Big Feelings. Strong Connections. Ready to Learn.
What does it really mean for a child to be ready for kindergarten?
We often think about the academic milestones: recognizing letters, counting numbers, writing a name. But some of the most important skills children bring into a classroom are harder to measure.
Can they make a friend? Ask for help? Work through a big feeling? Try again when something doesn’t go as planned? These are all part of kindergarten readiness. And helping children develop them takes more than one classroom, one teacher, or one family working alone.
On Tuesday, November 10, 2026, Children’s Learning Centers of Fairfield County (CLC) invites parents, educators, and community members to join us for Ready Means More: Big Feelings. Strong Connections. Ready to Learn., a breakfast conversation at the Harry Bennett Branch of Ferguson Library in Stamford.
Together with leaders in early childhood education, public schools, and children’s mental health, we’ll explore what readiness looks like, why relationships matter, and how the adults in children’s lives can work together to help them thrive. CLICK HERE TO REGISTER.
Kindergarten Readiness Is About More Than Academics
A child who knows their letters and numbers has important tools for learning. But what happens when that child feels overwhelmed, has trouble joining a group, or needs help resolving a disagreement?
Learning also depends on the ability to communicate, build relationships, manage emotions, and participate in a classroom community. These skills develop through everyday experiences: playing alongside other children, learning to take turns, expressing feelings, solving problems, and building trusting relationships with adults. At CLC, we see these moments every day.
A teacher helps two children work through a disagreement over a toy. A child discovers the confidence to ask for help. A group learns to build something together, even when their first idea doesn’t work.
These experiences are part of learning, too. And as children prepare for kindergarten, the connections between families, early childhood educators, and elementary schools become especially important.
Readiness isn’t just about what a child knows. It’s also about how children feel, connect, communicate, and approach new experiences.
Bringing Different Perspectives to One Conversation
Our November 10 breakfast brings together leaders whose work touches different parts of children’s early learning experiences. From statewide early childhood policy and Head Start programs to Stamford Public Schools and early childhood mental health, each speaker brings a perspective on what children and families need to succeed.
The conversation will also explore how stronger collaboration among families, educators, and community partners can support children as they move from early childhood settings into kindergarten.
Meet Our Featured Speakers
Elena Trueworthy – Commissioner, Connecticut Office of Early Childhood
Elena Trueworthy was named by Governor Lamont as the Commissioner of the Office of Early Childhood (OEC), effective March 25, 2026. Since 2023, Trueworthy has served as Deputy Commissioner at the agency. She joined the OEC 2019, serving as the director of the agency’s Head Start State Collaboration Office. Immediately prior to that, she was associate director of early childhood investments with the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving, where she co-managed a portfolio of grants that support child health, parent education and leadership, community engagement, family child care, bilingual career pathways, and program capacity building.
She also worked from 2011 to 2016 as the director of the organization’s Hartford Area Child Care Collaborative, in which she led a 350-member collaborative to improve child care quality and access. From 2001 to 2011, she worked in two Head Start positions with the Human Resources Agency in New Britain, including as the special services senior manager and as family and community development manager.
Trueworthy has volunteered with several organizations, including the Connecticut Latino and Puerto Rican Affairs Commission and various local community-led groups to promote and advance the strengths of diversity. She earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Connecticut and a master’s degree in human services from Springfield College.
Jess Bialecki – Director of Early Childhood Education, Social Impact Partners
Jess Bialecki is the Director of Early Childhood Education at Social Impact Partners (SIP), where she advances policies, partnerships, and investments that improve outcomes for young children and their families. Jess began her career as an early childhood educator and administrator and has since worked to strengthen early childhood systems through policy and systems change.
Previously, she served as the Director of Policy and Planning for the federal Office of Head Start and the Senior Director of Policy for New York City’s Division of Early Childhood Education. Her work is informed by both her professional experience and her perspective as the parent of two young children. Jess holds a master’s degree in education from Harvard University and a bachelor’s degree from Yale University.
Karen Pascale – Director, Connecticut Head Start Collaboration Office – Director, Family and Community Leadership and Outreach Division, Connecticut Office of Early Childhood
Karen Pascale works to strengthen the partnerships that connect early childhood programs, state agencies, community organizations, and families throughout Connecticut. Appointed by Governor Ned Lamont in April 2023 as Director of the Connecticut Head Start Collaboration Office, Karen helps advance collaboration and access to high-quality early childhood services and supports.
In her leadership role at the Connecticut Office of Early Childhood, she also works to strengthen family and community engagement and ensure families have meaningful opportunities to help shape the programs and systems that affect their children.
Before joining the state, Karen held early childhood leadership roles at United Way of Greater New Haven, where she oversaw the Secure Start Initiative, and at LULAC Head Start. Her experience includes serving as Chair of the Connecticut Head Start Association and representing Head Start on statewide early childhood advisory bodies.
Karen holds a Master of Education from the University of New Haven and a bachelor’s degree from Southern Connecticut State University. Her work reflects an important part of this conversation: children benefit when families, educators, programs, and community systems work together.
Amy Beldotti – Chief Academic Officer, Stamford Public Schools – CLC Board Member | Former CLC Parent
Amy Beldotti brings a perspective that connects school leadership, student learning, and personal experience with CLC. As Chief Academic Officer for Stamford Public Schools, Amy oversees assessment data that helps schools understand patterns in children’s preparation and learning, including those associated with prior early childhood experiences.
During the conversation, Amy will explore how skills such as emotional regulation, communication, relationship-building, and a sense of belonging influence children’s ability to participate and learn in the classroom.
She will also bring her experience as a former CLC parent, connecting the conversation about kindergarten readiness to the real experiences of children and families. As a member of CLC’s Board of Directors, Amy contributes another important perspective on the collaboration between early childhood education, families, and Stamford’s public schools.
Her participation will help connect what children experience before kindergarten with what educators observe once they arrive.
Kate-Lynd Murphy, LCSW, PMH-C, IMH-E® – Project Director, Early Childhood Therapeutic Partnership – Child Guidance Center of Southern Connecticut
Kate-Lynd Murphy is a licensed clinical social worker and Project Director of the Child Guidance Center of Southern Connecticut’s Early Childhood Therapeutic Partnership. In this role, Kate leads a federally funded initiative supported by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to expand early childhood mental health services.
She works alongside clinicians, early childhood educators, and program leaders to strengthen how adults understand and respond to the needs of young children and their families. Her expertise includes infant and early childhood mental health, developmental trauma, relationship-based interventions, and reflective supervision and consultation.
Kate’s work emphasizes the importance of relationships among the adults who care for, educate, and support young children. These responsive connections help children feel safe, navigate big feelings, build trusting relationships, and arrive in classrooms ready to participate and learn.
Her perspective brings an important dimension to the discussion: emotional development and supportive relationships are essential parts of children’s early learning experiences.
What We’ll Explore Together
The breakfast will create space for a conversation about what children need as they prepare for kindergarten and how families, educators, and community leaders can work together to support them.
Topics will include:
- Social and emotional readiness: Why managing feelings, building friendships, communicating needs, and navigating group experiences are important parts of learning.
- The role of relationships: How connections with parents, caregivers, teachers, and other trusted adults help children develop confidence and a sense of belonging.
- The transition to kindergarten: What early childhood educators and elementary schools can learn from one another to help children adjust to a new learning environment.
- Working together: How families, schools, early childhood programs, and community partners can strengthen the support surrounding young children.
Attendees will have opportunities to ask questions and leave with practical ideas to try at home or in the classroom.
Why This Conversation Matters to Stamford
Since 1902, CLC has been part of the foundation of early childhood education in Stamford.
Today, CLC serves more than 800 children each day across six centers, providing early education, nutrition, health services, and family support from infancy through the transition to kindergarten.
One in three Stamford public school children starts kindergarten as a CLC graduate.
That connection gives CLC an important role in conversations about how children prepare for school and how early childhood educators, families, and Stamford Public Schools can work together.
Strong early learning experiences benefit children and families, but their impact reaches further. When children enter school with the confidence, relationships, and foundational skills to participate in learning, the entire community has a stake in their success.
This breakfast is an opportunity to bring different perspectives to the same table and continue that conversation together.
Join Us for Breakfast and Conversation
Ready Means More: Big Feelings. Strong Connections. Ready to Learn.
Tuesday, November 10, 2026
9:00–10:45 a.m.
Breakfast and conversation begin at 9:00 a.m. The program begins at 9:15 a.m.
Harry Bennett Branch, Ferguson Library
115 Vine Road
Stamford, CT 06905
Whether you’re a parent, teacher, early childhood professional, or community member interested in how children learn and grow, we invite you to join the conversation. Bring your questions and leave with practical ideas for helping children build the confidence, connections, and skills they need for kindergarten and beyond. [Register for the Fall Breakfast →]