Early Learning
ESD 105 values the importance of preparing children for success in school even before they enter kindergarten. Our early learning programs focus on providing a strong start on the language, literacy, and developmental skills of young children in order to help close the achievement gap and strengthen their readiness for school. Programs include QRIS, Preschool-3rd Grade Alignment, Growing Great Learners,Special Education Early Childhood Intervention, and our participation with area early learning coalitions.
• QRIS: Quality Rating and Improvement System – ESD 105 administers QRIS for licensed child care providers in the east Yakima area through a partnership with the Washington State Child Care Resource and Referral Network and the Dept. of Early Learning. Our early learning coaches work with child care professionals to evaluate quality of child care services and to develop improvement plans that increase quality of child instruction and caregiving in these settings.
• Preschool-3rd Grade Alignment – ESD 105 has implemented PK-3 alignment of instruction, curriculum, and assessments in the Cle Elum-Roslyn, Royal, and Union Gap school districts, with leadership assistance from the Yakima and Toppenish school districts. The project's three school districts work with one of their local preschool agencies to implement PK-3 alignment within their own programs. This initiative, launched in 2010, is funded through the support of the Bill & Melinda gates Foundation.
• Growing Great Learners – This ESD 105 partnership with Washington Fruit & Produce Company and Catholic Family & Child Service provides early learning assistance to help children in Royal City gain the skills they need to become successful in school when they enter kindergarten. ESD 105 provides support for implementing the curriculum, oversees voluntary coaching programs for Royal City's licensed child care homes, documents the learning outcomes of each child attending those homes, and assists the Royal School District's monthly trainings for preschool teachers and providers.
• Special Education Early Childhood Intervention Programs – The ESD 105 Special Education programs offer program development, technical assistance on regulations, and instructional best practices to help the learning of individuals beginning at 3 years old who have special needs. Contact Faye Fuchs at (509) 454-3110.
• Early Learning Coalitions – ESD 105 participates in the Investing In Children Coalition Central (a partnership of community early learning providers and stakeholders supporting access to state early learning initiatives) and the Rivers of Culture Coalition (which promotes school readiness in the lower Yakima Valley thorugh family community agencies, tribal entitites,a nd school districts).
• Family Stories • Learning on the Go • Make Reading Fun • Positive Behaviors • Kid Basics • Recipes for Learning • "Your Child @" series:
Early Learning Resources:
Teaching Materials:
– English or Spanish
• Happy Children Learn Better
– Poster: English or Spanish
– English or Spanish
– English or Spanish
– English or Spanish
– English or Spanish
– English or Spanish
– Birth English or Spanish
– 2 months English or Spanish
– 4-6 months English or Spanish
– 6-12 months English or Spanish
– 12-18 months English or Spanish
– 18-24 months English or Spanish
– 24-36 months English or Spanish
– 3 years English or Spanish
– 4 years English or Spanish
– 5 years English or Spanish
• Born Learning national campaign
• Children's Village: Infant and Toddler Early Intervention Program
• Starting Strong Eastern Washington 2011 Conference
Contact Information:
Cynthia Juarez
Early Childhood Professional Development Director
Phone: (509) 454-2488
E-mail: cynthia.juarez@esd105.org
DeAnn Wagoner
Administrative Secretary
Phone: (509) 454-2486
E-mail: deann.wagoner@esd105.org
Angela Abrams
Early Learning Quality Improvement Coordinator
Phone: (509) 853-2053
E-mail: angela.abrams@esd105.org
Lexi Catlin
Early Childhood Professional Development Coordinator
Phone: (509) 853-2050
E-mail: Lexi.catlin@esd105.org
Lorie Garcia
Early Learning Quality Improvement Coach
Phone: (509) 654-2990
E-mail: Lorie.garcia@esd105.org
Delores Gonzalez
Child Care Environmental Specialist
Phone: (509) 426-1015
E-mail: delores.gonzalez@esd105.org
Paula Hull
PK-3 Literacy Coordinator
Phone: (509) 573-2868
E-mail: hull.paula@yakimaschools.org
Maggie Mendoza
Early Learning Quality Improvement Coach
Phone: (509) 952-7257
E-mail: maggie.mendoza@esd105.org
