On August 10, 2021, the Grand Monadnock Rotary Club invited Louise Danforth (see picture below) from Monadnock Community Early Learning Center (MCELC) to talk about the learning center and some of the challenges during the pandemic. MCELC was selected to serve as a preschool for essential workers by the State of NH and operated during the pandemic. Louise talked about the challenges of operating a preschool during the pandemic and the protocols used to keep children and staff safe. She also talked about the challenges facing preschools now and in the future and proposed initiatives to expand early childhood education.
Louise Danforth is Chair of the Board of Trustees of Monadnock Community Early Learning Center. She also served as Executive Director of the school before becoming Program Director at Monadnock Community Hospital in the fall of 2008.
Judy Watkins from Monadnock Community Early Learning Center was going to join us as well, but she was unable to attend due to last minute scheduling changes. Judy was appointed Executive Director of Monadnock Community Early Learning Center in 2019 and, in NH, has also worked at the Crotched Mountain Foundation and Concord Head Start.