Marygrove Early Childhood Education Center community members attend the groundbreaking ceremony with Celina Byrd, fourth from left.
Wayne County-based nonprofit Starfish Family Services recently announced the appointment of Celina Byrd as principal of the Marygrove Early Childhood Education (ECE) Center, which is slated to open this fall.
Celina Byrd
The center will include a staff of up to 40 (including at least 20 teachers) and will serve 144 Detroit children aged birth to five, according to a press release. The center is part of the transformational P-20 cradle-to-career campus at Marygrove.
Byrd’s appointment as principal is a first for Starfish Family Services. Traditionally early childhood education centers are led by a “center leader.” Given that the ECE Center will be part of a multi-school campus, and in keeping with P-20 protocols, it was important to add the “principal” distinction.
Founded in 1963, Starfish Family Services is a nonprofit human service agency that supports children and families across metro Detroit who have limited access to needed resources such as education, healthcare, and economic opportunities. Serving over 4,000 children and their families annually, they offer programs and support services that focus on early childhood education and development, behavioral health wellness, and empowered parents, according to a press release.
Groundbreaking of their 28,000-square-foot Marygrove ECE Center in the Livernois-McNichols neighborhood took place in 2019; enrollment starts in late January of 2021.
The ECE Center is an innovative early childhood center on the historic Marygrove campus in Northwest Detroit, according to a press release. Stewarded by The Kresge Foundation, It is part of a holistic project to offer intentional and seamless transitions for families from prenatal to post-secondary education. The P-20 model puts children at the center of neighborhood revitalization and leverages unprecedented collaboration between Starfish Family Services, Detroit Public Schools Community District, University of Michigan – School of Education, and the Marygrove Conservancy.
Byrd’s appointment as principal is a first for Starfish Family Services, according to a press release. Traditionally early childhood education centers are led by a “center leader.” Given that the ECE Center will be part of a multi-school campus, and in keeping with P-20 protocols, it was important to add the “principal” distinction.
“Celina’s grounding in both educational leadership and business makes her the ideal choice to lead this foundational effort,” said Starfish CEO Ann Kalass. “Her commitment to family and community empowerment is unwavering, and her excitement for the project vision is infectious, making her the ultimate ambassador for families, Starfish, and Marygrove.”
Byrd joined Starfish in 2014 and has held numerous roles in early childhood education focusing on innovative projects to increase quality and impact. Before Starfish, Byrd was an early childhood education center provider and owner in Detroit and a higher education instructor.
“More than ever, families need hope and equitable opportunities,” shared Byrd, a lifelong Detroit area resident. “Hope for the future, hope for their children, and hope for a strong and united neighborhood community. I am thrilled and honored to play even a small part. This is just the beginning.”
Byrd told the Michigan Chronicle that she is most looking forward to seeing the children have a great educational journey under her helm.
“I’m most looking forward to seeing our children and families thrive in an environment thoughtfully and intentionally designed with them in mind! It’s exciting to be part of this amazing labor of love,” she said.
She said for the Black students in particular when it comes to seeing people of color in high-ranking positions, it is important for them to know they can make it one day, too.
“I would suggest going beyond walls that have been built for you, push past the fear – the fear of rejection, the fear of doubt, the fear of shame, and the fear of not being enough,” Byrd said of how she would encourage her students concerned about their future. “There is a consuming pressure to be validated by society. We live and exist in a world that doesn’t make way for all people. Systems are set in place that sometimes lead one to view their circumstances as their predestined path. Your circumstances do not define the greatness that lies within you! Young students of color and other marginalized groups must always see the possibility in the impossible.”
Byrd added that she is looking forward to her new role and having these discussions around things that matter to all, especially to students who need to hear it.
“Equity in education is a daunting task, I welcome ongoing, meaningful, and productive conversations,” she said.
To find out more about placing your child(ren) on the waiting list, email starfish@sfish.org or call (734) 728-3400.
Learn more at www.starfishfamilyservices.org.
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