Highline Public Schools has a strong partnership with the White Center Early Learning Initiative (WCELI). White Center Heights Elementary (WCH) is adjacent to the center and teachers work regularly with the WCELI team to develop transition activities and WCELI provides staff development for WCH kindergarten and first-grade teachers. With the addition of a preschool at White Center Heights, ties between the two groups will expand. Additionally, WCELI staff will assist in creating the Early Learning Integration section of the WCH School Improvement Plan for 2009-2010.



The White Center Early Learning Initiative partners are very pleased to announce that Leilani Dela Cruz has been appointed the new director of WCELI. The selection was made following an extensive search and application process, which included a community forum to meet the candidates.

Leilani Dela Cruz brings unique qualifications, enthusiasm and proven commitment to her new position. She has been integrally involved with WCELI since 2006, when she served as the WCELI Planning Coordinator, working to assure that White Center residents and stakeholders played a key role in designing WCELI. For the past year, Leilani has volunteered as the co-chair of the WCELI Community Advisory Committee, building community engagement in WCELI's programs and broader early learning work in the community.

Dr. Monte Bridges, superintendent of Puget Sound Educational Service District, which serves as the lead agency for WCELI, stated, "We are elated that Leilani will be expanding the span of her leadership for WCELI. She has the vision, organizational skills, and relationships to help move this work forward for children, families, and the community."

“We are looking forward to working with Leilani in her new role,” added Brenda Blasingame, director of Programs and Evaluation at Thrive by Five Washington. “Her knowledge of early childhood, connection to the White Center community, and commitment to the vision of WCELI will be a winning combination.” Thrive by Five Washington and the Gates Foundation are major funders of the WCELI work.

In addition to her work with WCELI, Leilani has been a program manager for the King County Early Intervention Program since 2007 and an early childhood program planner for Spokane County Community Services. She holds an MSW from Eastern Washington University and a BA in social work from the University of Guam.

Leilani will begin work as the WCELI director on Monday, October 26. "I am very excited about returning to WCELI full-time and look forward to building upon the foundation that has been laid by the WCELI partners, staff, and Community Advisory Committee. I am eager to work very closely with all of the stakeholders, particularly community members, to establish strong and meaningful partnerships. I hope to increase WCELI’s outreach efforts and learn from the expertise that already exists in the community in order to create a truly cohesive, community-based initiative.”

The White Center Early Learning Initiative is a partnership of community members and public and private organizations working to help all children in White Center/Boulevard Park begin school ready to succeed. The partnership is supported by grants from Thrive by Five Washington and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Learn more about the White Center Early Learning Initiative at www.wceli.org.