As part of our Stories of SuccESS series, we’re highlighting moments from the field that reflect how communities across Oregon are strengthening early learning systems.
On March 9, Children’s Institute’s remote rural coach, Erin Helgren, partnered with the Four Rivers Learning and Parenting Hub and Columbia Gorge Education Service District (ESD) to host a preschool to third grade (P-3) panel and learning session in Condon, Oregon. The event brought together rural early learning leaders, K-12 leadership, and regional partners to share learning and begin exploring what stronger alignment could look like in practice.
Building connections
A key focus of the session was strengthening alignment between early learning providers and school districts. The aim was to better serve children and families before and during the transition into kindergarten.
Like many communities across Oregon, collaboration between early learning and K-12 is an emerging practice. This gathering created a rare opportunity for partners to come into the same space.
Over discussion and lunch, early learning partners, the ESD, and school district leaders began connecting in new ways—sharing experiences, asking questions, and exploring what it could look like to move forward as partners. Curiosity, openness, and a shared commitment to children and families in their community was palpable in the room.
“We were honored to welcome such a knowledgeable and experienced group to Condon. Their visit created a meaningful opportunity for our partner school districts to better understand the ‘why’ behind this work. Through candid reflections on both challenges and successes, the panel fostered a strong sense of connection and relatability. This marks an important beginning for efforts that matter deeply to our communities, with the shared goal of creating smoother transitions for students, families, educators, and schools.”
-Shira Skybinskyy, Director, Four Rivers Family Early Learning andd Parenting
Together, these conversations pointed to something larger: a growing opportunity to better align systems in support of children and families.
Why this matters
Rural districts across Oregon are working to strengthen early learning strategies to improve kindergarten readiness and better meet the needs of children and families.
When early learning and K-12 systems are more aligned, the impact shows up in everyday experiences.
Educators have a clearer understanding of each child’s needs. Families experience a more coordinated system of support from the start. Transitions into kindergarten feel more connected.
In rural communities, this kind of alignment has the potential to reach nearly every child and family.
What this could change
For educators, this alignment creates opportunities to collaborate across systems, strengthen relationships, and build more consistent, responsive learning environments.
For children, it means entering school with stronger foundations—and being known, supported, and set up to succeed from the very beginning.
Looking ahead
Partnerships like these are becoming increasingly important as communities navigate growing needs and limited resources, to help strengthen how systems work together for children from the very beginning.
Through rural coaching, Children’s Institute partners with communities to strengthen and sustain connections across early learning and K-12 systems, an approach that helps build more aligned, responsive systems for children, families, and communities.
When this work continues, the changes are tangible: stronger relationships between educators, shared understanding, and more coordinated approaches to supporting children and families both before and as they enter school.
Curious how this could take shape in your community? Explore our rural coaching work.