Keri‘s Story: A Child Care Director’s Perspective

Keri Goins is the Executive Director of Child Care Partners in Wichita Falls, Texas. Goins oversees five locations, and each is a 4-Star Texas Rising Star accredited facility. Goins has a passionate approach to her daily duties as the Executive Director of five facilities. Her goal is to ensure that the children under her care are well taken care of, are provided with the educational opportunities needed for their cognitive development, and that they have a safe and secure environment where they can thrive. Goins goes above and beyond to reach as many children and families as possible. She is continuously thinking of new ideas to integrate into her already well-run system.

In August 2023, a severe thunderstorm left the Huey Learning Center in pieces the week before school started. According to the Child Care Partners website under the #helpHuey hashtag, “Over 50 children were displaced, and with power outages across all five centers, 0 children were able to receive childcare.” The statement goes on to say that, “the building won’t be seeing any children for a long, long time.” This center was set to open their 3-year-old Preschool Program and Elementary/After School Program (Full-day Program during School Holidays and Summer) the following week. A temporary space was set up inside the Ben Donnell Center gym until the Huey location is repaired.

Goins and her team have been able to quickly pivot thanks to their own resilience combined with community support.  An exhaustive effort was made to create a space for the displaced children within the Ben Donnell gym that is safe and conducive to learning and quality care.  A local manufacturer donated partition walls to the cause to reduce distraction and noise inside of the large, shared echoey gym space. Understandably, a set up like this with toddlers long-term is not ideal, so the more help and funding, the quicker they can get these kids back into their own space tailored to the quality, 4-Star early education these kiddos need.

While this space is safe and adequate for now, they need to build back what was lost as soon as possible!  There is a lot left to do to help rebuild this facility. If you care to donate to the rebuilding efforts, please visit #HelpHuey | Child Care Partners (childcarewf.org). There is a link to donate for their rebuilding fund and a link to their Amazon wish list for supplies.

If you are a childcare facility or an in-home daycare and want more information about partnering with Workforce Solutions North Texas for the Texas Rising Star program, contact me today!