Photo provided Bridgeport Elementary preschool para-professional Theresa Teasdale, from left, teachers Brooke Syrylo and Jennifer Ciroli, and para-professional Andrea Bishop celebrate a five-star rating from the state. They say cooperation and community support are keys to success.

BRIDGEPORT — Bridgeport Elementary’s preschool puts a premium on quality and the state has once again recognized this. The preschool has earned a five-star rating from the Step up to Quality ratings program administered by the Ohio Department of Education and the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services.

Bridgeport Elementary School Principal Kamaron Sabinski praised her teachers’ work in planning innovative lessons.

“The preschool is dynamic. It’s incredible,” Sabinski said. “We have an amazing school district.”

Preschool teacher Brooke Syrylo, who teaches 3- to 5-year-olds, said they have maintained a five-star rating for the past several years.

“It’s a comprehensive program. There are about 26 areas that we cover that we meet different requirements for. Everything from the curriculum we use to lesson planning to our staff to the qualifications of our staff, to the setups of our classroom, the communication partners that we have, our relationship with the community, all those things contribute to that point system that the state provides.”

Syrylo said one strength is their community partners. This has allowed activities such as field trips to the Bridgeport Public Library. They also partner with the Village Network, which provides educational opportunities for parents.

“They do programs for us. They can assist us when we are having difficulties with anything. They will help support us,” she said. “Any challenge.”

Syrylo said the Village Network visits classrooms and helps develop activities for social and emotional development. She said for example this includes observation and providing tips to encourage sharing.

“One thing we really increase is our parent engagement activities. We try to offer opportunities for parents to come in,” Syrylo said. She referred to a recent parent engagement day that featured both activities for children and learning opportunities for parents, including a presentation by the Village Network.

“We did some engagement activities with the parents and their kids.”

She said the most valuable resources are the relationships with families.

“We have many families who we’ve taught multiple siblings, children. They come back to us because they’ve heard good things. I think building those relationships is one of the most important things we’ve done and been able to do,” Syrylo said.

Jennifer Ciroli, who teaches four-and-five-year-olds, commended the “incredible team” of her, Syrylo and para-professionals Andrea Bishop and Theresa Teasdale.

“We have great rapport with one another. We work well together. We love our kids and we just make every day possible together. I don’t think I could do anything without these ladies,” Ciroli said.

Syrylo agreed.

“We’re here to support each other.”

Sabinski said the evaluation process is a stringent one.

“They spend a lot of time ensuring all their ducks are in a row 100 percent, making sure every piece is covered, verifying that they’re teaching their standards.”

Syrylo and Ciroli said yearly paperwork is submitted to demonstrate preschools are maintaining that status, and professional development is required.

“It takes time to plan, to work, to get all of the things in line the state is asking us to do,” Syrylo said.

“It shows that we have hit that highest standard of quality preschool education. We’ve gone above and beyond,” Syrylo said. “To get a five-star there’s some extra things that are put into play. There’s extra things you have to do. We set more goals for our staff each year. We set some higher standards for our education and lesson planning. All these things, and that’s what helps us reach that five star. It’s not just doing what the state is expecting us to do, it’s taking that and doing a little bit more.”

Sabinski said communication is a key component of the preschool’s success, along with the cooperation between teachers and community involvement as they work with their students’ parents and families.

“That to me is a huge reason why our preschool is so extremely successful,” she said.

Ciroli agreed. They noted the importance of family involvement, whether grandparents, aunts and uncles, or parents.

“Having the parents much more involved in the classroom and the things that we do is something that I think has helped us get that five-star rating,” Ciroli said.

Syrylo said parents and families enjoy the chance to come into the classroom and see the teaching process.

“Parents can see what we do, even when it’s a little different each day,” she said. “They appreciate what we do and have a better understanding of what it’s like.”

They said young children have proven resilient following the COVID-19 lockdowns and there seems to be no major impact as parents continue to send their small children to preschool.

“We’ve seen the same things we’ve been seeing over the years,” Syrylo said. “When they’re three, four or five they’re learning to navigate the world.”

The educators said they will continue to excel by the state’s standards and to share what they have to offer.

“We know the benefits of preschool as they enter kindergarten. Even if it’s the social and emotional benefits, not just the academic. Our goal is to reach everyone in our community so we can get all of the students who are eligible to come to preschool and have that opportunity,” Syrylo said.