Departments
Agency Directors
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Ernesto Iribar – Head Start/Early Head Start Director
(305) 264-3232 Ext 3001
Sonia O’Farrill – Executive Director
(305) 264-3232 Ext 2001
After-School
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O’Farrill Learning Center offers After School Services for most of our Head Start students from 3:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. In addition, at our Coral Way location we offer After School Services for children in grades K-5th from 2:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Miriam Wolkowiez
Executive Assistant
(305) 264-3232 Ext 2002
Marisol Vargas
Lead Tutor
(305) 264-3232 Ext 2100
Disabilities
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O’Farrill Learning Center is committed to providing quality early childhood education for all children, including those with disabilities by providing them with the most inclusive environment possible.
Teachers are required to screen the newly enrolled children to assess developmental and speech concerns using Accuscreen, a tool utilized to access motor, language, social, cognitive perspective, and emotional skills. If a developmental or speech concern is identified, the Health/ Disabilities/ Mental Health Coordinator will follow up by having a meeting with the teacher and parent. With parent’s consent, the child will be referred to Florida Diagnostic and Learning Resources System (FDLRS) for Head Start or Early Steps for Early Head Start children. Private evaluation / services through our partnering agencies will be recommended to the parents to ensure the child’s needs are met. While awaiting approval and eligibility for additional services, our department will provide families with strategies and tools to assist families during that time.
Yamira Armenteros – Arteaga
Health/Mental Health/Disabilities Coordinator.
(305) 264-3232 Ext: 1002
Education
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O’Farrill Learning Center’s program focuses on the social, physical, and emotional development of children from birth to 5 years of age, ensuring that children are school-ready.
Our program provides all children with a language-rich and supportive environment to develop strong early literacy, math, science, and social skills that are necessary to succeed in school and life, while engaging parents in their children’s educational experiences.
Head Start children’s education is based on the High Scope curriculum which promotes learning through child initiated and teacher support activities that help them grow mentally, socially, emotionally, and physically.
Early Head Start children’s education is based on the Creative curriculum which supports learning through play and developmentally appropriate activities that foster social, emotional, cognitive, language, and physical development.
Assessments are tracked utilizing the Galileo program which can be accessed by parents online at www.ati-online.com
Gladys Monne
Curriculum Specialist
(305) 264-3232 Ext 1004
Liding Gonzalez
Curriculum Specialist
(305) 264-3232 Ext 2005
Family Services
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Our main goal is to help families achieve independence as they begin to recognize their strengths, solve problems, and gain confidence. Our staff works closely with families to assist them with their everyday needs, providing them with information, trainings/workshops and resources as needed. The program partners with families to assist them in setting goals and developing ways to achieve them. Parents can choose to stay involved by participating in Parent/Family meetings, attending workshops and trainings, or being decision-makers on the Policy Council (a governing body comprised of our centers’ parents and community representatives).
Olga Olive
Family Service Coordinator
(South Miami/Arthur Mays)
(305) 264-3232 Ext 1003, 4001
Maria E. Guerrero
Family Service Worker
(Coral Way)
(305) 264-3232 Ext 2003
Yadian Molina
Family Service Worker
(Perrine)
(305) 264-3232 Ext 3002
Fiscal
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O’Farrill Learning Center’s Fiscal Department oversees the accounting, financial reporting, and budgeting for our agency. Their financial responsibilities include, but are not limited to, payroll processes, accounts payable, accounts receivable, and monthly expenditure reporting. They manage and analyze the implementation of our budgets designated by various funding sources. Our funding sources include:
- Head Start and Early Head Start Program granted by the Miami-Dade County Community Action and Human Services Department
- Out of School/After-School Program granted by The Children’s Trust
- School Readiness Program granted by Public Housing and Community Development
- Early Literacy and School Readiness Program granted by the Miami-Dade County Office of Management and Budget
- Child Care Food Program granted by the Florida Department of Health
- Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten (VPK) and School Readiness Programs granted by the Early Learning Coalition of Miami-Dade/Monroe
Through strategic financial planning and reporting, our Fiscal Department ensures that our agency’s funds are being spent and managed in compliance to fiscal policies and procedures. They work closely with other department heads to prepare our agency’s budgets, make forecasts, and conduct monthly financial progress reports. By monitoring and analyzing financial reports, our Fiscal Department contributes to the maintenance and improvement of our daily operations. Their objective is to maximize funds effectively to provide a dynamic, high-quality learning and work environment for our children, families, and employees.
Luis Machado
Fiscal Coordinator
(305) 264-3232 Ext 1001
Manuel Garcia
Fiscal Coordinator Assistant
(305) 264-3232 Ext 1007
Joel Centeno
Service Areas Assistant
(305) 264-3232 Ext 1008
Food Services & Maintenance
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Our food workers maintain daily inventory of kitchen and cleaning supplies, as well as serving breakfast, lunch, and afternoon snack to our students.
Our maintenance team ensures the facility’s appearance and cleanliness are well-kept, to create a safe school environment for the children and teachers. We oversee the physical operations of the property including maintenance and repair of all interior and exterior buildings. All centers are deep cleaned at the end of each school day, to ensure the sites are up to standard.
Fidel Garcia
Maintenance Manager
Sindy Londono
Food/Custodial Worker at South Miami
(305) 264-3232 ext. 1009
Lisandra Brito
Food/Custodial Worker at Perrine
(305) 264-3232 ext. 3009
Yorlinda Martinez
Food/Custodial Worker at Arthur Mays
(305) 264-3232 ext. 4001
Yaritza Jimenez
Food/Custodial Worker at Coral Way
(305) 264-3232 ext. 2009
Health
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At O’Farrill Learning Center, we provide high-quality, oral health, mental health, and nutrition services that are developmentally appropriate and support each child’s growth. All children are required to have physical and dental exams, immunizations, and blood work done and updated every forthcoming year while attending our centers. It is the Health Service technician’s duty to notify the parents when a certain exam/lab work needs to be updated.
During the first 45 calendar days of school year, the Health Service Technicians screen all the children’s vision and hearing abilities and the results are shared with parents and following up with them as needed. We promote effective oral hygiene by ensuring all children are assisted when brushing teeth once a day, while at our centers. If a child hurts themselves at school, we administer First Aid treatment. Children who are under medical prescriptions will be given their medication at the appropriate time, following the Head Start/Early Head Start performance standards and our company’s Policies and Procedures.
Yamira Armenteros – Arteaga
Health/Mental Health/Disabilities Coordinator.
(305) 264-3232 Ext: 1002
Yanet Castellanos
Health Services Technician (Arthur Mays/Perrine)
(305) 264-3232 Ext. 4001, 3003
Human Resources
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We believe the most important asset to a company are its employees. Our Human Resources Department’s responsibility is to make sure the employees needs are met by providing them with the benefits, trainings, and information they need to succeed at their job. It is our duty to hire diverse employees to emulate the multiethnicities inside the classroom. When hiring new company members, we ensure they acquire appropriate documentation and meet the criteria for the job. Our goal is to make sure everyone hired is satisfied, motivated, and functioning appropriately as part of the team. Although there are different jobs/positions, our company members are equally valued as people in order to maintain our company’s values and beliefs.
Jorge Barranco
Human Resources & Nutrition
(305) 264-3232 Ext 1006
Manolo Garcia
Serice Areas Assistant
(305) 264-3232 Ext 1005
Mental Health
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O’Farrill Learning Center provides strategies for supporting children with challenging behaviors and other social, emotional, and mental health concerns by providing supportive teaching practices and effective learning environments. Using the Devereux Early Childhood Assessment (DECA), the children will be screened at the beginning of the school year by the teacher and will continue being observed by Health/Mental Health/ Disabilities coordinator if there is a concern. Our agency has a LMHC (Licensed Mental Health Consultant) to support children with identified mental health, social and / or emotional concerns, by supporting parents with resources to promote positive mental health. LMHC also provides trainings to support our families who may need expert advice in the related field.
Yamira Armenteros – Arteaga
Health/Mental Health/Disabilities Coordinator.
(305) 264-3232 Ext: 1002
Nutrition
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The Children enrolled at O’Farrill Learning Center will be provided with a healthy, balanced meal that is low in fat, sugar, and sodium. The menus follow USDA guidelines to promote good health and prevent obesity. The children are served 3 nutritious meals throughout the day: Breakfast, Lunch, and Afternoon Snack. Working alongside CCFP (Child Care Food Program), we implement the best practices for the children and families and ensure that they are well-fed in order to have optimal attentiveness and mental performance in the classroom. If a child shows nutritional concerns, they are referred to our Nutrition Consultant who will follow-up with parents accordingly and provide them with resources to optimize their child’s nutritional wellness.
Jorge Barranco
Human Resources & Nutrition
(305) 264-3232 Ext 1006
Manolo Garcia
Service Areas Assistant
(305) 264-3232 Ext 1005
