in Oregon thrive. I envision a time when children and their families are safe and healthy and have access to high quality early learning experiences for their children delivered in a way that reflects family values and priorities. In the shorter term, I would like to see an increase in the number of high quality preschools and programs that involve families and children together in Multnomah County.
What has been most rewarding thus far?
Working on our early childhood education investment with NAYA (the Native American Youth and Family Center). It was a joy to work with Lead Partner Rebecca Brown Schroeder and an enthusiastic and dedicated team to strengthen the organization and develop strategies for delivering early childhood education to Native American children and families.
What do you like to do in your spare time?
Do tai chi, walk, read, travel, explore restaurants and wineries, and look at art, especially Native American Art (I am on the Board of the Native American Art Council at the Portland Art Museum).
How has SVP helped you make a bigger difference in the community?
The wonderful thing about my involvement with SVP is that it has given me an opportunity to engage in a variety of activities that support our readiness initiative, and to participate with a number of nonprofits that serve young children in Multnomah County. These activities include:
Participating in the initial “Ready for Kindergarten Collaborative” Task Force, led by All Hands Raised and SVP, and helping them to construct a definition of school readiness
Participating in a various ways with SVP Investees KairosPDX; MFS’ Ready, Set, Go! program; Teaching Preschool Partners; and the Immigrant & Refugee Community Organization
Developing and presenting an overview of readiness called “The ABCʻs of R4K” to SVP Partners
Participating in the development a Statement of “Commitment to Children” to accompany SVPʻs Commitment to Racial Equity
Serving on an advisory committee at OMSI for an upcoming exhibit “Interactive Family Learning in Support of Early Brain Development”
Attending the SVP international summit in Chicago with a focus on early education initiatives in SVP affiliates