This summer, Future Ready Five, in proud partnership with Franklin County RISE, hosted our First Annual Thrive Awards Ceremony—a beautiful evening of recognition, community, and celebration held at the stunning Palm House at Franklin Park Conservatory, generously donated in-kind for this special occasion.
The Thrive Awards were created to spotlight the extraordinary dedication of early childhood educators in our Kindergarten Readiness Collaborative (KRC)—those who have gone above and beyond over the last nine months to make real, measurable impacts in their classrooms and communities.
We were honored to be joined by our Board of Directors Co-Chair and Franklin County Commissioner President, Erica Crawley, who delivered a powerful opening speech that set the tone for the evening. Her words reminded us all of the vital role early childhood educators play in shaping the future of our community. Commissioner Crawley also had the distinct privilege of presenting the Thrive Awards to each of the evening’s recipients, helping us celebrate their hard work and dedication with the recognition they so richly deserve.
Board of Directors Co-Chair and Franklin County Commissioner President, Erica Crawley, gives opening speech at Thrive Awards ceremony.
Each month, these educators showed up for workshops, embraced new strategies, and worked side by side with our coaches to ensure their students were better prepared for kindergarten success. And while we could celebrate every provider for their commitment, the Thrive Awards were designed to honor those whose data told the story—not just in effort, but in real progress from fall to spring.
So please join us in congratulating our inaugural Thrive Award recipients:
From Left: Future Ready Five COO, Dr. Vanisa Turney; Director of A Step in the Right Direction, Ronda Brown; Director of Messiah Christian School, Allison Carroll; Lead Teacher at Messiah Christian School, Charlotte Van Kirk; Director of Little Disciples, Stanley Jackson; Lead Teacher at Atonement Lutheran Preschool, Prova Hasan; Board of Directors Co-Chair and Franklin County Commissioner President, Erica Crawley.
🏆 Most Improved Provider Award
Ronda Brown, A Step in the Right Direction
Awarded for the greatest overall improvement in children’s assessment scores from fall to spring—evidence of Ronda’s deep commitment to transforming her classroom practices and putting new strategies into motion.
🏆 Literacy Excellence Award
Allison Carroll, Messiah Christian School
Recognized for exceptional gains in phonemic awareness and emergent reading, Allison is raising the bar for what literacy success can look like in early education.
🏆 Kindergarten Readiness Teacher of the Year
Prova Hasan, Atonement Lutheran Preschool
Selected for her consistent implementation of coaching feedback and outstanding student growth, Prova exemplifies what it means to be a transformational educator.
🏆 Growth Leader Award
Charlotte Van Kirk, Messiah Christian School
Honored for leading her students to the highest levels of literacy growth throughout the year—Charlotte’s work shows how powerful consistent, intentional instruction can be.
🏆 Literacy Leadership Award
Stanley Jackson, Little Disciples
Celebrated for his exceptional fidelity and effectiveness in delivering the Heggerty Phonemic Awareness Curriculum, Stanley sets the standard for what leadership in literacy looks like.
Nikki Jackson from Namoni Kids accepts her certificate of achievement from Shannon Morgan, PNC’s Client & Community Relations Director for Central Ohio.
Special Recognition by PNC Bank
Nikki Jackson, Namoni Kids
We’re thrilled to share that Nikki is the first graduate to earn her Child Development Associate (CDA) certification through the KRC program—made possible through the generous support of PNC Bank, who fully covered her tuition, books, and materials at Columbus State Community College. Nikki’s achievement not only marks a milestone for our entire program, but it’s even more inspiring knowing she reached this goal while running her own in-home childcare center—and graduated ahead of schedule. Her determination, professionalism, and passion for early education make her a true example of what’s possible when access and opportunity come together.
Recipients of the Franklin County RISE Idea Fund Scholarships receive their awards from Board of Directors Co-Chair and Franklin County Commissioner President, Erica Crawley, and Franklin County RISE Program Director, Brittany Jackson.
In addition to celebrating individual excellence, the Thrive Awards Ceremony also honored early childcare providers across Franklin County who received funding through the Franklin County RISE Idea Fund. These providers were each awarded $15,000 to invest in innovative strategies that improve outcomes for young children and families in their care. Congratulations to:
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CDCFC North Linden Early Learning Center
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Driving Park Early Learning Center
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Fulbright Learning Center
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Future Scholars Learning Academy
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G Tyree Learning Center
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Kids Care Academy
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Little Miracles EDC
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Pathways II Destiny Childcare
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Starting Point Learning Center, LLC
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Tender Years Learning Center
We applaud these centers for their bold ideas and commitment to continuous improvement in early childhood education. Their efforts help ensure that every child in Franklin County has the opportunity to thrive from the very beginning.
As we look forward to our upcoming cohort, we remain committed to equipping providers and teachers with the tools, training, and support they need to help every child thrive. We are so proud of our first class of award recipients and inspired by all who are building brighter futures for our youngest learners.
Here’s to more growth, more learning, and more thriving in the year ahead.