The Desert Sun – Mary Perry
““By the time a child enters kindergarten, his or her brain is already very largely developed. Studies show that the vast majority of children who are behind in kindergarten will never catch up,” according to Conway Collis, a commissioner with First 5 of California. The Early Childhood Education (ECE) program of Desert Sands Unified School District supports the work of First 5 California and operates 11 preschool programs at various locations, including elementary schools and city-sponsored sites. This year, a special preschool program was introduced called Home Base Program. Currently a maximum of 12 students participate in this program which takes place in the child’s own home. The program is developed and funded by Riverside County Office of Education for the Office of Head Start. Lorena Fernandez serves as teacher of this program. A certificated teacher, Fernandez is a graduate of Cal State San Bernardino with a double major in psychology and human development with an emphasis in child development. She holds a teacher permit issued by the Commission on Teacher Credentialing and has six years of early childhood teaching experience in both the United States and Japan. Each week, Fernandez spends 90 minutes in the home of a participating family where she and the parents set goals for the children.”(more)