Our Story

The Portage Private Industry Council, Inc. (PPIC),  doing business as Portage Learning Centers (PLC),  is a private not-for-profit 501c(3) organization that was incorporated in 1983 to administer the federally funded Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA) programs. PLC administered JTPA programs from 1983 through 2000 when the Workforce Investment Act replaced the program.

In 1997, PLC was awarded the State and Federal Head Start programs for Portage County. In 2010, PLC was awarded the Federal Early Head Start program.

At PLC, we provide high-quality, holistic services to the children and families of Portage County, Ohio.

Portage Learning Centers Mission

Portage Learning Centers is committed to empowering individuals and families to succeed by fostering dignity, self-worth, and personal goal achievement.

Through our Head Start Preschool and Early Head Start programs, we prioritize the family’s influence on child development, offering comprehensive services and community partnerships to support positive growth and maximize potential. 

Head Start

Head Start is a federal program that promotes cognitive, social, and emotional development in children ages birth to 5. Head Start programs provide comprehensive services to enrolled children and their families. These services include health, nutrition, social services, and other services determined necessary by family needs assessments and education and cognitive development services.

Nondiscrimination

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

PLC is an Equal Opportunity Employer and Provider and does not discriminate based onWe’re an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status.

PLC reserves the right to expel or refuse to accept for further enrollment a child who we believe poses a threat to other children’s well-being and/or is abusive to staff.

Philosophy

We believe that each child is a unique individual, an individual of worth. We provide support and experiences that help children strive toward their potential. We expect children to explore and test their environment. Children develop and progress at their own pace. Children with special needs are integrated into the program at their level.

A child’s unique ideas of thought, creativity, and problem-solving are encouraged. Children’s age-level characteristics and developmental abilities are included in all activities.

Program Goals

We aim to provide families with a quality learning program that promotes children’s school readiness. We strive to achieve this goal by providing a learning environment that supports children’s growth in language, literacy, math, science, social and emotional skills, the arts, physical skills, play, and approaches to learning.

We provide children with a learning environment that helps them develop self-control, independence, and an understanding of the world around them. Our goal is to engage parents to be the best educators of their children by providing parent and family engagement activities grounded in positive, ongoing, and goal-oriented relationships.

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Please click here for access to our 2022-23 Annual Report. 

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Part of our funding comes from the USDA. View their anti-discrimination statement, which we follow at every center and our main office.

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Our Staff

Board of Trustees

Executive Committee

Pam Danner, Chairwoman and Program Planning Chairwoman

Rebecca Gorczyca, Vice Chairwoman, R&D Chairwoman, and Strategic Planning Chairwoman

Branden Burns, Treasurer and Finance Chairman

Cody Mazanek, Secretary

Marilyn Sessions, Personnel Chairwoman

Glenda Enders, Member-At-Large

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Board Members

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Policy Council

PLC Head Start Policy Council is about a link to Parent Committees, Portage Learning Centers, public and private organizations, and the community.  They help by regularly attending Parent Committee meetings, giving oral and written reports of meetings and conferences attended, and, upon request, representing the agency at meetings.

Parent Representatives

Samantha Miller, President

Shaun Cummings

April Hand

Khadijah Naseer

Mckala Smith

Parent Alternates 

Bre Bediako

Apongacachap Linda

Danielle Miller

Kathy Sekunna

Lina Tissue

Community Representatives

Angela Carney, Vice President

Kaylee Lohr-Curtis

Angela Smith

Please contact Sherry Pomeroy at our main office if you want to learn more about joining the Board of Trustees or Policy Council.