Our Story
The Portage Private Industry Council, Inc. (PPIC), doing business as Portage Learning Centers (PLC), is a private, not-for-profit, 501 c(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
Our mission is to foster parents’ role as the principal influence on a child’s development through comprehensive services and community resource partnerships.
Head Start
Head Start is a federal program that promotes children ages birth to 5 by enhancing their cognitive, social, and emotional development. Head Start programs provide comprehensive services to enrolled children and their families. These services include health, nutrition, social services, and other services determined to be 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 on race, creed, color, national origin, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, genetic information, religion, age, disability, military status, political affiliation, or beliefs in employment or the provision of services.
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
Our goal is 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.
OUR STAFF
Executive Director – Sherry Pomeroy, PhD
Head Start Director – Kathleen Milliken
Director of Education – Michelle Cooley
Director of Fiscal – Gerald Kline
Health Coordinator – Lisa Murton
Director of Family Services – Diane Rogers
Home-Based Coordinator and Home-Based Supervisor – Iris Smith
Human Resource Specialist – Erika McKibben
Transportation Coordinator – Shari Farmer
Special Services Coordinator – Kimberly Snyder
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
Board Members
Mark Hettinger
Pamela Nation Calhoun
Penny Neiswanger
Rhonda Richardson
Dr. James Tinnin
Patricia Harper
Julie Burkhart
Trevena Kaminski
Barbara Helmling
Ashley Hoegler
Legal Counsel: Jonathan P. Jennings
About 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
Sammi Miller – President
Marci Pierson
Jazmaine Hudson
Tamara McWhorter
Community Representatives:
Angela Camey, Kent State University
Kaylee Lohr-Curtis, Ravenna Schools
Angela Smith, Fair Housing Contact Services
Please contact Sherry Pomeroy at our main office if you want to learn more about joining the Board of Trustees or Policy Council.