Building Bright Futures State Advisory Council Inc. (BBF), Vermont’s early childhood resource and policy center, has announced 10 new Regional Coordinators located across the state to improve the quality, affordability and equal access to early care, health and education for young children and their families.
“As all Vermont communities gear up to implement universal pre-kindergarten programs to all three- and four-year-olds, BBF Regional Coordinators will play a key role in the community, improving pre-k access and high-quality services to young children and their families,” said Julie Coffey, BBF’s Executive Director.
Regional Coordinators work closely with 12 BBF Regional Councils, which are comprised of local volunteer parents, advocates and professionals who are passionate about supporting young children and their families. Two more regions, Rutland and Springfield, are still conducting interviews for coordinators.
Regional Coordinators, with their Councils, serve as a major artery of networking, communications, planning and policy recommendations for improvement in the early childhood service delivery system at the local level.
The new Regional Coordinators are:
Steve Ames, Morrisville District*
For the past 12 years, Mr. Ames was the Director of River Arts, a community arts center in Morrisville that served more than 15,000 people last year.
Dana Anderson, Middlebury District*
Ms. Anderson was previously the Program Director of Ex.C.E.L., 21st Century grant-funded academic enrichment programs for Windsor Northwest Supervisory Union.
Maria Dolores “Loli” Berard, St. Albans District*
Ms. Berard was previously she was the Principal of the Alburgh Community Education Center, Interim Assistant Director at the Patricia A. Hannaford Career Center in Middlebury and worked as the School and Community Coordinator for the Franklin Central Supervisory Union in St. Albans.
Sarah Buxton, Hartford District*
Ms. Buxton serves in the Vermont House of Representatives as a member of the House Education Committee and championed the passage of H.270 – now Act 166 – that created universal access to publicly funded pre-kindergarten for three- and four-year olds.
Sylvie Corriveau, Newport District*
Ms. Corriveau was previously the Medical Social Worker at Newport Pediatrics.
Julianne Nickerson, Burlington District*
Ms. Nickerson adds Project LAUNCH to her current duties as Regional Coordinator.
Dawn Powers, St. Johnsbury District*
Ms. Powers moves from part-time to full-time Regional Coordinator. She is also the Children’s Integrated Services Coordinator in Newport and St. Johnsbury Agency of Human Services Districts, and previously the Northeast Kingdom Migrant Education Program Coordinator.
Becky Raymond, Barre District*
Ms. Raymond moves from part-time to full-time Regional Coordinator. Previously she was the Community Impact Director for the Green Mountain United Way.
Chad Simmons, Brattleboro District*
Mr. Simmons was previously the Media Coordinator for Greater Falls Connections, a community organizing and substance prevention group based in Bellows Falls.
Robin Stromgren, Bennington District*
Ms. Stromgren moves from part-time to full-time Regional Coordinator. She is also the coordinator for Children’s Integrated Services.
*The boundaries of BBF’s 12 regions are defined by regional boundaries set by the Vermont Agency of Human Services, based on areas surrounding AHS offices, and do not always follow county lines.
Building Bright Futures State Advisory Council Inc. (BBF) advises the governor, the administration and the state legislature on the well-being of Vermont’s young children and their families in the annual report,