Rhonda Robles’ journey with the Children’s Learning Center began with a newspaper ad. Inspired by the women working to build mental health resources and offer services to children with disabilities, and she immediately applied to join them. In the early years of this community-rooted programming, she recalls, there was little guidance or standardized oversight, so the group developed their own plans and goals. She’s delighted to see that CLC has endured and continues to impact so many families.

Janet Woodland wanted a way to give back to the community that she loves so deeply, and found the perfect niche as a board member for the Community Children’s Project (CCP) and CLC. These programs, she recognized immediately, were a real breakthrough for the community as the area’s first county-subsidized childcare resource. Janet continues to be inspired by the gratitude of families and children, and energized by CLC’s momentum and boundless potential in the coming years.

Over the course of his four decades as a Special Education Instructor, Davey Hough has seen CLC expand in impactful and inspiring ways. He has worked with hundreds of children and families — representing a wide range of needs and abilities — making an immeasurable difference in their lives. He looks around the community and is proud to see young adults who he helped as babies living rich, productive, and connected lives.

Special Education Therapist Robbi Farrow understands that the work she does with parents and students extends far beyond the classroom. As she develops a strong, close connection with parents, she’s able to coach them and empower them to implement habits and changes in their everyday lives. This expansion of understanding allows them to infuse every day with help for their children, not exclusively when they’re with Robbi. CLC is about more than what children do in class — it’s about setting people of all abilities up for limitless success.

Anita Sullivan, a founder of the Head Start Program with the Children’s Learning Center, cultivated a welcoming and empowering space for children and families whose primary language was not English. Since the earliest chapters of the program, Anita and other Head Start instructors have helped students achieve unlimited success in their lives. Not only are students more fluently bilingual, but many have also gone on to college and rewarding careers both in Jackson Hole and beyond.

Not only is Jan Friedlund a former parent of a CLC student, but she also served as the organization’s Interim Director in the early 2000s. Without the collaborative effort of the county, individuals and organizations that recognize the profound value of early childhood education, she says, CLC would have not been able to launch a SPET Tax initiative in 2006. The success of that effort resulted in the construction of CLC’s Rafter J Ranch Campus and empowered the organization to expand programming — in addition to ensuring that educational resources were accessible and affordable for all families.

When one of Lynn Friess’ youngest grandchildren was born with special needs, she began exploring resources available to help offer extra support. Of course, the compassionate and professional services at CLC proved priceless. Now, her granddaughter is in a mainstream public school 4th-grade classroom — an achievement that Lynn wholeheartedly believes is largely due to the exceptional early childhood education she received at CLC.

When Cyndi Fischer took a break from teaching middle and high school students, she rapidly realized the sizeable impact that early education has on young children. Cyndi discovered her calling as the Special Services Coordinator for CLC; she’s passionate about empowering parents to advocate for their children and supporting kids who, regardless of their starting point, inevitably make significant strides and development during their time at CLC. As the parent of a special needs student herself, she believes wholeheartedly that early intervention is the key to a child’s long-term success.

As a small business owner and a parent of two, Alden Wood Faust knows exactly how limited childcare resources are. The opportunity to send both of her children to CLC not only empowered her to continue building her career, but also helped her kids develop social skills, a sense of responsibility and capability, and a network of great friends. Alden credits CLC with fostering her daughter’s passion for art and nature, and helping her son discover supportive and compassionate relationships with other caring adults.

A community needs assessment revealed that many families in the Early Head Start and Head Start Programs could use more support and guidance around health and wellness. Miriam Morillon, as the leader of the Whole Health Program, helps families learn about making healthy choices, getting exercise, and understanding nutrition. Through innovative partnerships with St. John’s Health, Hole Food Rescue, and the Rec Center, the program inspires families to stay healthy. As Miriam explains, it also helps to expand accessibility to the breathtaking beauty and wealth of outdoor recreational opportunities in the area!

Nikki Thompson began her journey with CLC when she was around 6 months old. The support that programs offered, in addition to the loving attention of staff and therapists, set her up for a lifetime of success. As a wheelchair user, Nikki is grateful that spending time in mixed classrooms helped her peers understand that people’s humanity is more important than their appearance or skills — and she’s glad that the kids of CLC continue to have the opportunity to forge friendships with a diversity of peers.