News @ the 112

In this story from Kelso Christian Academy, staff reflect on how their Early Achievers coach has become a trusted partner by helping them understand children’s needs, support families, and create a learning environment where every child can thrive.

Our Early Achievers coach has been an invaluable resource for both our staff and the families we serve. Her guidance has helped us overcome challenges, improve communication with parents, and foster a more supportive environment for every child in our care.

Recently, we started noticing new behavioral challenges in some of our children as they went through different developmental stages. One child, a three-year-old girl, began displaying difficult behaviors such as running away from teachers, biting, spitting, and showing signs of aggression. Our staff worked diligently to keep a safe environment while also supporting her emotional needs, but we struggled to determine what was triggering these behaviors.

When our Early Achievers coach visited for a classroom observation, she offered thoughtful insight and practical strategies. Together, we identified the underlying triggers for this child’s behavior and implemented tools to help her better understand her surroundings. One of the most effective strategies was giving her “A or B” choices during moments of stress, making her feel more in control and reducing behavioral outbursts.

The coach also played a crucial role in engaging the child’s parent, who had been hesitant to acknowledge the behavior issues. By acting as a neutral, supportive partner, the coach was able to build trust and reinforce consistency between home and school. She provided handouts, resources, and encouragement, empowering the parent to mirror the strategies we were using in the classroom.

Our Early Achievers coach also assisted another family in our care. A young boy, about two and a half, was having difficulty with overstimulation in noisy settings. The coach recommended trying noise-canceling headphones to help him handle sensory input both at school and at home. She met with his guardian to share strategies, such as teaching him how to ask for the headphones and recognize signs of sensory overload. The results were impressive. The child is now calmer, more focused, and excelling in his learning environment.

Our coach continues to follow up on both children’s progress, offering encouragement, new resources, and even classes for parents. She’s always available when we need guidance, supporting not only our staff and students, but our families as well.

The impact of our Early Achiever coach’s partnership on our program is immeasurable. With her ongoing support, our staff has become more confident, our families feel more connected, and our children are better prepared to thrive.