Recently, Jenn Gaffney, the AmeriCorps Seniors Foster Grandparent Coordinator, paid a visit to Grandma Lana’s classroom to read a storybook to the Kindergarteners. During the visit, Jenn chose to read Scaredy Squirrel by Melanie Webb, which turned out to be a delightful experience for both the students and Jenn.
Tieyonnia Brandon began working in our Head Start program in February 2018 as a Teacher Aide, then became a Teacher Assistant later that year and a Family Worker in 2022, obtaining her Child Development Associate Credential and Family Development Credential.
Tieyonnia has been an anchor at our Merrick site, continuing to provide a great deal of classroom coverage throughout the building as well as support to families beyond her standard caseload due to continued staffing shortages. Meanwhile, she is attending college classes at night, and is on track to earn her Associate’s Degree in Human Services by December 2024.
Our Head Start Family Workers help clients to prepare their children for success in school and beyond, by meeting families where they are while providing support and encouragement toward forward movement at their pace. Tieyonnia has demonstrated through her work that she realizes the key to success and positive progress for families is based on developing healthy partnerships and being a valuable and encouraging resource, whether it is by supporting them through the complex challenges of homelessness, or by assisting them with the initial steps of scheduling a child’s first medical exam.
Recognizing her dedication, commitment, and hard work, we are pleased to honor Tieyonnia Brandon as our Employee of the Month for March!
Photo: Employee of the Month Tieyonnia Brandon, with Merrick Head Start Site Supervisor Sharon Bean and Executive Director Carolyn Brown.
Teresa Piedmonte has been our Facilities Office Manager since October 2020, and she has made a huge impact on the department right from her first day on the job, channeling her can-do attitude and infectious positive energy to do great things. Her notable achievements include improving the purchase order process, finding and implementing a new and highly effective online work order system, and earning the title of “Queen of Inventory” by overseeing the clean-up, renovation, and reorganization of the warehouse into an efficient operation ensuring the documentation and loss-prevention of all agency supplies and maintenance equipment.
Thank you, Teresa, for everything you do, and congratulations for being named our Employee of the Year for 2023!
Photo: 2023 Employee of the Year Teresa Piedmonte, with (L to R) Recruiter Jamie Colucci, Facilities Director Jerry Barker, Executive Director Carolyn Brown, Custodian Shawn Rhines, Maintenance Supply Manager Ben Binyard, and Maintenance Manager Ned Owens.
PEACE, Inc. staff members and their families went to Albany yesterday for the Empire State Campaign for Child Care’s 2024 Advocacy Day. Alongside local partners and advocates including the Early Childhood Alliance of CNY; Child Care Solutions of CNY; Partners in Learning, Inc.; the Salvation Army; and Micron Technologies, critical conversations/education took place with lawmakers and with a public rally. Among the most important calls raised: the importance of investing in the child care workforce and the need to make it easier for families to access quality early childhood child care and education.
#NYSuniversalchildcare #PEACEIncSYR
On February 3, PEACE, Inc., KeyBank, and members of the CNY CA$H Coalition hosted a great Super Saturday Free Tax event at Beauchamp Branch Library, Onondaga County Public Libraries.
More than 30 staff and volunteers from the entities filed 40 tax returns in a little more than 4 hours. Thank you to all who helped! The numbers and impact are great, including:
In a census tract where nearly 70% of youth live in poverty, a Super Saturday Event at Beauchamp Library can make a big difference!
If you missed the event, not a problem! You can schedule an appointment at our year-round Free Tax Prep Program and/or one of our partnering sites at https://www.peace-caa.org/taxes/.