Berkshire Early Childhood Center

Dear Berkshire Early Childhood Center Families,

Welcome to the Berkshire Early Childhood Center! I am delighted to welcome you and your family to our preschool community. It is an honor to serve as the Director of Early Care and Workforce Programs, and I look forward to partnering with you as your child begins this exciting journey of learning, growth, and discovery.

This year marks my 28th year in education. I began my career as a bilingual instructional aide before becoming a classroom teacher in Ohio. Throughout my career, I have had the privilege of teaching in Madrid, Spain, and Safat, Kuwait, before spending 18 years in California serving students, educators, and school districts in teaching and leadership roles. My experience includes serving children and families from preschool through high school in traditional public schools, alternative education, online learning, career and technical education, and district- and countywide leadership positions.

This is my third year with Berkshire Local School District. Most recently, I served as the Director of Professional Learning and Community Outreach, where I led districtwide professional learning, secured grants and community partnerships, and expanded innovative educational and workforce opportunities for students. In my current role as Director of Early Care and Workforce Programs, I oversee Berkshire Early Childhood Center, before- and after-school programming, and PK–12 workforce development initiatives, supporting students from their earliest educational experiences through graduation and beyond.

At Berkshire Early Childhood Center, we believe the preschool years establish the foundation for a lifetime of learning. Our dedicated staff provides a safe, nurturing, and engaging environment where children learn through play, exploration, creativity, and meaningful experiences. Together, we help children develop the academic, social-emotional, communication, and self-regulation skills needed for a successful transition to Kindergarten.

We also believe that families are a child's first and most important teachers. By working together, we can create a positive preschool experience that nurtures confidence, curiosity, independence, and a lifelong love of learning. I encourage you to stay connected, ask questions, and become an active partner in your child's educational journey.

Thank you for choosing Berkshire Early Childhood Center. It is a privilege to serve your family, and I look forward to meeting each of you and celebrating your child's many milestones throughout the school year.

Warm regards,

Dr. Vanessa Povozhaev
Director of Early Care and Workforce Programs
Berkshire Local School District

Fun Fact: I am bilingual in English and Spanish and have had the opportunity to live and teach in several countries. I enjoy connecting with families from diverse backgrounds and learning about different cultures and traditions.

***More information to be posted soon***

***More information to be posted soon***

*** More information to be posted soon.***

View BECC Welcome Back to the 2026-2027 School Year Message

Why Choose Berkshire?

CONNECTION TO THE K–12 SCHOOL SYSTEM
 

• Berkshire Preschool is part of Berkshire Local Schools, creating a seamless transition from preschool to kindergarten and beyond.

ALIGNED CURRICULUM

• Our preschool program aligns with Ohio Early Learning Standards and Berkshire’s K–12 academic expectations, helping children build the foundation needed for success in kindergarten.

LICENSED EDUCATORS

• Classrooms are led by state-licensed teachers trained in early childhood education, ensuring instruction that supports early literacy, math, and social-emotional development.

CONTINUITY FOR FAMILIES

• Students begin building relationships with the school, staff, and learning environment they will continue in throughout their K–12 journey.

EARLY START, STRONG FUTURE

• Berkshire Preschool gives children a strong start within the same school community that will support them through graduation.

LOWEST COST PRESCHOOL OPTION

• Lowest price per hour for full-day and half-day preschool programming in Burton and surrounding areas - 1/3 of the cost of minimum wage!

ENGAGING LEARNING EXPERIENCES THROUGH COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS

• Partnerships with area nonprofits including Fairmount Arts, Dina School and Burton Library for art, music, play therapies and story time activities.

When is the Program Offered?

This program is a five-day-a-week preschool curriculum that follows the Berkshire School Calendar (169 student days*). * The B.E.C.C. will follow Berkshire Local School District’s calamity day school closings.

What are the program hours?

The Berkshire Early Childhood Center is offering full-day hours.
• Full Day: 8:00 a.m. - 3:10 p.m.
• All classes are full-day unless the IEP designates otherwise.

What is the cost of attending the school year (September-May)?

• Full-Day Sessions are $5,220 (monthly payment is $580/bi-monthly payment $290)

What if I need before/after school care for my child?

The Berkshire Early Childhood Center offers a before-and-after-school option.

• 6:30 a.m. - Start of school
• End of school  - 5:30 p.m.

Families will be billed $8.25 per hour that their child attends the before-and-after-school program

Tuition payments are due on the 1st and 15th of each month unless otherwise specified by Berkshire Local School District. Tuition can be paid in full or by semester. Contact Amy Dawson at amy.dawson@berkshireschools.org in the BECC office to arrange payment in full for year or payment by semester. 

Payments may be made through Infinite Campus using a credit card, debit card, or electronic check. If you need assistance accessing your account, please contact Melissa Malkus at melissa.malkus@berkshireschools.org.  

Failure to submit payment will result in the child being withdrawn from the program.
 

Class Information

General Education Class:

offer a full-day class, 8 am - 3:10 pm
This class will be taught by a lead teacher who is a General Education teacher. Additionally, this class will also have one to two Education Aide’s to assist the teacher as needed.
This class can have special education students who are on an IEP, that will be serviced by an Intervention Specialist and/or Related Service provided who either pulls the child out of the class for services or  joins the class to support the child throughout the week. 

Integrated/Special Education Classes:

both offer a full-day class, 8 am - 3:10 pm 
These classes will be taught by a lead teacher who is an Intervention Specialist , these classes will also have additional assistance from multiple Education Aides to assist the teacher as needed.
This classroom is made up of typical/role model Students and Special Education students on IEPs. Our Related Service professionals, such as Speech, Occupational and Physical Therapy, will either pull students out as needed to provide their therapy, or push into the class and work with small groups to provide services as needed. 

The Creative Curriculum for Preschool

Berkshire Early Childhood Center uses The Creative Curriculum for Preschool, Ohio's state-approved, Science of Reading-aligned preschool curriculum, to provide a comprehensive, developmentally appropriate foundation for learning. Recognized by the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce, The Creative Curriculum integrates evidence-based literacy practices with purposeful play, hands-on exploration, and meaningful teacher-child interactions to support the whole child's development.

The curriculum fosters growth across all developmental domains, including social-emotional, physical, language, and cognitive development, while building foundational skills in early literacy, mathematics, science, technology, social studies, and the arts. Instruction is individualized to meet each child's developmental needs and is paired with ongoing progress monitoring using Teaching Strategies GOLD, enabling teachers to plan intentional instruction and support every child's progress toward Kindergarten readiness.

Through engaging investigations, rich learning experiences, and strong family partnerships, The Creative Curriculum provides the academic and developmental foundation children need for future success in school and beyond.
 

Heggerty Pre-K Curriculum

The Heggerty Pre-K Curriculum is used as a supplement to The Creative Curriculum to build the foundational phonological and phonemic awareness skills essential for early literacy and future reading success. Through brief, engaging, and interactive daily lessons, children develop listening skills, rhyme awareness, syllable segmentation, alliteration, sentence awareness, and beginning phoneme identification and manipulation. These oral language activities help children recognize and work with the sounds in spoken language before formal reading instruction begins. By integrating Heggerty with The Creative Curriculum, Berkshire Early Childhood Center strengthens early literacy development while supporting Kindergarten readiness through developmentally appropriate, play-based learning.

Learning Without Tears

Learning Without Tears® is used as a supplement to The Creative Curriculum® to strengthen the developmental foundation for handwriting and early literacy. Through developmentally appropriate, multisensory, and play-based activities, children build the precursor skills necessary for successful writing before formal handwriting instruction begins.

The program focuses on developing fine motor skills, hand strength, pencil grasp, visual-motor integration, posture, body awareness, letter and number readiness, directionality, and pre-writing strokes. Hands-on materials, music, movement, and purposeful practice help children develop confidence while preparing them for Kindergarten and future writing success.

By integrating Learning Without Tears with The Creative Curriculum, Berkshire Early Childhood Center provides a comprehensive preschool experience that supports the whole child while fostering school readiness through engaging, play-based learning.
 

Berkshire Early Childhood Center
Phone: 440-834-3380, ext. 1163
 

Berkshire Early Childhood School Staff
2026-27 School Year 

Learn More About Our SUTQ  Gold Star Rating

 What Makes Berkshire Preschool a Gold Star Program?

At Berkshire Preschool, we are committed to excellence in early childhood education. Our program includes:

 State Licensed Teachers
Our educators are licensed by the state of Ohio and bring the knowledge, training, and passion needed to support young learners.

 Research-Based Curriculum
We use Creative Curriculum, a state-approved, research-based approach that supports hands-on, meaningful learning through play and exploration.

 Individualized Learning
We observe and assess each child’s development to plan engaging activities that meet their unique needs.

 Strong Family Partnerships
We value communication with families and work together to support each child’s success.

 Whole Child Focus
We support not only academic growth, but also social-emotional development, independence, and confidence.

 Why It Matters for Your Child

Choosing Berkshire Preschool means your child will:

• Learn in a safe, nurturing, and engaging environment

• Be guided by qualified, caring educators

• Build skills that support kindergarten readiness and lifelong learning

• Experience a program committed to continuous improvement and excellence

 Our Commitment

At Berkshire Preschool, we are dedicated to creating a strong foundation for every child. Our Gold Star rating reflects our ongoing commitment to providing the highest quality early learning experience for our students and families.

BECC Lunch and Snacks

Students enrolled in the full-day preschool program must bring a packed lunch each day, along with a healthy morning snack and afternoon snack. Berkshire Early Childhood Center does not provide meals or snacks for students. Please send all items in clearly labeled containers and be mindful of any classroom food allergy restrictions.

Before School and After School Care

Parents of students enrolled in the Before and After School Care Program are responsible for providing a daily snack for their child. Please send snacks in a clearly labeled container and be mindful of any classroom food allergy restrictions.  

2026-27 School Year

**BECC newsletters will be available at the start of the 2026-2027 school year.**

BECC Calendar 2026-27 School Year 

BECC Supply List 2026-27

View the 2026-2027 BECC Handbook

Our Community Resource Guide is a valuable tool created with the well-being and success of our community in mind. This guide is a comprehensive resource to connect families and individuals with local services, programs, and organizations offering support, guidance and opportunities within Geauga County and surrounding areas. At Berkshire Local Schools, we are deeply committed to fostering a thriving, supportive community where everyone has the resources they need. Whether you're seeking assistace, exploring enrichment opportunities, or looking to connect with local services, this guide provides a pathway to meet your needs. 

We encourage you to explore the wealth of information included in this guide. By working together, we can continue to build a strong, connected community that supports one another. 

Thank you for being part of our Berkshire District Family. We are here to support you every step of the way. 

Community Resource Guide

Look inside for milestones to watch for in your child and tips for how you can help your child learn and grow from birth to age 5.  Milestone Moment Booklet

To volunteer at any of the schools you will need to complete the packet below by Friday, October 16, 2026:

Volunteer Packet 2026-2027 School Year

Our program includes a mix of students with Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) and peer role models—students who do not have IEPs. Peer role models play an important part in the classroom by serving as examples for their peers. This support helps students with IEPs grow and develop across many areas throughout the school year.
Role models influence their classmates through everyday behaviors such as using clear speech, following directions, demonstrating appropriate social interactions, and participating in classroom routines—whether that’s raising their hand to speak, skipping, jumping, or transitioning between activities.
 

The program runs from 8:00 am - 3:10 pm Monday - Friday in conjunction with the Berkshire School Calendar. We always suggest that students come 5 days a week to ensure they do not miss out on any of the teaching that is going on.

The Berkshire Early Childhood Center is offering full-day hours.
• Full Day: 8:00 a.m. - 3:10 p.m.
• All classes are full-day unless the IEP designates otherwise.

We do offer BadgerCare before and after school for Preschool to 4th-grade students. 

Hours

Before School: 6:30 am to Start of school
After School: End of school- 5:30 pm

Cost

There is a $50 registration fee for this program, and a $100 deposit is required before the first day in BadgerCare. Families are billed $8.25 per hour that their child attends the program, and this is deducted from the $100 deposit. There is a 2 hr minimum per week per child.
The staff will send home a letter when your account balance is getting low. 

Daily Snack Information

Parents of students enrolled in the Before and After School Care Program are responsible for providing a daily snack for their child. Please send snacks in a clearly labeled container and be mindful of any classroom food allergy restrictions.

Unfortunately, we are not able to offer these services at this time.