My name is Jill Bartlett, I am
the Executive Director here at NEEC. I have a Bachelor’s
Degree in Business Administration from William Jewell
College and 15 years experience in accounting and
management. But, more importantly, I have 5+ years
experience as a mom.
I learned about Northland Early Education Center just over 5½ years ago when my daughter, Chase, was born with Down’s Syndrome. During the first few days of disappointment and uncertainty, some friends of ours recommended the school. I honestly do not know what my husband and I would have done otherwise. Chase attended NEEC from the time she was 2½ months old until she was 5. The progression of her skills exceeded all of our expectations. The fully inclusive environment at this age level made all the difference in Chase’s development. She is now attending kindergarten in the public school district, where she is fully integrated in the “typical” classroom. This would not have been possible without the early intervention she received from the teachers and therapists at Northland Early Education Center.
When the Executive Director position became available in 2002, I jumped at the opportunity. I was interested in the position because I personally saw what a difference the school made to the children in our community.
Over the past year, through our efforts to increase community awareness and support, NEEC has seen many changes and improvements. We have changed our name from Lighthouse Preschool to Northland Early Education Center, we have obtained 3-year CARF (Commission for the Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities) accreditation, have made many capital improvements (including handicap accessible doors; new tile floors; and computers for each classroom), we have had the opportunity to employ additional lead teachers with advanced degrees, and finally we are seeing some financial stability.
We owe all of these improvements to the hard work of our staff and board, the families of NEEC, and the support of the Northland community. We look forward to continued improvements and success in the years to come. Thank you for your time and letting me tell you about my experience with Northland Early Education Center.
