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
Sherria VanSparrentak
Executive Director
Colleen
Uekert
Office Manager
Karyn Williams
Director of Program Quality and Learning
Our High-Quality Team
Andrea Penick
Behavior Support Specialist
Rebecca Hernandez
Occupational Therapist
Stephanie Ludwig
Leadership Mentor and Comprehensive Partner Team Lead
Marta Mejia
Family Advocate
Melissa Wierenga
Engagement Specialist
Renae Schug
Teacher Mentor and Network Partner Team Lead
Kim Ritter
Teacher Mentor
Holly Wyne
Teacher Mentor
Rachelle McKissick Harris
Teacher Mentor
Our Board
Mindy Miller
President
Assistant Superintendent for Instructional Programs & Services, Kalamazoo RESA
Consuelo Shank
Vice President
Client and Community Relations Director, PNC Bank
Joanna Dales
Immediate Past President
Chief Philanthropy Officer, Kalamazoo Community Foundation
Scott MacCallum
Treasurer
Principal, UHY LLP
Sarah Neumann
Secretary
Superintendent, Parchment School District
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
Associate Quality Team Lead, Stryker Instruments
Emily Curiel
Board Member
Associate Professor, Dept. of Special Education, Western Michigan University
Dan Jaqua
Member-at-Large
President & Owner, Jaqua Realtors
Todd McDonald
Board Member
Principal, Chief Operations Officer, CSM Group
Ean Hamilton
Board Member
Attorney & Counselor at Law, Hamilton Law PLC.
Tim Bartik, PhD
Honorary Member
Senior Economist, W.E. Upjohn Institute
Regena Nelson, PhD
Board Member
Professor Emeritus, Western Michigan University
Shirley Johnson
Board Member
Community Volunteer
Travis Cree
Board Member
Senior Manager, Stryker Trauma & Extremities
Volunteer
For information on Volunteer opportunities, please email svansparrentak@kcready4s.org
Careers
Say Hello
For more information, please contact:
Sherria VanSparrentak
Executive Director
(269) 366-9140
Address
Kalamazoo County Ready 4s
241 E. Michigan Ave., Suite 135
Kalamazoo, MI 49007