The Alignment Rockford mission statement is: "We believe that all youth deserve to reach their full potential, so we work in close partnership with Rockford Public School District 205 to better understand the needs of Rockford students today. Everyone in our community has a role to play in helping students – and we are the conduit to making it happen".
The first five years of a child’s life are crucial for brain development. Research shows that experiences during this period shape a child’s ability to learn and thrive in school. By age five, the brain’s foundational architecture—critical for a lifetime of learning—is nearly complete.
Despite the importance of early childhood, institutional support for families with young children remains deeply unequal, not just in Rockford, but nationwide. Parents and caregivers are a child’s first teachers, yet they often lack access to the training, tools, and resources needed to support their child’s development.
When a child enters kindergarten unprepared, they often face long-term challenges that compound over time. Addressing this gap before it widens is essential for educational success and lifelong well-being.
Alignment Rockford has several programs to help children be ready for school.
Our Ready to Learn Initiative is removing obstacles to provide early childhood experiences for kids under the age of five. In collaboration with our entire community, we are preparing our children to enter school ready to learn.
Strong Schools is a Healing-Centered Student Support Initiative embeds trauma-responsive practices, culturally relevant teaching, and mental health strategies to support staff, students, and families in our public schools.
The Early Development Instrument is a community-level measure that provides information about children’s health, development, and school readiness across five key domains, to better understand how to support families and neighborhoods.
Winning Start Winnebago is a community-wide initiative to support families planning a pregnancy, currently pregnant, or parenting a new baby.
Emily Klonicki has been the Executive Director of Alignment Rockford since January of 2022. She wants all parents to understand the benefits of reading, singing and talking to their children. And she wants families and caregivers to have “the support that they need right from the beginning,” she said. “So that our community has a common language with which they talk about and approach life with a young child.”
Emily, a Rockford native and 1999 Lutheran High School graduate, brings those bold goals to her new leadership role with Alignment Rockford. The former assistant director and head of youth and information services for the Rockford Public Library took over as executive director of the nonprofit student achievement organization.
She takes over the organization as it shifts its focus to early childhood learning after its previous work on college and career readiness was absorbed by Rockford Public Schools.
“It’s kind of a new start and this is our focus,” Klonicki said. “So, it’s a really nice time for me to come on with my background and with my background and my passion for this topic.”
Emily will talk about Alignment Rockford; it's history and its programs and the future plans. This will be an interesting and informative program and one to bring a guest or prospective member to join us person at Memorial Hall or via Zoom.
Wray Howard will introduce our presenter and act as Rotary Host.
