Today we’d like to introduce you to Patsy Harnage.
Thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, how did you get started?
25 years ago, I was home sick watching the news, and the news anchors were reporting on the high dropout rates among minorities in low-income households. This hit close to home. I’m a minority, and I come from a low-income household. My father served in the Marine Corps, and he also attended college. We lived on a shoestring budget; love, praise, and strong family values were instilled in my siblings and me. I remember how my parents instilled the importance of Early childhood education in me at 3 years old. I attended Early Head Start, and I developed a love for learning. The tools Early Head Start gave me prepared me for Kindergarten. Being a Child Development minor in college, I learned that children who received Early Childhood Education did exceptionally well in school. It was At this moment, the light bulb went off. I needed to make a difference and open a high-quality Child Development Center to prepare as many children as possible for Kindergarten and a lifelong way of learning; Bright Beginnings Child Development Center was formed. I returned to college and obtained my Bachelor’s in Child Development and Non-Profit Management. I’m also a certified teacher of EC-6 grade. I wanted my family to have the best resources available to them. I partnered with organizations such as Workforce Solutions TRS, the University of Texas Literacy Program, Americorps, United Way, AISD PreK, Austin Child Guidance, and Salvation Army.
Alright, let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what challenges have you had to overcome?
It has been a challenging road. Sustainability has been the major issue of staff turnover due to low pay, inability to offer benefits, no monetary support from federal and state agencies, and economic downturns causing layoffs, which lowers enrollment.
As you know, we’re big fans of Crystal Stairs, LLC dab Bright Beginnings. What can you tell our readers who might need to be more familiar with the brand?
Bright Beginnings Child Development Center is a high-quality facility in Northwest Austin committed to providing a safe and warm environment that nurtures the whole child. Our program is committed to providing an authentic early childhood experience. This method addresses each component essential to creating a love of learning respect for oneself and others. We recognize that the early childhood setting tends to be a child’s first community or environment of relationships outside the home. Bright Beginnings is committed to creating an atmosphere where children experience warm, loving, and stable relationships that research has shown to be the foundation for learning. We believe the family comprises the most significant adults in a child’s life. It takes the cooperation and partnership between the home and the school to help the child meet developmental and learning milestones. We support our teachers and families with ongoing training and resources. We strive to create and maintain positive partnerships for the child’s benefit. Family involvement is at the core of our program. We advocate working with our families in a spirit of partnership.
In terms of your work and the industry, what are some changes you expect to see over the next five to ten years?
We must close our doors if the childcare industry needs financial help from federal or state agencies. We operate on thin margins. Rent and property taxes have gone up, which causes childcare owners to raise their prices. We are experiencing a loss in enrollment due to parents working from home and needing help to afford the high price of childcare. It looks like it could be better for the childcare industry.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.brightbeginningslearners.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brightbgnnngs/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LittleWondersTX
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/brightbgnnngs
Image Credits
Patsy Harnage
