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Everything we do is for

Our mission

Kalamazoo County Ready 4s will advance fully accessible, high-quality pre-kindergarten education for every 3- and 4-year-old in Kalamazoo County through collaborative leadership with public and private providers.

Our Founding

KC Ready 4s’ origin is rooted in the social justice organizing process that ISAAC uses to identify and address significant issues in our community. ISAAC – Interfaith Strategy for Advocacy and Action in the Community – is an interfaith organizing network of about 30 congregations and organizations working together to build a more just community. One issue voiced by the community was concern for the well-being of our youngest children and their support, safety, and preparation for life.

Based on this community feedback ISAAC’s goal statement was to improve the early childhood experience of all of our county’s children in order to improve school readiness and success, prevent involvement in the judicial system, and enhance the quality of our work force and economic competitiveness of Kalamazoo County.

Our Staff

Kristyn Buhl-Lepisto

Executive Director

Caroline Bearup

Office Manager

Therese Armstead

Director of Program Quality and Learning

Ali Schwartz

Director of Operations

Our High-Quality Team

Dr. Charmane Echols

Leadership Mentor

Mary Baggerman

Behavior Support Specialist

Stephanie Ludwig

Leadership Mentor

Rebecca Hernandez

Occupational Therapist

Heather Hudson

Speech Language Pathologist

Marta Mejia

Family Advocate

Jayne Trombley

Speech Language Pathologist

Renae Schug

Teacher Mentor

Ruby Sledge

Teacher Mentor

Karyn Williams

Teacher Mentor

Holly Wyne

Teacher Mentor

Our Board

Regena Nelson, PhD
President
Professor & Chair, Teaching, Learning & Educational Studies, Western Michigan University

Dallas Oberlee
Vice President
Senior Associate, Social Policy Research Associates

Joanna Dales
Secretary
Vice-President, Donor Relations, Kalamazoo Community Foundation

Scott MacCallum
Treasurer
Principal, UHY LLP

Mindy Miller
Member-at-large
Assistant Superintendent for Instructional Programs & Services, Kalamazoo RESA

Honorable Namita Sharma
Immediate Past President
Judge, Kalamazoo County District Court

Dr. Cheryl Dickson
Board Member
Associate Professor Pediatrics Associate Dean Health Equity and Community Affairs, Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine

DeVon Jackson
Board Member
Quality Process Lead, Stryker Instruments

Elizabeth Jackson-Spaner
Board Member
Coordinator for Early Childhood, Kalamazoo Public Schools

Dan Jaqua
Board Member
President & Owner, Jaqua Realtors

Shirley Johnson
Board Member
Community Volunteer

Todd McDonald
Board Member
Principal, Chief Operations Officer, CSM Group

Sarah Neumann
Board Member
Superintendent, Parchment School District

Consuelo Shank
Board Member
Client and Community Relations Director, PNC Bank

Sheri Welsh
Board Member
President & CEO, Welsh & Associates, Inc.

Tim Bartik, PhD
Honorary Member
Senior Economist, W.E. Upjohn Institute

Say Hello

 

For more information, please contact:
Kristyn Buhl-Lepisto
Executive Director
(269) 366-9140

Address
Kalamazoo County Ready 4s
161 E. Michigan Ave., Suite 600
Kalamazoo, MI 49007