After decades working in a variety of businesses and organizations, I can say that the one “truism” that cuts across all of them is that success is only possible if you can attract and keep highly competent people who are mission-focused, resilient, and love what they do. Natasha Morton, Director of the Sherman Early Childhood Center at the Weinberg Y, is one of those people. Her story and perspective about her work will make you smile.
There aren’t many folks on this planet who can legitimately claim to have worked at a preschool and the NASA Goddard Flight Space Center at the same time. Natasha Morton can. Although she wasn’t building rockets, Natasha was busy attending to the critically important task of shaping young minds at NASA’s onsite preschool at their Greenbelt, Maryland, campus.
When COVID hit, the NASA preschool shut down, and Natasha applied to be the assistant director at the Weinberg Y preschool (which offers both traditional preschool and Head Start services under one roof and was eventually replaced by the beautiful new Sherman Early Childhood Center). After interviewing Natasha, Ameka Smith, Associate Executive Director, Y Early Childhood, decided to offer her the job of director! Obviously surprised by the turn of events, Natasha asked Ameka what had happened. Ameka’s response was simple but powerful. “You happened!”
Having been in the early childhood world for 30 years, Natasha knows what it takes to run a quality program and loves the blended preschool and Head Start setting. “I was up for the challenge,” says Natasha.
Her motivation? "I love the little ones. The chance to mold them. Get them ready for big school. There's just something about the little ones. They have all their firsts: first steps, first words, and first time to put on pants! We have a curriculum but I try to explain to parents that the children learn so much through play. I just love it. It's my passion."
For Natasha, it seems the cherry on top is being a part of the Y community. “I love the community feel and being connected to the Y. For parents to be able to take part in all that’s offered to families at the Weinberg Y, like Parents’ Night Out, Stay & Play, it’s a win-win. A lot of parents, when they leave Sherman at the end of the day, they take their kids to the playground, or the Weinberg Y. Parents have a lot on them. They need that time to themselves to relax, unwind. Being members of the Y does that for them.”
Thank you Natasha for deciding to pour your considerable expertise, experience, and passion into building amazing little humans at the Y. And thank you Ameka for knowing talent when you see it!
All the best,
John K. Hoey
President & CEO
The Y in Central Maryland
P.S. A note for regular readers of the Y Monday Mission Update. There will be no MMU next week, and thereafter we will be moving from a weekly to a monthly frequency starting Monday, April 3rd. I have lots of great stories still to tell, but we all get way too many emails these days, so I’m doing my part to lighten up your inbox.