Published by CounciLINK on February 28, 2019
Building the future of our country begins with the high schoolers who will be teaching our youngest children.
Janine Musumeci understands this well so she’s laying the foundation of the future as an early childhood teacher at Plantation High School in Broward County, FL.
“Education,” she said, “goes in a cycle that we should introduce and encourage at an early age.”
Five years ago, this conviction led her to pioneer an early childhood program in Coral Springs that had been languishing for two years. Once she came on board, the program sprang to life and became a fully functioning early childhood center within the school. Mission accomplished, she was ready for a new challenge and came to Plantation High in the spring of 2018, where she has planted the seeds of a new early childhood education program.
The school is fertile ground for a program like this since there’s a tremendous need for early childhood educators in the community.
“There are many preschools and elementary schools within close proximity of our high school,” Musumeci said, “which will be an invaluable asset in growing our program.”
So will the makeup of the student body since many of Plantation’s teens aren’t college-bound.
“College is not for everyone and the students in this school tend to excel in a hands-on environment,” she said.
Musumeci’s program will give the students a future after graduation, especially since she plans to offer them the chance to earn a Child Development Associate (CDA®) credential. It’s the foundation of a strong career in early childhood education, as she understands, and it will benefit the next generation of children.
Musumeci said her goal is to launch a cycle of encouragement and education that will help her community flourish and grow.
Janine Musumeci is a CDA credential holder and teacher in Broward County, FL.
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Chief Operations Officer
Andrew Davis serves as Chief Operating Officer at the Council. In this role, Andrew oversees the Programs Division, which includes the following operational functions: credentialing, growth and business development, marketing and communications, public policy and advocacy, research, innovation, and customer relations.
Andrew has over 20 years of experience in the early care and education field. Most recently, Andrew served as Senior Vice President of Partnership and Engagement with Acelero Learning and Shine Early Learning, where he led the expansion of state and community-based partnerships to produce more equitable systems of service delivery, improved programmatic quality, and greater outcomes for communities, children and families. Prior to that, he served as Director of Early Learning at Follett School Solutions.
Andrew earned his MBA from the University of Baltimore and Towson University and his bachelor’s degree from the University of Maryland – University College.
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Jan Bigelow serves as Chief Financial Officer at the Council and has been with the organization since February of 2022.
Jan has more than 30 years in accounting and finance experience, including public accounting, for-profit and not-for-profit organizations. She has held management-level positions with BDO Seidman, Kiplinger Washington Editors, Pew Center for Global Climate Change, Communities In Schools, B’nai B’rith Youth Organization and American Humane. Since 2003, Jan has worked exclusively in the non-profit sector where she has been a passionate advocate in improving business operations in order to further the mission of her employers.
Jan holds a CPA from the State of Virginia and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Lycoming College. She resides in Alexandria VA with her husband and dog.
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