Sen. Andres Ayala Wins Child Champion Award

BRIDGEPORT – State Sen. Andres Ayala was honored recently for his legislative efforts on behalf of early childhood education.

Ayala was presented with the Children’s Champion Award, offered by the Bridgeport Alliance for Young Children, at the group’s annual meeting held recently at Housatonic Community College. The award was presented by 7-year-old Charlotte Horton, who said, “I want to thank you for all you have done for the kids of Bridgeport, Sen. Ayala.”

In accepting the award, Ayala reaffirmed his commitment to early childhood education “Let me know what your priorities are for the next legislative session,” he told the group, “I’ll be happy to file legislation for you. Let’s make great things happen to Bridgeport and Connecticut.”

HCC was an appropriate venue for the BAYC meeting. Housatonic has an early childhood laboratory school that has won national recognition. In a 1998 visit to the college, President Clinton described the program as “what every child in America needs.”

Ayala’s son Andres attended the lab school from the Fall of 1999 to the Spring of 2000.

Noting that the meeting is a municipal “investment seminar,” Bridgeport Mayor Bill Finch said, “There is no better way for us to invest our money than in early childhood education. All four of my children had the privilege of obtaining a quality early childhood education.”

Housatonic offers an associate degree in Early Childhood Education and four related certificates: Early Childhood Education, Early Childhood Education:  Infant/Toddler, Early Childhood Education Administrator, and Childhood Development Associate Preparation. For more information, contact admissions at 203-332-5100.