2025 - 2026
ANNU A L REPO RT
At the Guilford County Partnership for Children (GCPC), we work to ensure that every child in Guilford County enters school safe, healthy, and ready to succeed. As a local nonprofit, we strategically invest over $18 million each year to support young children, prenatal to age five, their families, and early childhood educators, through health, early literacy, family support, and enhancing the early childhood education field.
2
LETTER FROM OUR
Executive Director As we celebrate 30 years as Guilford County’s local Smart Start partnership, we are both proud of the progress we have made together and energized by the work that continues ahead. Over the past year, we advanced one of our key strategic priorities, moving the needle on the child care crisis. Alongside community partners, we worked to expand access, support families, and strengthen the early childhood workforce, all while prioritizing the stability that early childhood educators and children need to thrive. These efforts align with our other strategic priority to improve the early childhood system through collaboration, recognizing that lasting solutions require strong relationships, shared responsibility, and sustained investment. For three decades, GCPC has been rooted in this community, listening, convening, and leading with purpose, and that local presence continues to guide our work today. As we celebrate our 30th birthday, we honor the trust and partnerships that have carried us this far and we remain committed to building a stronger, more equitable tomorrow, where every child in Guilford County has the opportunity for a healthy start and a bright future.
Take good care and be well,
HEATHER ADAMS Executive Director
3
Our Vision: Every child in Guilford County enters school safe, healthy, and ready to succeed.
Our Mission: To partner with families, early childhood educators, and our community to support the diverse needs of children prenatal to age five, ensuring their success in school and in life.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS, 2025-2026 Greg Anderson, Chair
Deborah Foster, Ph.D.
Abby Ray, Vice Chair
Devon Walton
Jessica Lea, CPA, Treasurer
Hunter Amos, J.D., MBA
Brian Cockman, Secretary
Kierra Cherry
Michael Swerbinsky, Immediate Past Chair
Maria Mayorga
Amanda Cook Anitra Wells, Ed.D. Catherine Johnson Catherine Scott-Little, Ph.D. Chris Faulkner, LCSW
Mike Matzinger, Ph.D. Sara Kiehn, MS Sara Steele Sharon Barlow Margaret Arbuckle (Emeritus)
A special thank you to volunteers who serve on our Smart Start Program Planning & Accountability and Governance Committees, GCPC Communications Committee, and the NC Pre-K Committee.
4
Financials
FISCAL YEAR 2025-2026 EXPENDITURES
NC Pre-K Total
$ 12,759,747
NC Pre-K: Admin
$1,107,149
NC Pre-K: Slot Reimbursement
$11,652,598
Other Funds
$68,062 Grants
$133,269 Smart Start: Services
$5,597,025
Smart Start Total
$6,027,755
Smart Start: Admin
$430,730
Program Support
$275,274
Family Support, Health and Literacy Programs
$1,408,311
Total GCPC Expenditures
$18,988,833
Smart Start Services Total
Child Care Related Programs
$3,913,440
5
Smart Start Smart Start was created in 1993 as an innovative solution to a problem: Children were coming to school unprepared to learn. The Guilford County Partnership for Children (GCPC) is one of the 75 Local Partnerships that cover all 100 North Carolina counties. GCPC was established in 1996 to specifically meet the needs of our local community. Today, we work to wisely invest in evidence-based and evidence-informed programs in Guilford County that enhance outcomes for young children, families, early childhood educators, and all those involved in a child’s early years of life.
FAMILY SUPPORT •
Healthy Start, Family Service of the Piedmont
•
Parents as Teachers Guilford County, YWCA High Point
•
Triple P, Bringing Out the Best, UNCG
2,554
FAMILY VISITS
20%
OF PARTICIPANTS RECEIVED LANGUAGE INTERPRETATION SERVICES
22 OUR PARTNERS
6
PARENTING SUPPORT GROUP MEETINGS
EARLY CARE & EDUCATION •
Bringing Out the Best, UNCG Center for Youth, Families & Community Partnerships
•
Child Care Health Consultation, Guilford County DHHS, Division of Public Health
•
Child Care Subsidy/Rising Stars, Guilford County DHHS, Division of Social Services
•
Child Care WAGE$, Early Years
•
Child Development Associate (CDA) Apprenticeship, GenerationEd
•
Education, Quality Improvement & Professional Development (EQuIPD), UNCG
1,177
EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATORS PARTICIPATED IN PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
193
EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATORS RECEIVED WAGE$ SALARY SUPPLEMENTS
24
NEW EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATORS EARNED THEIR CDA
87%
OF LICENSED CHILD CARE FACILITIES WERE VISITED BY ON-SITE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS
314
CHILDREN RECEIVED SMART START CHILD CARE SUBSIDIES MONTHLY
7
COMMUNICATION WITHOUT BARRIERS: ELI’S STORY (GCPA - Therapeutic Early Intervention Program)
“Eli” has participated in the program for nearly a year, making tremendous progress with the therapeutic equipment and individualized support he receives. But one practical barrier was limiting his ability to build on that progress: the assistive equipment he used at home was too large and difficult to transport to and from the classroom. A specialized mount positions Eli’s communication device where he can see and use it more easily during speech therapy. Medicaid covered one mount for his home, but not a second one for use at school. Purchasing another mount was financially out of reach for this family. Smart Start funding provided a classroom mount, allowing Eli to use his communication supports consistently at home and at school. The equipment has also benefited other children in the Firefly Classroom, many of whom are medically fragile and have mobility differences that make interaction and communication more difficult. For Eli and his classmates, this investment means more opportunities to express themselves, connect with others, and participate fully in therapeutic programming during their earliest years. “Eli” is a pseudonym used to protect the child’s privacy.
CHILD & FAMILY HEALTH
8
•
Adopt-A-Mom, Guilford County DHHS, Division of Public Health
•
Family Connects Guilford, Guilford County DHHS, Division of Public Health
•
NICU Family Support, Family Support™ Network of Central Carolina
•
Therapeutic Early Intervention Program, Growing Connections for Pediatric Achievements
102
EXPECTANT PARENTS RECEIVED PRENATAL SERVICES
2,163
FAMILIES OF NEWBORNS RECEIVED MATERNAL/CHILD HEALTH SCREENINGS AND REFERRALS
LITERACY •
Family Literacy Program, Reading Connections
•
Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, Guilford County Partnership for Children
228
MULTIGENERATIONAL WORKSHOPS
Read and Grow with Me! is a multi-generation literacy curriculum developed by Reading Connections to support the diverse literacy needs of both caregivers and young children. The program grew from years of listening to families, refining book selections, piloting activities, and creating accessible, culturally responsive materials that help caregivers build literacy and support early learning at home. The curriculum was recently approved by the North Carolina Partnership for Children (NCPC) for statewide use as part of its Smart Solutions catalog. It reflects a thoughtful, community-informed approach that is helping families build confidence, strengthen reading habits, and grow together.
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library
Guilford County Partnership for Children 2025-2026
177,916 BOOKS MAILED LOCALLY
74%
INCREASE IN DAILY READING AFTER ENROLLING
18,988 CHILDREN ENROLLED IN DPIL
61%
OF ELIGIBLE CHILDREN ENROLLED
9
NC Pre-K GCPC is proud to administer the largest NC Pre-K Program in the state to meet the diverse needs of children in Guilford County. The NC Pre-Kindergarten Program (NC Pre-K) is a free, high-quality early education program where four-year-olds get the support, guidance, and encouragement they need to grow, explore, and thrive. More than just preparing children for kindergarten, NC Pre-K employs licensed teachers and teacher assistants providing competitive wages along with opportunities for continued education.
NC-Pre K by the Numbers, 2025 - 2026
10
96%
GUILFORD COUNTY NC PRE-K LOCATIONS
# OF SITES
# OF CLASSROOMS
# OF CHILDREN
GUILFORD COUNTY SCHOOLS
48
74
936
PRIVATE CHILD CARE CENTERS
30
47
798
GENERATIONED (HEAD START)
9
26
468
TOTALS
87
147
2202
enrollment for 2025 - 2026 school year
3,276
Applications received for 2025 - 2026
PERCENT OF NC PRE-K STUDENTS MEETING OR EXCEEDING TS-GOLD EXPECTATIONS FROM BEGINNING TO END OF SCHOOL YEAR
29% è 79%
31% è 84%
21% è 69%
Social Emotional Learning
Literacy
Mathematics
CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR 2025 - 2026 ANN KIRBY NC PRE-K TEACHER AND TEACHER ASSISTANT OF THE YEAR!
NC Pre-K Teacher of the Year
NC Pre-K Teacher Assistant of the Year
Joc’Quelin “Jackie” Brown
Nadia McNair
Childcare Network #162
Appleville Academy
11
Moving the needle...
WE’RE KEEPING OUR EYES ON THEIR FUTURES THROUGH STRATEGIC DIRECTION.
on the early childhood system
Our goal is to improve early childhood outcomes and ensure children have access to high-quality early learning and family support(s). To best meet the needs of children and families in Guilford County, we must enhance and strengthen an equitable system that is low-barrier and easy to navigate.
on the child care crisis
Our goal is to increase upward mobility and economic well-being in our community by improving our child care infrastructure. At this critical juncture, families face challenges in accessing safe and consistent child care, educators remain underpaid, and early care settings and local businesses face issues of recruitment and retention as a result. By building purpose-driven partnerships, we strengthen our impact and continue to advance our mission.
Sign up for the newsletter to follow our journey and see what's next as we continue expanding into exciting new ventures.
INFANT TODDLER EXPANSION GRANT Through funding from Women to Women, an initiative of the Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro, GCPC launched Infant and Toddler Expansion Grants to increase access to high-quality, licensed child care for Guilford County's youngest children. Through this investment, licensed child care programs will receive support to add much-needed infant and toddler slots, strengthening the county's early childhood infrastructure and helping more families access quality care during the most critical years of development.
Sarah Roethlinger (Youth Focus), Heather Adams (GCPC)
Congrats to our inaugural pilot grantees: Christ Like Child Care, Inc. · Kindernoggin ·
12
Developing Creative Minds, LLC · Kid Appeal Learning Center, Inc.
EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION LEADERSHIP COUNCIL The Early Childhood Education Leadership Council (ECELC) is tasked with implementing innovative, tangible solutions toward Margo Ford Crosby (TLC Consulting), Kelli Hackstall (GCS), Heather Adams (GCPC), Courtney Mickens (GCPC), Eli Saavedra-Villatoro (Ready for School, Ready for Life), Dee Craven (GCPC), Rhodus Riggins Jr. (EQuIPD), Cassie Dean (GCPC) Not pictured: Dr. Jawan Burwell (NC A&T), Shannon Burghart (GTCC), Miranda Taylor (GCS), Victoria Vample (GenerationEd)
addressing challenges that face early care and education. This group of leaders from the early childhood field are a collaborative force that is driven to wisely invest funding from Ready for School, Ready for Life into strengthening the early childhood education workforce.
We are grateful for the partners executing initial pilot projects: Accelerated CDA Credential
Program, GenerationEd · Child Care Academy, Guilford Technical Community College
READ. BOND. GROW. Through the Early Literacy Advisory Team (ELA), a local Active Reading Campaign was created to be an intentional force in developing a love of reading for our youngest learners in Guilford County. Through funding from Ready for School, Ready for Life, this initiative brings together the early literacy partners that lay the foundation for reading and school readiness.
WEEK OF THE YOUNG CHILD (WOYC) GCPC, PBS Kids Rootle, Leadership Greensboro, and the WOYC Planning Committee presented WOYC Spirit Week and the Get Green Campaign. The week brought together early childhood educators, families, community partners, businesses, and local leaders to celebrate young children and raise awareness about the importance of early childhood education. Through Spirit Week activities, community engagement events, and the Get Green Sticker Campaign, participants across Guilford County showed their support for children, families, and the early childhood workforce while highlighting the critical role child care plays in our community.
Our 2026 WOYC Spirit Week Winner:
TAYLOR ACADEMY, FAMILY CHILD CARE HOME
13
Our 30th Birthday... IMPACT OVER THE YEARS
SCAN TO VIEW THE STORY OF GCPC — 30 YEARS OF IMPACT AND COUNTING 14
Over 44,800
$350,321,041
NC PRE-K STUDENTS (MORE AT FOUR)
INVESTED LOCALLY (1996-2026)
(2001-2026)
2,125,147 Books Mailed
DOLLY PARTON’S IMAGINATION LIBRARY (2019-2026)
23,000+
29,500+
1996
2026
POPULATION OF CHILDREN UNDER AGE 5
433 2000
312 2026
NUMBER OF LICENSED CHILD CARE FACILITIES & FAMILY CHILD CARE HOMES 15
30 YEARS OF MILESTONES 1993: Governor Jim Hunt launched Smart Start, North Carolina’s statewide early childhood initiative
1995: Guilford County’s early childhood advocates including Margaret Arbuckle, Robin Britt, Jean Goodman, Dot Kearns and other trailblazers applied to be in the third cohort of counties to become a Local Partnership
1996: Guilford County Partnership for Children was incorporated as a 501(c)(3)
2001: Governor Mike Easley launched More at Four, North Carolina's state funded pre-kindergarten program with GCPC serving as the administrator for Guilford County
2011: More at Four was renamed the NC Pre-Kindergarten Program (NC Pre-K).
2017 : With new state funding, Dolly Parton's Imagination Library (DPIL) was launched in 4 zip codes in Guilford County. The following year the program expanded to serve all 53 zip codes in Guilford County.
2022: GCPC reaches more than 2,100 eligible four-year-olds in Guilford County, becoming North Carolina's largest NC Pre-K program.
2026: The Guilford County Partnership for Children celebrates its 30th birthday!
16
THE TEAM BEHIND 30 YEARS While numbers tell part of the story, it is the people behind the data that write the book. Over the past 30 years, GCPC has been guided by visionary leaders who have helped shape new chapters of growth, innovation, and purpose. Along the way, dedicated staff and board members have devoted countless hours with unwavering commitment to advancing GCPC’s mission, navigating change, and overcoming systemic barriers.
BOARD CHAIRS 1997 - 1999 | Lisa Cheek
2008 - 2009 | Eric Fletcher
1999 - 2001 | Elijah Washington
2009 - 2011 | Mildred Poole
2001 - 2002 | Carol Howard
2011 - 2013 | Alice Moore
2002 - 2003 | Margaret Arbuckle
2013 - 2015 | Barbara Frye
2003 - 2004 | Kem Ellis
2015 - 2017 | Beverly Williams
2004 - 2005 | Ann Busby
2017 - 2019 | Jo Ann Currie
2005 - 2006 | Tara Sandercock
2019 - 2021 | Sandra Boren
2006 - 2007 | Teri Smith
2021 - 2023 | Michael Swerbinsky
2007 - 2008 | Tim Goetz
2023 - 2026 | Greg Anderson
Through it all, the purpose has remained constant: ensuring young children and their families have the support they need to thrive. Every day, GCPC staff, board members, committee members, volunteers, donors, advocates, and community partners see the impact of their collective efforts. From a child proudly pointing out their first shape to a parent beaming as their child walks confidently into kindergarten, these moments are a reflection of the people who have powered GCPC's work for three decades. Their dedication is what makes this work so meaningful and its impact so lasting.
STAFF SPOTLIGHT Robin Armstrong 26 years of service
17
Acknowledgements LIST OF NC PRE-K SITES ABG PROVIDER SERVICES
FRAZIER ELEMENTARY
OAK RIDGE ELEMENTARY
ABG PROVIDER SERVICES II
GATEWAY EDUCATION CENTER
OAK VIEW ELEMENTARY
ALAMANCE ELEMENTARY
GIBSONVILLE ELEMENTARY
PARKVIEW ELEMENTARY
ALDERMAN ELEMENTARY
GILLESPIE ELEMENTARY
PECK ELEMENTARY
APPLEVILLE ACADEMY
GUILFORD ELEMENTARY
BESSEMER ELEMENTARY
HAYES-TAYLOR YMCA CHILDCARE
PHILLILPS AVENUE CHILD DEVELOPMENT
BRIGHTWOOD ELEMENTARY
HAYNES-INMAN EDUCATION CENTER
BRISTOL CDC CADENCE ACADEMY CARL STALEY CDC CHILDCARE NETWORK #56 CHILDCARE NETWORK #157 CHILDCARE NETWORK #162 CHILDCARE NETWORK #163 CHILDCARE NETWORK #207 CHILDCARE NETWORK #237 CHILDCARE NETWORK #242 CHILDCARE NETWORK #253 CHILDCARE NETWORK #298 CHILDTIME LEARNING CENTER CLAXTON ELEMENTARY COLFAX ELEMENTARY CONE ELEMENTARY DEPAUL ACADEMY EDUCATIONAL PLAYTIME TOO! ELM STREET CENTER FAIRVIEW ELEMENTARY FALKENER ELEMENTARY
18
PILOT ELEMENTARY PLEASANT GARDEN ELEMENTARY
HICKORY CHAPEL WOODS
POPLAR GROVE CDC
HIS GLORY CHILD DEVELOPMENT
QUALITY CHILD CARE
HUNTER ELEMENTARY
RANKIN ELEMENTARY
IRVING PARK ELEMENTARY
RAY WARREN CDC
JAMESTOWN ELEMENTARY
REEDY FORK EARLY LEARNING ACADEMY
JEFFERSON ELEMENTARY JONES ELEMENTARY JOYNER ELEMENTARY KID APPEAL LEARNING CENTER KINDERCARE- NEW IRVING PARK KINDERNOGGIN KIRKMAN PARK ELEMENTARY LINDLEY ELEMENTARY MACEDONIA CDC MARTIN DIXON HOUSE CDC MCLEANSVILLE ELEMENTARY MCNAIR ELEMENTARY MILESTONES SCHOOL OF ACHIEVEMENT MILLIS ROAD ELEMENTARY
FLORENCE ELEMENTARY
MONTICELLO BROWN SUMMIT ELEMENTARY
FOUST ELEMENTARY
MONTLIEU ELEMENTARY NORTHWOOD ELEMENTARY OAK HILL ELEMENTARY
REEDY FORK ELEMENTARY SEDALIA ELEMENTARY SEDGEFIELD ELEMENTARY SHADYBROOK ELEMENTARY SIMKINS ELEMENTARY SOUTHERN ELEMENTARY STOKESDALE ELEMENTARY THE SUNSHINE HOUSE #38 TRIAD CHILD DEV. CENTER UNION HILL ELEMENTARY VANDALIA ELEMENTARY WILLOW OAKS CDC YESS LEARNING CENTER VANDALIA YESS LEARNING CENTER LAKECREST YESS LEARNING CENTER HILLTOP
TO OUR DONORS Thank you for investing in the future of our youngest learners. Your generosity helps give young children the strong start they need during the most critical years of development, laying the foundation for lifelong success. By supporting early childhood today, you are helping create opportunities that strengthen families, enrich our community, and benefit generations to come. Every gift, whether a one-time contribution or ongoing support, makes a meaningful difference. We are deeply grateful for your commitment to helping every child thrive.
STAFF HEATHER ADAMS, Executive Director ROBIN ARMSTRONG, NC Pre-K Specialist CHRISTY BARNES, Chief Financial Officer SUSAN BRADY, Data Specialist SAVANNAH BROWN, Director of Operations DEE CRAVEN, NC Pre-K Specialist CASSIE DEAN, Director of Communication & Outreach LILLIAN DUBLINA, Finance & Contracts Specialist MELISSA ESTLER, Director of Smart Start Strategy & Impact JOY EVERHART, NC Pre-K Specialist JOYCE FULTON, NC Pre-K Monitoring Specialist JENNIFER GREGORY, Director of Smart Start Investments TINA GLADNEY, NC Pre-K Data Specialist KRISTIE KYLANDER, Director of NC Pre-K COURTNEY MICKENS, Director of Strategic Initiatives MAYAH WELLS, Administrative Assistant SAMANTHA WILKERSON, NC Pre-K Data Specialist Photo Credits: CASSIE DEAN | Report Design: HUE & TONE CREATIVE
19
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT DEPENDS ON ALL OF US. THE EARLY YEARS SHAPE EVERYTHING. Thank you for making a strong start possible. Join us in building the next chapter for Guilford County's youngest children.
GIVE. FOLLOW. ADVOCATE. GuilfordChildren.org
4900 Koger Blvd., Suite 151 Greensboro, NC 27407 (336) 274-5437 GuilfordChildren.org