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Date: 8/31/2021
SPRINGFIELD – After Ann Rogalski’s recent retirement from Make Way for Ducklings, Rachel Szlachetka is stepping in as the new owner of the child development center located on 455 Island Pond Rd. in Springfield.
Szlachetka takes over after working at the Kid’s Place in Holyoke for eleven years, which includes six years as business director. She also worked in early intervention for a year at the Center for Human Development, serving as a developmental specialist for infants and young children before joining Make Way for Ducklings.
Having a role in childcare and development has always been important to her, according to Szlacketka. “It has been a passion of mine to work with young children. They have a love for learning, always coming to school to grow in their education,” said Szlacketka. She said that Make Way for Ducklings represents a warm, comfortable and stress-free environment for children to spread their wings in education.
“Once I started working at the school, I knew right then and there that this was going to be the rest of my life. It’s such an amazing program,” said Szlachetka, who initially joined the school in fall 2020. Szlachetka said she will be working with Rogalski in a consulting role during her first year as owner. Along with adding a few modern updates, she said that one of her key goals is to honor Rogalski’s enduring legacy. “Ann has spent 41 years creating an amazing nursery school. I can only hope to fill her shoes and continue her legacy,” said Szlachetka.
An obvious challenge during Szlachetkta’s inaugural year will be the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Between the growth of the delta variant and children under 12 being unable to be vaccinated, the pandemic still presents challenges for the school to overcome. According to Szlacketka, COVID-19 is not something the school will take lightly.
“I do take COVID-19 very seriously, especially now that I am responsible for all the children enrolled in ducklings. It weighs heavily on me to shoulder the health and wellbeing of all the families enrolled. The teaching staff and I strive to ensure the children are welcomed into a clean and safe program every day,” said Szlachetka. Children and families will be required to wear masks initially when the school reopens on Sept. 8.
When it comes to addressing COVID-19 and other potential issues the new school year brings, Szlachetka said she’s confident she has the right team to overcome any obstacle. “The staff are amazing. They are dedicated, passionate and true educators. With all the programs that we offer, we want [Make Way for Ducklings] to feel like home for students,” said Szlachetka.
To learn more about Make Way for Ducklings’ programs, readers can reach out at 732-2182 or visit their Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/Make-Way-for-Ducklings-Inc-Nursery-School-and-Kindergarten-1455462274757935.