Why Early Childhood Matters to... K-12 SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS

Q&A with Dr. Denton Santarelli

The current Arizona Superintendent of the Year, Dr. Denton Santarelli has served the Peoria Unified School District for more than 34 years, beginning as a teacher and serving most currently as superintendent. Well-known for his contributions to school improvement, Dr. Santarelli has been an on going advocate for public education by promoting an environment conducive to the social, emotional, physical and academic growth of all students.

In addition to being named the 2014 Arizona Superintendent of the Year by the American Association of School Administrators (AASA), Dr. Santarelli has also been honored with the 2013 Arizona School Administrators’ (ASA) Raymond Sterling Kellis Leadership Award, 2012 Superintendent of the Year for Large Districts in Arizona, and the 2012 AdvancED Superintendent of the Year Award. 

Why is school readiness so important to later student success in grades K-12?

We know from research that most brain development takes place from birth to age 5, making early education critically important to set the stage for future success. The social and personal experiences that children receive from early childhood specialists in a preschool program provide a solid foundation for later academic excellence.

Over your years in the education field, do you think K-12 school leaders are more readily recognizing the importance of early childhood?

Absolutely.  Many school leaders see that those students who come into their K-12 system with the foundation from early childhood education are better prepared and need less remediation. Students who have benefited from early education are also on target and outperform their peers who may not have participated in school readiness programs. Peoria Unified’s Community Preschools work to provide best practice strategies and in partnership with our special education department can identify developmental delays early to provide the appropriate interventions.

Do you believe that the early experiences that children have at home are as important as early experiences in traditional educational settings, such as in preschool?

We know that parents are their child’s first teacher, but the experiences that children have at home and the experiences they have in preschool go hand-in-hand. A solid preschool program helps to accentuate what takes place in the home. It is extremely important that all children have access to reading materials at home and a caring parent or adult to help serve as their first teacher. Likewise, it is vital that students are given access to early childhood programs where they learn from a qualified teacher alongside other children.

How can families promote quality interactions that will prepare their children for kindergarten? 

The most important step you can take to set your child up for success is to read to them. Also, do not use slang words, but use real words as you have conversations with them to help their verbal development. Include your child in activities around the house, especially those that have step-by-step instructions, such as cooking or baking. When you ask them a question, have them explain their answer rather than provide you with a one-word response.

As superintendent of one of the largest districts in Arizona, how has your district been able to partner with First Things First?

We have had a long-standing partnership with First Things First and have appreciated their support for our more than 1,000 preschool students. The new Family Resource Center at Sky View Elementary has been a wonderful addition to our district, providing resources to families that need early childhood classes, tools and support. It is our hope that this program will increase awareness in our community of the importance of pre-K learning to the long-term development and success of all students. In addition, our partnership has extended through our Career and Technical Education programs to our Child Oriented Occupational Programs (COOP), where First Things First has been able to provide resources for the student-teachers that participate in the program.  

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