Pyramid Model Consulting
The Pyramid Model for Supporting Social Emotional Competence in Infants and Young Children helps early educators build skills for supporting nurturing and responsive caregiving, create learning environments, provide targeted social-emotional skills, and support children with challenging behavior. CES offers coaching support for implementing this positive behavioral intervention and support (PBIS) framework.
Our Approach
Clients receive customized training and coaching support at a pace that makes sense for their program. The model is most effective when everyone is committed, educated, and participating, so the framework is designed to help you implement the Pyramid Model and grow your program in all classrooms. Our trained and experienced coaches deliver practice-based coaching to classroom practitioners who are implementing the Pyramid Model.
Childcare Programs and Districts Benefit by:
- Access to excellent training and support,
- Quality research-based educational materials and classroom practices
- Great resources to support families
- Helping all of the staff to share the same focus and speak the same language
- The tools to help all of our students to be successful, including those who exhibit the most challenging behaviors
Childcare Programs
CES Early Childhood is contracted through the Pyramid Consortium, funded by EEC, to provide services to seven childcare programs for implementation of the Pyramid Model within their programs. The programs are located in Agawam, Deerfield, Easthampton, Gardner, Northfield, Northampton and Ware. All seven programs are supported by an external coach from CES to support the implementation of the Pyramid Model.
School Districts:
DESE is also recruiting school districts for the Pyramid Model implementation grant. This is the fourth year of the initiative. The program focuses on the implementation of the Pyramid Model (which is a social emotional framework)/PBS in public preschool programs. It is at no cost to the district. There are free trainings and external coaching provided. Also, each year a grant has been offered to districts ($7,000-$10,000) to offset the cost of internal coaching, substitutes, resources, material etc. CES provides external coaching to six school districts around the implementation of the Pyramid Model within their preschool program. Our current districts were in Amherst, Gardner, Greenfield, Holyoke, Clarke School for the Deaf (Northampton), and Westfield. We are actively seeking additional districts for this work.
Emily Ortiz Bouvier
Michelle Mendes
Michelle Mendes began her career in Early Childhood as a teacher of young children across multiple settings including childcare programs for infants, toddlers and preschoolers and as an elementary school substitute teacher. Her interest in child development led her to the field of Early Intervention where she supported children birth to age three and their families in Hampden and Hampshire Counties for 15 years. She is joining CES from Family Empowerment (a program of Pathlight) where she managed two Family Support Centers serving families connected to the Department of Developmental Services in Hampshire and Franklin Counties. Her responsibilities there included: program development, organization, budgeting, and assuring adherence to state policies and regulations; staff supervision; hosting workshops, trainings and family events; establishing collaborations and relationships with outside agencies, community partners; leading the advisory council; assisting families in identifying needs and resources, and more. While not working, Michelle enjoys traveling, walking along the oceans’ shores, and spending time with family and friends.
Position: CFCE & PC+ Coordinator
Email: mmendes@collaborative.org
Emily Koester
Emily Koester, M.Ed, ECMH-E® has over 25 years of experience working with children and families in both schools and the community. As the former CPC Coordinator in Gill-Montague, Emily may be a familiar face for those in Franklin County. With a background in special education, she has taught in an integrated preschool, and also worked as a bi-lingual (Spanish) Early Intervention Developmental Specialist. More recently, Emily was an Intensive Care Coordinator, supporting families dealing with mental health challenges at Clinical & Support Options in Greenfield. Emily is the mother of 3. When she is not at work or with her children, she may be found volunteering on environmental causes around the valley. She is excited to be a member of the Early Childhood team, working with our region’s youngest learners.
Position: Early Childhood Mental Health Consultant and Pyramid Model Coach
Email: ekoester@collaborative.org
Vanessa Pashkoff, ECMH-E®
Vanessa Pashkoff is the Early Childhood Mental Health Programs Coordinator at CES. Vanessa has over fifteen years of experience in the field of Early Childhood Education. Vanessa is a teacher – learner, family partner, and advocate for young children. She is committed to anti-bias education, social emotional development, and learning through play. In addition to her work in the classroom, Vanessa has spent recent years as an Instructional Coach in Springfield, MA and Early Childhood Trainer and Consultant. While Vanessa was born and raised in Toronto, Canada, she currently lives in Western MA with her partner, two children, and two cats, Midnight and Olive.
Position: Early Childhood Mental Health Program Coordinator