Child Care Facility Expands to Close the School Readiness Gap in Baltimore
Baltimore has been ranked and is still ranked as one of the lowest cities in the nation with a median income. In areas with low socioeconomic status, statistics have shown
Baltimore has been ranked and is still ranked as one of the lowest cities in the nation with a median income. In areas with low socioeconomic status, statistics have shown that students have demonstrated significantly low reading, math, and vocabulary skills. This then creates a large school readiness gap which affects the academic performance and particular social skills among children entering kindergarten and first grade.
Since 2012, Angela Johnston-Kidane had been dedicated to making sure children in her own community are well-prepared and ready for school. The Baltimore native facilitates her own child care center called KidzStuff Child Care.
Over the past decade, KidzStuff Child Care has served more than 2,500 families and sent children to school with some of the highest school readiness rates in Baltimore City. Their main focus is to build generations of resilient young learners who are school-ready. The childcare facility just opened a second location in the Baltimore Metropolitan Area to serve the community in a larger capacity.
“Expanding our childcare services within the city has always been our goal, we are passionate about providing quality child care to the residents of Baltimore City with the goal of closing the school readiness gap in the Baltimore Metropolitan area,” says CEO and Founder, Angela Johnston-Kidane. “Moving into a new community will provide much-needed care to its residents. We will add infant/toddler care to a city that is so desperately in need of it,” Angela adds.
KidzStuff Child Care services children from birth to age 12. Before moving on to before/after school and programs for children ages five years and older, the facility began providing the best foundation for children birth to five through Christian education before then
The goal is to provide children with a safe nurturing environment that provides activities for language and communication, creative arts, social, emotional, cognitive, and physical development to enhance and support the development of the whole child. KidzStuff believes that healthy teacher-parent relationships help create compelling programming opportunities around individual student interests, primary languages, and cultural diversities.
We had a chance to sit with Angela Johnston and learn the inspiration behind KidzStudd Child Care, check out our discussion down below.
Q: What inspired you to open KidzStuff Child Care?
Angela: KidzStuff Child Care Center was previously owned by Diakon Lutheran Social
Ministries who wanted to ensure that KidzStuff continued to be a staple in the
community as they discontinued their business in Maryland. After a meeting with
me (Angela Johnston, Co-founder of Scarlet Covering, Inc., a Maryland non-profit
organization), the board members were sure they found their predecessor.
Ministries who wanted to ensure that KidzStuff continued to be a staple in the
community as they discontinued their business in Maryland. After a meeting with
me (Angela Johnston, Co-founder of Scarlet Covering, Inc., a Maryland non-profit
organization), the board members were sure they found their predecessor.
In March of 2012, Diakon sold KidzStuff to Scarlet Covering, Inc. for just $1.00 and
assisted with the process of licensing the center under its new owner. Knowing
nothing about the business of childcare but determined to continue the legacy of
serving children with the love of Christ, Scarlet Covering, Inc, and our employees
have served more than 2,500 children over the past 10 years with the daily
inspiration to see children grow, learn and thrive.
assisted with the process of licensing the center under its new owner. Knowing
nothing about the business of childcare but determined to continue the legacy of
serving children with the love of Christ, Scarlet Covering, Inc, and our employees
have served more than 2,500 children over the past 10 years with the daily
inspiration to see children grow, learn and thrive.
Q: What are some of the unique techniques her organization uses to help kids prepare for school?
Angela: The process of school readiness is a partnership with parents,
community organizations, and KidzStuff. We believe healthy teacher-parent
relationships help create exciting programming opportunities around individual
student interests, primary languages, and cultural diversities. KidzStuff uses a
vigorous Early Childhood Education Curriculum coupled with the “I do, We do,
You do” teaching model to help children reach the goal of school readiness.
community organizations, and KidzStuff. We believe healthy teacher-parent
relationships help create exciting programming opportunities around individual
student interests, primary languages, and cultural diversities. KidzStuff uses a
vigorous Early Childhood Education Curriculum coupled with the “I do, We do,
You do” teaching model to help children reach the goal of school readiness.
Q: How has KidzStuff Child Care managed to keep up with these techniques despite the COVID-19 Pandemic and virtual learning?
Angela: KidzStuff implemented a layered prevention strategy for staff and families, virtual
communication methods, staff vaccination mandates, and lots of prayer to
continue providing high-quality care to its children and families.
communication methods, staff vaccination mandates, and lots of prayer to
continue providing high-quality care to its children and families.
Q: How has KidzStuff Child Care supported children who have been diagnosed with any learning or behavioral disabilities?
Angela: KidzStuff partnered with JEWELS school to provide services to children with
various disabilities. Their therapists visit our program at least twice a week to
service children identified with a disability. We have also accommodated other
organizations assigned to provide therapeutic services for children on site.
various disabilities. Their therapists visit our program at least twice a week to
service children identified with a disability. We have also accommodated other
organizations assigned to provide therapeutic services for children on site.
Q: What is your vision for the new Baltimore location and how does it align with the goals of the state of Maryland?
Angela: KidzStuff will continue its mission/vision in the Northwood community by
providing the best foundation for children birth to five through a Christian
education with a focus on closing the school readiness gap in the Baltimore
Metropolitan Area. We hope to leave generations of resilient young learners who
are school-ready, equipped with faith like Caleb, lead like Deborah, and are
fearless like David. Our mission is to close the school readiness cap in the
Northwood community is directly aligned with Baltimore City Public School
Systems.
providing the best foundation for children birth to five through a Christian
education with a focus on closing the school readiness gap in the Baltimore
Metropolitan Area. We hope to leave generations of resilient young learners who
are school-ready, equipped with faith like Caleb, lead like Deborah, and are
fearless like David. Our mission is to close the school readiness cap in the
Northwood community is directly aligned with Baltimore City Public School
Systems.
Q: Can you speak on the impact KidzStuff Child Care has made on children and families in Baltimore?
Angela: In addition to Scarlet Covering, Inc and our employees having served more than
2,500 children over the past 10 years with the daily inspiration to see children
grow, learn, and thrive, we provide a healthy, safe, and fun place for families to
send their children with ease. KidzStuff provides infant/toddler care in a city
where there are not enough childcare infant/toddler slots, the new center will
offer infant/toddler slots for families to comfortably return to work
2,500 children over the past 10 years with the daily inspiration to see children
grow, learn, and thrive, we provide a healthy, safe, and fun place for families to
send their children with ease. KidzStuff provides infant/toddler care in a city
where there are not enough childcare infant/toddler slots, the new center will
offer infant/toddler slots for families to comfortably return to work
If you are interested in learning more about KidzStuff or are interested in enrolling your child, please visit www.kidzstuffchildcare.org and send an inquiry form.
