Gov. Walz visits WAPS early childhood programs

Gov. Tim Walz often says that Minnesota is the best state in the nation to raise a family. 

On Thursday, Sept. 17, Walz learned why a team of passionate early childhood educators from Winona Area Public Schools is working hard to make Winona the best community in the best state to do just that. 

On the visit, Walz learned more about WAPS’ commitment to “mixed delivery,” an approach that connects schools, child-care providers, Head Start, higher education and community organizations so families can receive coordinated support wherever their children learn and grow.

“Families do not all come to us through the same door, and they do not all need the same things,” said Ann Riebel, Director of Community Education. “Our responsibility is to be ready for them. To listen, build relationships and connect them with the people and programs that can help their children thrive. We were proud to share that work with Gov. Walz.”

WAPS supports children and families from a baby’s first days through the transition to kindergarten. Its early childhood offerings include Baby Connections home visits, Early Childhood Family Education, Early Childhood Screening, Community Kids Preschool, Voluntary Prekindergarten, Early Childhood Special Education and four-star infant and toddler care at the Winona Area Learning Center.

Those programs are strengthened through collaboration across the Winona community. WAPS meets regularly with Head Start to connect children and families with services such as mental health support, Birth to Three and special education. Early Childhood Screening is coordinated with Head Start and the other community early childhood programs.  The Birth to Grade 3 Committee brings area child-care providers and community partners together for shared learning, site visits and stronger referrals.

WAPS educators also bring services directly to children. Birth to Three specialists support children and families in their homes and other natural environments. Through the Itty Bitty Book Club, a WAPS licensed educator visits home child-care programs to share books, activities and early learning experiences.

Other partnerships help remove barriers and make the transition to school easier. Transition Day supports children preparing to enter kindergarten, Community Education provides training for child-care providers and preschool children can access free school-based health clinics.

Together, those efforts create more choices, better-connected services and stronger support for families throughout the Winona area, regardless of where their children will eventually attend school.

Following the early childhood discussion, Walz visited Goodview’s kindergarten classrooms and spent time with students and staff. Students offered candid reviews of their lunches, colored rainbows with the governor and shared some of the joy and curiosity that fill Goodview School each day.