The Great Start Collaborative is comprised of Kent County professionals and parents who are working with First Steps and other community partners to achieve our community vision: Every young child in Kent County will enter kindergarten ready to succeed in school and life.
2012 GSC meeting dates: February 23, April 26, June 28, August 23, October 25, December 13
All meetings are at the Kent Transition Center (campus of Kent Intermediate School District) from 1:30-3:00 p.m.
2012 GSC Executive Team meeting dates: February 1, March 7, April 4, May 2, June 6, August 1, September 5, October 3, November 7, December 5
All meetings are at First Steps from 10:30 a.m.-noon.
GSC Staff: Judy Freeman, Director, jfreeman@firststepskent.org and Jennifer Bowman, Coordinator, jbowman@firststepskent.org
Click on the link to download the Kent County GSC Membership Agreement.
GSC Executive Team:
Lynne Ferrell, Frey Foundation (Chair)
Joanne Kelty, Grand Rapids Public Schools (Vice Chair)
Nadia Brigham, W.K. Kellogg Foundation
Chana’ Edmond-Verley, RDV Corporation
James Edwards, Johnson Center at Grand Valley State University
Carol Paine-McGovern, Kent School Services Network
Jennifer Rees, Great Start Parent Coalition
Betty Zylstra, Salvation Army Booth Family Services
GSC Members:
Dianna Baker, Kent County Health Department
Margaret Biersack, Spectrum Health Healthier Communities
Ruth Bishop, Grand Rapids Community Foundation
Rebecca Brinks, Grand Rapids Community College
Tony Campbell, Heart of West Michigan United Way
Pam Cohn, Catholic Charities West Michigan
Barbara Corbin, Kent Intermediate School District (Early On)
Candace Cowling, Family Futures
Sandra Ellison, Parent Representative
Cheryl Endres, Grand Rapids Community College
Nkechy Ezeh, Aquinas College
Cheryl Garrison, Kent District Library
Kristin Gietzen, Arbor Circle
Jack Greenfield, Kent County Family & Children’s Coordinating Council (Arbor Circle)
Paul Haan, Healthy Homes Coalition
Lynn Heemstra, Office of Our Community’s Children
Mary Hockwalt, Head Start for Kent County
Zsanara Hoskins, Parent Representative
Ruth Kelly, Grand Rapids City Commission
Cris Kooyer, Grand Rapids Community Foundation
Nick Koster, 17th Circuit Court
Debbie Mageed, Parent Representative
Sarah McCarville, Grand Rapids Public Library
Ron McDermed, Cedar Spring Public Schools
Erin McGovern, Kent Intermediate School District
Jean McMurray, Renaissance Church of God in Christ
Amy Middlestadt, Department of Human Services
Angie Minard, Parent Representative
Barbara Hawkins Palmer, Healthy Kent 2010
Ernie Powers, Parent Representative
Nicole Pratt, YMCA of Greater Grand Rapids
Trish Reid, Parent Representative
Sylvia Saucedo-DeVries, Parent Representative
David Sebastian, Sebastian Foundation
Jean Silbar, Comprehensive Therapy Center
Terry Stelter, Conductive Learning Center
Kathy Stuby, Kelloggsville Public Schools
Janel Switzer, Caledonia Community Schools
Holly Tiret, Michigan State University Extension
Deb VanderMolen, Kent Regional 4C
Matthew Van Zetten, Kent County Administration
Heather Walczewski, YMCA of Greater Grand Rapids
Tom Zook, Children’s Assessment Center