OKEECHOBEE — In mid-October, Okeechobee County Schools’ Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) teachers gathered at the District’s VPK Learning Center, located within Okeechobee Achievement Academy, for an engaging day of professional development designed to enhance instruction and classroom quality for the district’s youngest learners.

Led by Andrea Asciutto and Nicala Tyo from the Early Learning Coalition of Indian River, Martin, and Okeechobee Counties (ELC-IRMO), the training centered around the CLASS (Classroom Assessment Scoring System) framework—a nationally recognized tool for improving teaching quality and early childhood learning outcomes.

During the session, participants reviewed CLASS domains and dimensions, analyzed recent classroom data, reflected on video examples within the Instructional Support domain, and set professional goals to strengthen daily instructional practices.

“Every opportunity we have to collaborate, reflect, and grow together makes a direct impact on the children we serve,” said Heidi Dove, Lead Teacher for VPK. “Our team left inspired to make meaningful changes that nurture curiosity, confidence, and a love for learning in every student.”

Britani Stanley, director of VPK programs, emphasized the importance of continuous learning for early educators. “Our VPK staff are deeply committed to giving Okeechobee’s youngest learners the strongest start possible,” she said. “This type of professional learning helps ensure that our classrooms are joyful, responsive, and developmentally rich environments where all children can thrive.”

Okeechobee County Schools’ VPK program provides a strong foundation for school readiness by focusing on play-based learning, social-emotional growth, and academic skill development — helping children be known, be challenged, and be empowered from their very first educational experiences.