At Wonderspring, our mission is to develop, provide and advocate for high quality early childhood education, school age programs, and related services in support of all children and families.
Narberth, PA–Wonderspring Early Education, a nonprofit provider of high-quality, safe, convenient, and affordable early childhood education throughout Greater Philadelphia, has named Zakiyyah Boone Interim Chief Executive Officer.
Boone, who previously served as the organization’s Chief Program Officer, has more than 20 years of experience as an early childhood and youth development professional. Prior to joining Wonderspring, she served as Vice President of Early Childhood at the Greater Philadelphia YMCA where she managed a budget of $20M, identified growth and partnership opportunities and ensured the appropriateness of facilities to deliver high-quality programs. She has cut the ribbon on 10 child care centers and launched multiple evidence-based youth development programs across the Greater Philadelphia region.
Boone holds a BS in Elementary Education from Millersville University and an MBA from Kaplan University. As a mother of three, she personally understands the impact that high-quality early education can have on children and families, especially with a high-quality childcare provider such as Wonderspring.
“We are thrilled that Zakiyyah will be stepping into the role of Interim CEO,” said Surge Ghosh, President of Wonderspring’s Board of Directors. “She is an energetic, creative and passionate leader whose extensive experience and innovation will be an asset to Wonderspring moving forward.”
Boone replaces Ann O’Brien who has left the organization to pursue a new opportunity. “Ann has been a guiding force at Wonderspring for the last six years and has been instrumental in stabilizing the organization’s finances, expanding Wonderspring’s partnerships, advocating for the child care sector, and building a strong management team. We wish her the very best in her new endeavor,” said Ghosh.
While Wonderspring has been closed during the COVID-19 crisis, the organization continues to pay its teachers who are actively engaging students and families through phone, email, videos, and social media. “The COVID-19 crisis has been difficult for all organizations and businesses. However, we believe that with our capable administrative team, amazing center directors and incredible teachers, we will weather this storm and emerge stronger than ever.” says Ghosh.
“Since arriving at Wonderspring, I have been so inspired by the commitment of our teachers and center directors to the children and families we serve,” says Boone. “I look forward to when we can welcome all of our students back to our classrooms and am excited about what the future holds.”
Wonderspring CEO Ann O’Brien discusses the need for a State bailout of the childcare sector in this March 30, 2020 article in the Philadelphia Public School Notebook. Read the entire article here.
Wonderspring Early Education (formerly Montgomery Early Learning Centers) will open a brand-new center in New Market West in the Spring of 2020. Located at 59th and Market Streets in Philadelphia, directly adjacent to a public transportation hub, New Market West is a neighborhood transformation development that will also feature primary health care, support for previously homeless single-parent families, behavioral health services, and retail.
Community members are invited to tour the new facility at one of three open house events that will take place:
Tuesday, April 21, 10am-noon
Wednesday, April 22, noon-2pm
Thursday, April 23, 5pm-7pm
According to Wonderspring CEO, Ann O’Brien, the New Market West center will serve infants through school age children. Like all of Wonderspring’s early childhood centers, it will provide high-quality, evidence-based programming that meets the state’s Early Learning Standards by focusing on the intellectual, developmental, social, emotional, and relational aspects of the whole child.
The new site will also feature a beautiful outdoor learning space that will offer children many opportunities for exploration and connecting with nature. Through a generous grant from PNC Foundation, the outdoor space will be outfitted with playthings that spark imagination and promote open-ended play and learning.
The New Market West site will accept ELRC subsidy and Wonderspring anticipates partnering with a variety of other community supports to fund additional families as soon as the new center is eligible to apply for those resources.
Wonderspring is pleased to welcome Zakiyyah Boone as Chief Program Officer. Ms. Boone will be responsible for the programmatic direction of the organization’s five high-quality early childhood education programs, its kindergarten program and its five out-of-school time programs. She will also lead the effort to open Wonderspring’s newest early childhood education program at New Market West, which is slated to open in the spring of 2020. The center at New Market West is part of a neighborhood transformation project at 59th and Market Street, which will bring high-quality early childhood education, primary health care, support for previously homeless single-parent families, behavioral health services, and community-serving retail to a transit-accessible location together with affordable rental housing (in a later phase) to a neighborhood deeply in need of these services.
Ms. Boone has 22 years experience as an early childhood and youth development professional. Most recently, she served as Vice President of Early Childhood at the Greater Philadelphia YMCA where she managed a budget of $20M, identified growth and partnership opportunities and ensured the appropriateness of facilities to deliver high-quality programs. A national leader in educational quality improvement, Ms. Boone led a nationwide initiative aimed at enhancing the ability of after school programs to improve student outcomes. Locally, she has cut the ribbon on 10 child care centers and launched multiple evidence-based youth development programs across the Greater Philadelphia region.
NARBERTH, PA – Wonderspring is pleased to announce the hiring of Tom Sulpizio, CPA as Chief Financial Officer. As Chief Financial Officer, Mr. Sulpizio will lead all finance and accounting operations and provide oversight for the organization, including budgeting, analysis, adherence to grantor requirements and the organization’s policies and control, as well as the completion of the annual audited financial statements and tax reporting.
With a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from Saint Joseph’s University, Mr. Sulpizio has been a licensed Certified Public Accountant with accounting and nonprofit audit and consulting experience for nearly 30 years. Prior to joining Wonderspring, Mr. Sulpizio had been with public accounting firms in the Philadelphia area at the Partner and Principal levels, where his primary client base was nonprofit organizations. In those roles, he managed a portfolio of client attest engagements working with management and Boards. He regularly recommended improvement opportunities for operations and controls and advised on governance best practices and other industry specific challenges. He is excited to be bringing that knowledge and experience to Wonderspring.
“On behalf of the Board of Directors, I am happy to welcome Tom to Wonderspring,” commented Jeffrey Leber, Board Treasurer. “He has tremendous experience and passion and brings the exact financial stewardship Wonderspring needs for today and as we look toward the future.”
Mr. Sulpizio also has a passion for volunteerism. For over 10 years, he was a Trustee for a local nonprofit organization, Northern Children’s Services, where he served as the organization’s Treasurer and finance committee Chair. As a father of four, Mr. Sulpizio personally understands the impact that high quality early education can have on children and families, especially with a childcare provider such as Wonderspring.
Wonderspring is pleased to welcome Zakiyyah Boone as Chief Program Officer. Ms. Boone will be responsible for the programmatic direction of the organization’s five high-quality early childhood education programs, its kindergarten program and its five out-of-school time programs. She will also lead the effort to open Wonderspring’s newest early childhood education program at New Market West, which is slated to open in the spring of 2020. The center at New Market West is part of a neighborhood transformation project at 59th and Market Street, which will bring high-quality early childhood education, primary health care, support for previously homeless single-parent families, behavioral health services, and community-serving retail to a transit-accessible location together with affordable rental housing (in a later phase) to a neighborhood deeply in need of these services.