West Valley School District’s growing reputation as a national leader in early learning continues to create meaningful opportunities for students and families—both locally and across the country.

Through his ongoing involvement with AASA, the School Superintendent Association, Dr. Peter Finch serves as a co-leader of a national cohort of educators focused on early learning and family engagement. It was through this role that Dr. Finch learned about Growing Great Kids, an evidence-based curriculum designed to strengthen parent-child relationships.

During cohort discussions, Dr. Finch connected with educators from a coalition of eleven school districts in the Omaha region that have successfully used Growing Great Kids as part of their home visiting programs. The model closely aligned with West Valley’s commitment to early learning, family engagement, and Kindergarten readiness—making it a natural fit for West Valley.

Recognizing the potential impact, Dr. Finch worked with Minerva Pardo, Family Engagement Director at West Valley, to bring the curriculum to families in our community.  With support from the organization “Save the Children,” West Valley received a $15,000 donation to strengthen early learning efforts. A portion of these funds was used to train West Valley home visitors, Selena Torrez Gutierrez and Cristina Ortega-Solis in Growing Great Kids, laying the groundwork for a sustainable, relationship-based home visiting program.

The training builds on West Valley’s existing early learning initiatives—such as Play and Learn groups—that emphasize parent involvement, social-emotional development, and school readiness. These efforts help families build confidence, deepen connections, and support children’s growth long before they enter Kindergarten.

Amee Barlet of “Save the Children” praised the district’s approach, noting, “I loved reading how the summer Play and Learn groups impacted children’s confidence and that the funds provided ‘seed funding’ for a sustainable program.”

By leveraging national relationships through AASA and aligning them with local expertise and community values, West Valley continues to strengthen its early learning efforts. The introduction of Growing Great Kids is another example of how national collaboration can translate into tangible, long-term benefits for West Valley families—ensuring children get the strong start that will shape not only their future but the strength and resilience of our entire community.