Opportunity House announced the appointment of a director and assistant director for its soon-to-open Patton Avenue Learning Center.
Yessenia Vasquez has been named director, and Emily Cumens has been named assistant director.
A longtime advocate for children and education, Vasquez is a graduate of Reading High School. She holds a Master of Education degree from Albright College.
She brings a wealth of experience in the field of early childhood education to the center in the heart of Oakbrook Homes.
With hundreds of families, Oakbrook is one of the largest public housing communities managed by the Reading Housing Authority.
Opportunity House’s expansion of early childhood services into Oakbrook reflects its deep commitment to providing affordable early childhood education to families to promote long-term stability and success, said Holly Wolf, director of marketing for the nonprofit that provides services for those experiencing homelessness or transitioning out of poverty.
The Patton Avenue Center will provide early childhood education service for children from 6 weeks old to 5 years old Monday through Friday from 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Vasquez said returning to serve the Oakbrook neighborhood where she lived as a teenager is a personal and professional milestone.
“I am looking forward to taking my experience in child care to a community I grew up in,” she said. “Every child deserves a chance at quality child care.”
Vasquez noted the importance of the first five years in a child’s development and future learning, health and well-being.
“I am excited for my team and myself to provide quality care to the Oakbrook community,” she said.
Courtesy of Opportunity House.
Throughout her career, the new director has demonstrated a deep commitment to early learning standards and quality improvement, Wolf said.
Vasquez previously worked for 16 years with the YMCA of Reading and Berks County, where she began as an assistant teacher and rose through the ranks to become program director of child care.
Her career continued with United Way of Berks County, where she served as a community impact staff specialist, working to support and strengthen community based initiatives.
“Working at the YMCA, I was proud to be a part of helping our center achieve a Keystone STAR 4 rating,” she said, referring to the state’s highest quality rating for early learning programs. “That is the goal for the Patton Avenue Learning Center: to ensure the highest quality care and early education for children in this community.”
Vasquez lives in Reading with her husband of 18 years and their three children.
Cumens also brings a strong background in early childhood education and leadership to her new role, Wolf said.
A graduate of Boyertown High School, Cumens of Douglass Township, Montgomery County, earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in history with minors in special education and Holocaust and genocide studies from West Chester University.
Her academic background equipped her with a well-rounded perspective that supports her work with young children and their families, Wolf said.
Before joining Opportunity House, Cumens served as before and after-school enrichment coordinator for the YMCA of Greater Brandywine, Berwyn, Chester County.
Courtesy of Opportunity House
She also previously worked as a group supervisor at the Greater Philadelphia YMCA in Boyertown.
These roles allowed her to develop extensive experience creating safe, nurturing and enriching environments that support children’s growth and development, Wolf said.
“I’m excited to be part of a team that’s building more than just a child care center,” Cumens said, reflecting on her new position. “We’re creating a space where kids can be themselves, explore freely and feel truly seen.”
Cumens said the work she and the team will do is about making every day a little brighter and a lot more fun, while helping each child grow at their own pace.
“By nurturing their curiosity, supporting their emotional well-being and encouraging their unique strengths,” she said, “we’re laying the foundation for confident, compassionate and resilient individuals. I can’t wait to see where this journey takes us.”
Opportunity House also operates the Keystone Star 4 rated Second Street Learning Center at its shelter, 430 N. Second St. Opened in October 1996, the Second Street center provides a high quality, hands-on, nurturing learning environment for children within the community.
Source: Berkshire mont