Article Link: http://exchangepress.com/article/meet-cover-director-nancy-rosenow/5015832/
“Making Connections” is a theme that runs through First-Plymouth Early Education Programs, which serve as research classrooms for the Dimensions Educational Research Foundation in Lincoln, Nebraska. Families are integrally connected to the life of the school; staff connect through weekly meetings, on-going research work, and shared responsibilities; and the school regularly connects with both the local community and national research consultants. The Dimensions Foundation, an independent 501(c) 3 organization, rents space at a minimal cost from First-Plymouth Church. Twenty percent of the school’s children are from low-income homes and receive tuition assistance, thanks, in part, to the church’s in-kind support. It’s another example of a positive connection.The executive director of the Dimensions Foundation, Nancy Rosenow, defines her work as a truly collaborative endeavor where decision-making is guided by ideas from staff and families, and diverse opinions are solicited and valued. The administrative work of running the school is divided among various coordinators and administrative assistants who work together to ensure integrated, participatory management. “Just as we value children’s uniqueness and work hard to nurture their individual talents, we want to do the same for ourselves as a staff,” says Rosenow, who has been with the program for ...