Our Vision

At Child Development Centers, we believe that prosperous futures begin with an exceptional learning experience. With 90% of brain development happening before kindergarten, we approach every moment with the intention of creating experiences that spark curiosity, support healthy growth, nurture empathy, and foster a lifelong love of learning. We proudly offer caring, high-quality education for children ages 6 months through 6th grade.

Rina Irwin, Chief Executive Officer of Child Development Centers, grew up in Erie, with dreams to improve her community’s neighborhoods beginning at an early age. She relocated to Venango County after college. She eventually began serving on CDC’s board of directors while her three daughters were enrolled in its centers. Rina was immediately inspired by and dedicated to the nonprofit’s mission of educating children to succeed.

As she has long understood the importance of education, Rina has always been very passionate about providing children with excellent early learning experiences beginning in infancy. She firmly believes that education is a key factor in ending poverty, and she has made it her life’s mission to ensure each child’s access to vital resources, education and experiences that will foster confidence in the classroom and a lifelong love for learning.

Rina’s compassion, drive and genuine commitment to helping children and families inspired her acceptance of the executive director position. She was dedicated to getting CDC out of debt and eligible for vital grant funding, and the fruits of her labor are evident in the smiling faces of over 2,000 children that the nonprofit currently educates, feeds and nurtures across the region. In Rina’s 25+ years of service, the nonprofit’s budget grew from $900,000 to $28 million and is now recognized across the commonwealth as an organization of excellence and quality for children and families. More than $100 million in grant funding has been awarded to CDC.

Under Rina’s leadership, Child Development Centers now operates 19 locations across Northwestern Pennsylvania in Erie, Crawford and Venango counties, a giant leap from the five small centers that were initially in operation when she came on board. Her goal to provide exceptional child care and early learning experience that families can trust directly impacts each community’s economy while preparing its children for a successful transition to kindergarten, elementary school, and beyond.

In addition to her service at CDC, Rina has served on the ExpERIEnce Children’s Museum’s board, Pennsylvania Child Care Association Board, the Bridge Builder’s Community Foundation Board, the Venango County Human Services Board, the Governor’s Early Learning Council in 2018, and the Pennsylvania Head Start Association Board of Directors. She also served as vice chair on the UPMC Northwest Board of Directors for over five years. In 2022, the Nonprofit Partnership also named Rina the 2022 Best CEO of the Year.

Click here to read more or view our full team!

Infants (6 Weeks to 12 months)

Our infant program provides a peaceful, caring environment where even the youngest learners feel safe and loved. With soft lighting, gentle routines and attentive caregivers, we nurture each baby’s development through responsive care, tummy time, music and sensory play—helping them build a secure foundation from their very first weeks.

Toddlers (1 -2 years)

Toddlers are busy exploring their world, and our classrooms are designed to match that energy with hands-on experiences, movement and connection. We support growing independence through guided routines, nature-inspired play and language-rich environments that help toddlers build confidence, empathy and essential life skills.

Preschool (3-5 years)

Our preschool classrooms — including Pre-K Counts and Head Start — spark curiosity and creativity while preparing children for lifelong learning. Through Pennsylvania’s Pre-K Counts and Head Start programs, we offer high-quality early education that’s joyful, inclusive and rooted in research. With a focus on school readiness, social-emotional growth and discovery, our preschoolers blossom in classrooms filled with purpose and play.

School-Age (K-6th grade)

Our school-age programs offer a safe, engaging space for students before and after their school day, as well as during the summer months. With activities that blend fun, friendship and enrichment, children explore art, science, nature and more. Whether it’s a morning routine or a summer adventure, we’re here to support growth, independence and a sense of belonging.

Vision:

“We believe that prosperous futures begin with an exceptional learning experience.”

Mission:

“Educating children to succeed.”

Values:

• Excellence –

  • Where children, families and teams thrive: We nurture the whole child—socially, emotionally, physically and academically. With decades of expertise in early childhood education, CDC creates an environment where children, families and staff feel valued and inspired to grow together.

• Professionalism –
  • Driven by purpose, grounded in growth: Our tenacious team embraces continuous learning and leads with integrity. Their dedication to service and self-improvement fosters strong, respectful relationships that help shape a positive and supportive work environment.

• Safety –
  • Safe spaces and peace of mind:  We maintain clean, healthy centers where children feel secure and supported. From active supervision to regular reviews of our procedures, we uphold the highest standards of care—providing families with peace of mind each day.

• Student Achievement –
  • Rooted in research, blooming with potential:  We proudly deliver a rigorous, research-based curriculum that lays the foundation for lifelong learning. By staying true to best practices, equipping classrooms with readiness tools and tracking student progress, we help every child build the skills they need to succeed!

“At Child Development Centers, Inc., we believe that prosperous futures begin with an exceptional learning experience. As 90% of brain growth happens before a child enters kindergarten, we feel a sense of urgency to ensure each moment children spend in our care ignites curiosity, fosters healthy development and encourages empathy and a lifelong love for learning.

With the most rapid brain growth occurring between birth and a child’s third birthday, our organization begins enrolling children at just six weeks of age. As we have extensively researched this vital period of development, our programs are far more than daycare as we understand the immense impact every moment has on the developing brain. This knowledge is shared across every level of our organization to ensure that our nurturers understand the incredible role they play in each child’s growth and development.

Beginning at birth, a newborn baby is equipped with all the brain cells they will have for the rest of their life, and the neural connections they create between them by age three are what shape their ability and likelihood to become successful adults later in life. Understanding this, our nurturers are experts in creating strong and trusting relationships with each child, providing them with the loving security they need to explore, learn and grow.

At three years old, children transition to our preschool classrooms, where they gain tremendous literacy and interpersonal skills that set them up for successful transitions to elementary school. With many of our preschool graduates reading and writing before they enter kindergarten, our programs have a profound impact on their academic and interpersonal success in elementary school and beyond.

When children graduate preschool, we continue serving them in both our extended care and summer programs, eager to welcome them back and celebrate their growth and love for learning year after year.

With over 55 years of impactful service, we are full of hope as we look to the future. Our programs are designed to equip children with the nurturance, nourishment and knowledge they need to become healthy, capable and successful adults later in life. As our organization continues to expand across Erie County, we look forward to serving more families in need of our vital services, positively impacting children both now and later.”

Rina M. Irwin
Chief Executive Officer
[email protected] | 814-671-7152

There are many ways to support CDC’s mission—from small acts like sharing our story on social media or donating supplies to larger contributions like financial gifts or volunteer time. Every effort makes a difference!

Click the button below to explore how you can help us nurture young minds and strengthen our communities. Thank you for your support!

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