Our Founders
It all started at the kitchen table.
Story coming soon.....
Sue Christensen, M.S. Ed.
Sue Christensen, former Co-Director of The Family Connection, has a Master’s Degree in Education (Counseling and Human Services). She is a Certified Trainer for McCormick Center for Early Childhood Leadership and for the Early Language and Literacy Classroom Observation (ELLCO). Together with Ann Rosen, she has conducted early childhood needs assessments, written successful Federal grants for schools and family-school partnerships, and co-authored Partners in Learning, a statewide newsletter on family engagement in education. She has experience teaching at the elementary level and worked with mothers of infants and toddlers for many years. Sue serves on the St. Joseph County Ready To Grow Early Childhood Coalition Advisory Committee and is part of the Family Connection leadership team. Sue’s favorite children’s book is Goodnight, Richard Rabbit, sadly, so sadly, out of print.
Ann Rosen, M.A.T.
Ann Rosen, former Co-Director of The Family Connection, has a Masters of Art in Teaching and has been working in this field for over forty-five years. She has experience as both a preschool teacher and director and developed and directed the first after school program for South Bend Schools. She has proficiency with the PQA, PreK and K-3 CLASS assessment, the Classroom Practices Observation Measure and the Early Literacy and Language Classroom Assessment. Together with Sue Christensen, she has conducted early childhood needs assessments, written successful Federal grants for schools and family-school partnerships, and co-authored Partners in Learning, a statewide newsletter on family engagement in education. Ann has been coaching and training teachers for over 15 years on a wide range of topics, including science, math, early literacy, concept development, and partnering in play. Ann’s favorite quote is "It is not your responsibility to finish the work [of perfecting the world], but you are not free to desist from it either.” Rabbi Tarfon