Partner Spotlight: Valleypoint Early Childhood Learning Center

A Community Visit with Valleypoint Learning Center in Spokane Valley
During a recent trip from Seattle to Spokane WA, our team had the pleasure of visiting Valleypoint Early Childhood Learning Center, a participating site in our IMPACT Pilot Program. This initiative supports early learning professionals in exploring and refining the use of the Inclusive Early Learning Rating Tool (IELRT)—a self-assessment tool designed to help early childhood programs reflect on and strengthen their inclusive practices for children with disabilities, developmental delays, challenging behaviors, and other support needs. Participation in this project reflects Valleypoint Learning Center’s interest in strengthening inclusive practices and exploring strategies to support all children, including those with disabilities and challenging behaviors.
We were warmly welcomed by the staff and educators at Valleypoint Learning Center, who shared their experiences and insights. Our visit was an opportunity to see how one program is engaging in reflection, learning, and growth around inclusive practices to support children of all abilities in early childhood education.
Left-to-right: Marian Opsal (teacher), Becky Ellis (director), Fawn Johnson (teacher), Monica Hiestand (assistant director), and Kristen McLeskey (IMPACT). 
Community Roots and Family Relationships
One theme that came through strongly during our conversations with the Valleypoint team was the deep, long-term relationships they have with families. We heard heartwarming stories of parents who once attended the program as children and have now enrolled their own little ones.

Family partnerships are essential to inclusive practice. By collaborating with caregivers, educators can:
  • Learn more about children’s interests and strengths
  • Build trust that supports transitions and continuity of care
  • Understand a child’s developmental history and support needs, including strategies that work well at home
  • Create welcoming, responsive environments where every child and family feels a sense of belonging
Strong family partnerships aren’t just a bonus—they are essential to inclusive classrooms. Building relationships with families supports better learning outcomes and creates a more welcoming, culturally responsive classroom. If you want to learn more about building family partnerships, check out IMPACT’s on-demand course: Partnering with Families: Strategies for Successful Communication.
Curriculum That Makes an Impact
Another highlight during our visit came from a classroom where children’s art was on display. The teacher had recently returned from a trip to the Philippines and brought back seashells, which became the inspiration for a multi-sensory, open-ended art project. Rather than simply show-and-tell, the teacher created a process art experience for the children, using the shells as a sensory and visual anchor for layered artwork.
Children explored:
  • Color using paint with beach-inspired palettes
  • Texture through gluing sand and shells
  • Connections to the world beyond the classroom, making the learning experience more memorable and meaningful
This kind of learning is what we mean when we talk about meaningful curriculum. It wasn’t about copying an adult model or making a “perfect” product—it was about:
  • Building connections between the classroom and the world
  • Honoring the teacher’s lived experiences and sharing culture
  • Inviting all children, including those with disabilities, sensory sensitivities, or limited verbal language, to express themselves
This kind of activity highlights how educators can create open-ended art experiences and learning that is culturally relevant, sensory-rich, and accessible to all learners—an approach that supports both inclusion and creativity.

Process art is a powerful tool for inclusion. Because there’s no single “right” way to participate, children with disabilities, communication differences, or behavioral support needs can engage at their own level, expressing themselves in ways that feel meaningful. The open-ended nature of process art makes it especially supportive for diverse learners. Process Art:
  • Reduces pressure and frustration for children with fine motor delays by focusing on the experience rather than the outcome.
  • Supports sensory needs by allowing children to explore materials, textures, and tools at their own pace and comfort level
  • Encourages peer collaboration by creating opportunities for children to work alongside each other and contribute in their own, unique ways 
  • Promotes communication through gestures, sounds, or alternative tools when children are non-speaking or language skills are still developing
  • Fosters independence and confidence by empowering children to make choices about how to use materials, what techniques to try, and when a project feels complete
  • Builds a sense of identity by helping children see themselves as capable artists, creators, and valued members of the classroom community
When classrooms design experiences that are accessible and open-ended, they help ensure that children with disabilities, developmental delays, or challenging behaviors can fully participate and have meaningful ways to connect and contribute.
Inclusion in Practice: The IELRT and the IMPACT Pilot Program
Valleypoint Early Childhood Learning Center is one of several programs partnering with IMPACT to explore how the Inclusive Early Learning Rating Tool (IELRT) can be used as a roadmap for inclusive early learning. The IELRT is a self-assessment tool developed by the IMPACT team to help early learning programs reflect on and strengthen inclusive practices. As part of the Pilot Project, participating programs are testing the tool, offering feedback, and helping shape its future use. The IELRT focuses on key areas such as administrative policies, classroom environments, and teaching practices to support children’s individual needs. We appreciate the contributions of programs like Valleypoint, whose participation helps us gather important feedback and insights to  improve the tool. We’re excited to share more with you about the IELRT in the future! 
IMPACT staff consult with teachers and administrators to develop inclusive strategies and classroom supports

Final Thoughts

As early childhood educators, we all want to know that we’re making a difference. Visiting Valleypoint Early Childhood Learning Center reminded us that:
  • Inclusion is a journey. We’re always learning and growing.
  • Meaningful curriculum connects children to real life, culture, and their own voices.
  • Relationships—with families, communities, and each other—are the foundation for lasting impact.
We left feeling motivated and committed to supporting educators like you as you do the challenging, beautiful work of creating inclusive, engaging classrooms for all children.
Keep going. You are making a difference—every day.

-The IMPACT Team
This spotlight is intended for illustrative purposes and does not constitute an endorsement of any specific program, product, or service.

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