Initiatives at the ELCHC

Our initiatives at the Early Learning Coalition of Hillsborough County focus on supporting programs with access to training, enhancing STEAM & literacy proficiency, increasing family engagement through activities and business & career growth for owners, directors and teachers in the early childhood field.

Click on a logo to view a brief description of the initiative

Child Assessment

Supporting School Readiness from Birth to Five
Bobbie Huard- Child Assessment Lead
bhuard@elchc.org

The Child Assessment Initiative supports Hillsborough County early childhood educators in using high-quality developmental assessments to better understand and support the growth of children from birth through age five. Through the use of SmartTeach within Teaching Strategies GOLD, educators document children’s development across key learning domains and use that information to guide meaningful instruction.
Child Assessment provides participating educators with tools, resources, and professional learning opportunities designed to strengthen assessment practices and ensure that developmental data is used effectively to support every child’s progress toward school readiness.

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Child Assessment is currently recruiting for the 2026-2027 School Year!
If interested, click the button below to applies to your school.

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Hillsborough Infant and Toddler Initiative

The Hillsborough Infant & Toddler Initiative (HITI) strives to improve the quality of infant and toddler care in Hillsborough County.

The focus of the Initiative is to provide families with more opportunities to access quality childcare for children birth to 36 months. Programs who participate are committed to increasing their childcare slots for very young children, improving the quality of care they provide through age-appropriate learning environments, and improving teacher-child interactions through targeted professional development for infant & toddler teachers.
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HITI is currently recruiting for the
2026-2027 School Year!
If interested, click the button below to applies to your school.

Theon Salley- HITI Lead 
tsalley@elchc.org
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iSpy Tampa Bay

The opportunity to explore and learn about science!
Jeremey Morehouse- iSpy Lead
jmorehouse@elchc.org

iSpy is committed to providing every child with the opportunity to explore and learn about science, technology, engineering, and mathematics in exciting and innovative ways. Participating in hands-on activities designed to spark their curiosity and interest in STEM.


As a part of iSpy, children will develop creative problem-solving skills, learn how to use technology, and gain a true appreciation for STEM subjects that will last a lifetime.

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iSpy will begin recruitment for 2026-2027 School Year in August. 

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On My Way to Kindergarten & Literacy All Year

Need help with developing a well-rounded Kindergarten transition program for your students?


On My Way to Kindergarten (OMW2K)/ Literacy All Year (LAY) is a learning journey that provides families and classrooms with resources to help your students make a smooth transition into kindergarten. We offer a variety of age-specific educational resources and activities for families and childcare providers centered around play-based learning and developing social skills.
Children that participate in FREE VPK are proven to be more successful transitioning into elementary school.
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OMW2K/LAY will begin recruitment for 2026-2027 School Year in August. 

Kalesta Jones-OMW2K/LAY Lead
kjones@elchc.org
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Leadership, Empowerment, Advocacy, & Development

Martha Aguiar- L.E.A.D. Lead
maguiar@elchc.org

LEAD is a collaborative initiative built to strengthen leadership in early childhood education. Through coaching, training, peer collaboration, and practical business tools, LEAD equips Directors and Owners with the knowledge, systems, and community support needed to operate high-quality, sustainable programs.

Past Initiative Events

Scroll through the pictures below to view past events from HITI, iSpy, OMW2K and VPK Open House. We collaborate with families, educators, and our community to raise awareness that learning starts at birth and improve educational outcomes for children entering kindergarten.