July 10, 2023 Vol. 53, No.5
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Virtual Forum Recap | Annual Meeting Recap
Meet the Board | Save the Date: 2024 Annual Meeting
Thank You, School Visit Hosts! | Congrats to PCPI 2023 Awards Recipients!
CPR Certification Opportunity | Welcome, New Member!
Congratulations to all of our teachers, families, and children who wrapped up another school year! As you reflect on the countless hours spent preparing spaces for play and learning, co-oping, fulfilling many roles at your school, and just moving through daily life, we at PCPI hope that you finished this year with many happy memories and strengthened relationships with those in your cooperative community.

For many of us, the 2022-2023 school year felt like the first time we could get back to some normalcy after experiencing the COVID pandemic. We've been able to shift out of "survival mode" and have returned to many of our long-standing traditions. COVID forced us to adjust and lean in to different, and in some cases better, ways of doing things. We'd love for you to send us an email and share how COVID led to a positive change at your school.

This is a hallmark of co-op: coming together with a common goal and working closely with one another, overcoming challenges that may arise along the way. We've had quite an opportunity to highlight the resilience of the co-op community over the past three years, and I hope you're able to take some time this summer to reflect on the great things you've been able to accomplish!

Cooperatively yours,

Melissa Ranck
Editor, Cooperatively Speaking
pcpinews@preschools.coop
Virtual Forum Recap
This spring, PCPI offered a virtual forum entitled "Using Social Media to Boost Enrollment," hosted by social media consultant and co-op parent Danyelle Disbrow. We're so grateful for the helpful guidance received during the forum and want to provide you with a summary of the information shared.
Why use social media for my preschool?
  • Increase brand recognition
  • Reach current followers quickly
  • A free tool to reach potential new families

Facebook and Instagram are the two main platforms used by small businesses and non-profits.
  • Facebook as an informational storytelling tool (updates, blog posts)
  • Instagram as a visual storytelling tool (pictures, videos/reels, infographics)
  • Post regularly using both; 2-3 times per week
  • TikTok is growing in popularity - Use as a tool to create videos/reels to then share via other social media platforms. Settings can be kept private

Tips, Tricks, and Best Practices:
  • Develop a strategy. What is your goal and how can social media help you get there?
  • What should I be posting? Create your own content and repost or repurpose content (past blogs, parent testimonials, blurbs from your website). Identify SMEs (subject matter experts) and repost their content, always giving credit. Don't forget to offer a call to action: invite your followers to register for a class, sign up for an event, click a link.
Top Tools to Manage Your Social Strategy?
Danyelle's favorites include:
* Canva - a free, online design tool that is both web and app-based
* Trello - a free, online management tool to track projects, including those with multiple contributors
  • Post consistently. Keep it simple! Engage with your followers and post frequently. Polls are great for engagement. Utilize Facebook and Instagram stories - try to post here 3-5 times per week for consistent visibility.
  • Create a custom hashtag. Research to make sure it's not already in use! Include in every post to allow your audience to access all of your posts.
  • Encourage staff, families, and alumni to engage with your content. Utilize tools on Facebook and Instagram to determine when your audience is most active and time your posts for periods of highest engagement.
  • Determine how well social media is working for you. Review data points like number of new followers, interactions compared to previous weeks, number of profile clicks. Regularly take a look and adjust your strategy as needed.
  • Listen to your competitors. Take time each week to see what others in your industry are discussing.
Thank you again, Danyelle, for sharing your wealth of knowledge! Look for more virtual forums hosted by PCPI in the coming school year. Have an idea for a forum you'd like to see? Reach out and let us know!
Annual Meeting Recap
By Dianne Rose
Another fantastic Annual Meeting has come and gone, but what remains is the energy and excitement that is always stirred up when we come together! A huge thank you to those who participated, and we hope to see an even greater number of attendees join us next year. For now, we'd love to share some highlights of the meeting and goals for this coming school year!

School Visits:
A huge thanks to Annandale Co-op, Arlington Unitarian, FB Meekins, Fort Hunt, Hunters Woods, and Sleepy Hollow for opening their doors and welcoming us in. The school visits were so enjoyable!

Board Planning:
After doing some group work to identify issues that schools are trying to manage that could be helped through support from PCPI, we made the decision to focus in on three high priority goals:

  • Develop Board Member Training: Currently each school is training their new board members (with the exception of some councils that provide board training) but it makes sense to develop board training as a resource that all of our members can leverage. It will help strengthen school operations, provide some consistency among schools, and help people connect with their counterparts in other schools. A timeline/plan for development will be done by July with the goal being to have training ready to launch by September.

  • Streamline PCPI's Membership Process: Currently our process for handling new schools is different than renewing schools, and there are many people involved doing discreet tasks that are not well-defined or tracked. During the meeting we identified a list of potential improvements and will work to have a refined process in place by July.

  • Identify Outreach Opportunities: PCPI should be helping schools connect with one another to build a strong network. Forums provide an opportunity to do this. By July we will develop a plan for forums for the year and will start to build ways to help people connect via Google Groups and social media.

We can't wait to see all of the plans developed during the meeting start to take shape! Interested in getting involved? Reach out to PCPI's Board President, Dianne Rose.
MEET THE 2023-2024 PCPI BOARD
A big congratulations and thanks to the newly elected PCPI board of directors for the 2023-2024 school year! Please feel free to reach out at any time with questions or if PCPI can support you in your cooperative efforts:

  • President - Dianne Rose
  • Vice President (Finance) - Kathy Ems
  • Vice President (Administration) - Jo Salicos-Murphy and Jessica Richmond
  • Vice President (Membership) - Laura Sacco
  • Vice President (Resources) - Melissa Ranck
  • Immediate Past President - Mariah Battison
  • Recording Secretary - Megan Hoppes
Save the Date: 2024 Annual Meeting!

While we were together, we took the opportunity to set the date and determine the location for our 2024 Annual Meeting. Plan to join us April 18-21 in Indianapolis, Indiana, for another great time of connection and collaboration!
How likely are you to join us in Indianapolis next April?
Count me in!
I really hope to make it.
It's not going to work out this time.
Thank you, School Visit Hosts!
A huge highlight of attending our Annual General Meeting is the opportunity to visit a number of local co-ops. It's a chance to see their beautiful spaces, get a feel for the way each school operates, be inspired by the great work that is happening across North America and gain some new ideas to take home. A big THANKS to the Virginia schools that hosted our meeting attendees this year:
Congratulations, 2023 Award Recipients!
The PCPI Awards Committee is pleased to call your attention to all of the talent and dedication embodied by the individuals nominated this year! The honorees were recognized during a luncheon on Saturday, May 6, in Reston, Virginia.

We want to again congratulate all of the recipients and highlight their incredible contributions to the cooperative movement!
District Awards
Tina Herron
Indianapolis, Indiana

Tina signed on as a co-president just as the world shut down for COVID in 2020. Never did anyone imagine what the next days (years) had in store for our school, city and nation. Tina was absolutely instrumental in creating our COVID protocols and keeping the school moving forward. Tina was always evaluating what was best for the school, staff, parents, and children. She listened to parent concerns and put many members at ease. Her leadership ensured our program could continue with the same strength as pre-pandemic.
Nicole O'Rourke
Portland, Oregon

Ms. Nicole is an amazing co-op teacher. She is willing to meet all of our children and families where they are, moment to moment. She holds safe space for authentic social-emotional learning, risky play, and the parent/caregiver journey as well. She is joyful, consistent, fully present and creative. Her curiosity and commitment to play-based cooperative learning and Waldorf education are awe inspiring - especially during these post-pandemic times. She is also an extremely talented professional photographer and has been so generous lending her lens to our sweet school and families.
Susie Stone Outstanding Educator Awards
Lora Dierker
Portland, Oregon

Lora has an early childhood education program that is focused on language development as well as music and movement with children. Lora is a Positive Discipline trainer and has helped many parents improve their parenting skills at home. Lora was also a co-op parent and has been a teacher at CHKP since 2004. Lora is known for her calm demeanor, and she effortlessly handles the occasional challenges and constantly inquisitive minds of our four year olds. Lora weaves learning into outdoor adventures, movement, music, art, and dramatic play. Many of her past students still sing songs and do yoga that they learned while in her class, and we are lucky to have her as part of our learning team.
Amy Quigley
Annandale, Virginia

Amy Quigley has enriched Annandale Cooperative Preschool for more than 15 years as a parent, staff member, and school teacher. As a parent she held multiple board positions, guiding personnel and membership and leading as President. Over 10 years ago she joined the staff, teaching twos and later fours. Amy has a deep knowledge of child development and the willingness to continually learn new things. These strengths give her the tools to meet children where they are and support their learning in meaningful, play-based ways. Amy is a thoughtful leader and an indispensable part of the Annandale Co-op community.
Susie Stone Outstanding Educator Award and
Robin Garthright Bunster Award for Excellence in Teaching
Melissa Mitchell Jordan
Rockville, Maryland

Melissa Mitchell Jordan began teaching at RPCNS in 1996. She was offered the Directorship in 1999 and has been a committed Director ever since. Earlier this year, Melissa announced her retirement after nearly 30 years.

Melissa developed the play-based curriculum at RPCNS and created an inclusive, nurturing environment for families. She has led RPCNS through lots of challenges - including navigating through a pandemic.

Melissa says it best, “I LOVE the children, the challenge of putting together a well-planned lesson… It’s been my very real pleasure and privilege to work with and get to know so many wonderful parent members!”
Susie Stone Outstanding Educator Award and
Honorary Life Membership
Patty Burow
Indianapolis, Indiana

Patty Burow has demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to the cooperative preschool movement over the past four decades. She has taught the 2’s class at Northeast Cooperative Preschool and Kindergarten for 42 years, influencing the lives of 400+ children and their families. As a 2’s teacher, she is the first teacher to expose her students - and often their families - to the philosophy of learning through play. As a trainer of new teachers and mentor to many, her impact is felt throughout Indiana.
Congrats to these outstanding recipients!

Consider who in your community might be deserving of a 2024 award and think about applying for a travel grant to join us for next year's Annual Meeting!
CPR Certification Opportunity
Are you due to renew your CPR/First Aid certification? Or perhaps you are a caregiver to preschoolers and want to become certified for the first time? PCPI has an upcoming opportunity for you!
Welcome, New Member!

We want to offer a warm welcome to our newest member. We're glad you're here and we look forward to getting to know you better!
Mundelein, Illinois
Join Our Google Group
A PCPI Members Google Group has been created to give us another avenue to share ideas and information. This has replaced the Yahoo Group which is no longer active.

Joining is easy!
  1. Click the button below to send an email to PCPINews@preschools.coop.
  2. Use the subject line: Add to Google Group.
  3. Include your first and last name, your school and/or council name, and the email address you'd like to have added. (If there are multiple people in your school who should be added to the group, you are welcome to include all of their information in one email.)

Group members will receive a daily digest of messages exchanged. Message threads will be grouped by topic for easy searching later. Spread the word!