Melanie Dodson of Community Child Care Council of Sonoma County Nonprofit Leadership Award

Melanie Dodson

AWARD CATEGORY: EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

COMMUNITY CHILD CARE COUNCIL OF SONOMA COUNTY (4CS)

131A STONY CIRCLE SUITE 300 SANTA ROSA CA 95403

707-544-3077

WWW.SONOMA4CS.ORG

AGE: 41

RESIDENCE: SANTA ROSA

PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND: DIRECTOR AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS, ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TEACHER, BOOKKEEPER, 4CS CHILD CARE RESOURCE & REFERRAL DIRECTOR, 4CS ASSISTANT EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, 4CS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

EDUCATION: BA HUTCHINS SCHOOL OF LIBERAL STUDIES, SONOMA STATE UNIVERSITY, & K-8 TEACHING CREDENTIAL

STAFF: 150 EMPLOYEES AT 4CS

Describe your organization.

Founded in 1972 and approaching our 45th Anniversary, the Community Child Care Council of Sonoma County – known as 4Cs – is a multi-service nonprofit agency serving Sonoma County parents, children and child care providers. 4Cs is dedicated to supporting and providing quality, accessible and affordable preschool and child care services for children, families and child care professionals through education, resources, and direct services. 4Cs operates 11 high quality preschools throughout Sonoma County serving low income working parents. 4Cs educates and supports our community to understand the importance of the early years for children and how well designed and implemented programs support the child, the family and the Community.

Children have opportunities through 4Cs programs to be school ready, parents are provided critical resources and supports to strengthen their family today and into the future, as they continue their education, become self-sufficient through maintaining gainful employment and are supported as their child's first and most important teacher.

Our Mission

The mission of the Community Child Care Council is to inspire our community to support the well-being of every child and to improve the quality and availability of child care in Sonoma County.

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

Born and raised in Sonoma County growing up in Kenwood, a graduate of Montgomery High School, SRJC and SSU. I taught at several local elementary schools before finding 4Cs where I have been the past 15 years (8 as the Executive Director). I am passionate about children and providing them the best opportunities to support their individual development and growth but also how investments in families and in the early years will support the quality of our community in the years ahead. It is important to me that I am working in a field that is making a difference.

As a full time working mom, I experience all the stresses that go along with that including maintaining the work-life balance and the high cost of preschool and child care. It has been extremely valuable in my roll to have this experience as I lead 4Cs. It also supports the continued culture of 4Cs that is flexible and family first in everything we do.

I have been married for 10 years to my best friend and partner Scott Bolin who is a Park Ranger for Sonoma County Regional Parks. We have two children Riley who is 6 years old and Dylan who is 2 ½ . Between Soccer, Gymnastics, Homework, Volunteering at school and Board Meetings it is hard to squeeze in my other passions, but when I can I sing with the Sonoma County Bach Choir and love to take walks in our local parks or get out to the coast and enjoy the beach.

What is your role in the organization?

Executive Director

What achievement are you most proud of?

This past year all of the 4Cs preschools were rated using a new statewide Quality Assessment tool and they achieved the highest rating – Tier 5 – for quality. This agency success demonstrates the work and dedication of the 4Cs preschool staff as well as the agency wide teams commitment to quality available early care and education for all children in Sonoma County.

What is your biggest challenge today?

Time – never enough!

What is the next major project either under way or on the horizon?

4Cs always has so much going on! In 2016 we have opened 4Cs Cloverdale Preschool and are working on an expansion of 4Cs Gold Ridge Preschool in Rohnert Park to add a full day full year classroom for January 2017 as well as a new preschool partnership with the Wright Elementary School District which will become 4Cs Wright Start Preschool opening fall 2017, a full inclusion preschool with both full and part day opportunities. In addition to the preschool expansions, we continue to grow our Quality Counts Coaching Program for early care and education providers in Sonoma County providing onsite, support and training. Parent Voices will continue our very popular Parent Cafes for parent connections and support and leadership development. And as we look to 2017 we will be celebrating our 45th Anniversary and working on our next Strategic Plan.

How do you think your profession will change in the next five years?

I am hopeful that in the next 2-5 years we will be able to go to the ballot and create a local Sonoma County Children's Initiative that can institutionalize some of the amazing programs that have been brought to fruition through the increased Community awareness of the importance of high quality early care and education.

Melanie Dodson

AWARD CATEGORY: EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

COMMUNITY CHILD CARE COUNCIL OF SONOMA COUNTY (4CS)

131A STONY CIRCLE SUITE 300 SANTA ROSA CA 95403

707-544-3077

WWW.SONOMA4CS.ORG

AGE: 41

RESIDENCE: SANTA ROSA

PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND: DIRECTOR AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS, ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TEACHER, BOOKKEEPER, 4CS CHILD CARE RESOURCE & REFERRAL DIRECTOR, 4CS ASSISTANT EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, 4CS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

EDUCATION: BA HUTCHINS SCHOOL OF LIBERAL STUDIES, SONOMA STATE UNIVERSITY, & K-8 TEACHING CREDENTIAL

STAFF: 150 EMPLOYEES AT 4CS

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