Core Focus & Values

​Welcome to The Family Learning Center!
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At the Family Learning Center, we embrace five Core Values that guide our everyday decisions, programming, and interactions. These values serve as a foundation for how we engage with children, families, and colleagues each day. We intentionally incorporate these values into our learning environment and daily practices, encouraging both children and staff to use and experience them through language, relationships, and shared experiences.
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These values are more than just ideas—they reflect who we are as a community at the Family Learning Center and help shape a supportive, respectful, and inspiring environment for everyone.
¡Bienvenidos al Centro de Aprendizaje Familiar!
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En el Centro de Aprendizaje Familiar, nos guiamos por cinco valores fundamentales que orientan nuestras decisiones, programas e interacciones diarias. Estos valores constituyen la base de nuestra relación con los niños, las familias y nuestros compañeros cada día. Los integramos intencionalmente en nuestro entorno de aprendizaje y en nuestras prácticas cotidianas, animando tanto a los niños como al personal a utilizarlos y experimentarlos a través del lenguaje, las relaciones y las vivencias compartidas.

​Estos valores son más que simples ideas: reflejan quiénes somos como comunidad en el Centro de Aprendizaje Familiar y contribuyen a crear un entorno de apoyo, respeto e inspiración para todos.

Commitment/
Compromiso

We show up — reliably, consistently, and with purpose.
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Nos presentamos — con constancia, responsabilidad y propósito.

Courage/
Tomar Riesgos

We are willing to challenge the status quo — with care and intention.
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Estamos dispuestos a intentar nuevas formas — con intención y cuidado.

Initiative/
​Iniciativa

We lead with curiosity, wonder, and a desire to learn.

Lideramos con curiosidad, asombro y deseo de aprender.

Community/
Comunidad

We are rooted in connection and collective impact.

Estamos arraigados en la conexión y el impacto colectivo.

Passion/
Pasión

We bring purpose and joy to our work.
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Traemos propósito y alegría a nuestro trabajo.
As a Kindergarten teacher I see a lot of kids who have come from schools all over the valley; I have noticed that my students who attended The Family Learning Center are very prepared for Kindergarten. Overall, I notice that there is a smooth transition for FLC students into Kindergarten. The kids seem like they are happy and understand the school environment! 
​​- Rachel Lammers
 Kindergarten Teacher, June Creek Elementary School​

Board of Trustees

Sarah Robinson, Board Chair
Sandy Polly, Board Secretary
Sally Welsh
Kelly McCracken
Sara (Cricket) Pylman
Steve Coyer

Tim Lybarger ~ Partner/Landlord Liasion

Sarah robinson

Sarah Robinson is a lifelong learner and educator with deep roots in education and a passion for equity. She has worked as a teacher, instructional leader, non-profit co-founder, and consultant focusing on closing opportunity gaps for children and families while centering well-being. She has also been active in family philanthropy for over 20 years. Sarah holds an undergrad degree from the University of Notre Dame and graduate degrees from the University of Denver (MA) and the Harvard Graduate School of Education (Ed.M). She lives in Edwards with her husband and two young children - trying to spend as much family time outside skiing, hiking, beaching, or biking. She is grateful for the wonderful love and support FLC has provided for her babies.

Sandy Polly

Born and raised in Florida, Sandy grew up surrounded by a large extended family, where she learned early on the importance of love, support, and valuing children for who they are and what they have to give. That foundation shaped a lifelong dedication to education and nurturing young minds.

For over 20 years, Sandy taught full-time in the classroom, working primarily with children ages 4–6. She later served as Co-Director of a private preschool in Atlanta, where she combined her teaching experience, leadership, & program development. After raising her children in Atlanta, she relocated to Colorado in 2020 to be with her now-husband and soon after joined FLC.
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Now retired from the classroom, Sandy continues to pursue her many passions. She enjoys antiquing, interior design, and taking art classes, as well as traveling, hiking, and biking. Most of all, she treasures time spent with her husband, their six children & the family’s dogs.

Steve Coyer

Steve has lived in the Valley for 25 years and has been deeply involved in non-profit work, mainly focused on helping our children succeed in their academic work and social/emotional development. Primarily this has been his role as Chair of YouthPower365 for 20 years. Steve also serves on the Executive Committee and Board of the Vail Valley Foundation. With an B.A. in economics at the University of Michigan, and an MBA from Harvard, Steve had a business career in the northeast prior to retiring to Eagle County with his wife, Amy, in 1999.

Steve believes early childhood education is a real need in our valley, so he is now focused on expanding its availability, first by helping to plan and construct the Vail Valley Foundation’s new center in Avon, and now by joining the Board of The Family Learning Center as it begins planning its new center to be built in Edwards.

Cricket Pylman

Cricket’s passion has always been working with young children beginning with a ‘preschool’ on her family’s front porch at age 11. Armed with a Bachelor of Science in Education from the University of Vermont she nurtured children at various preschool and ski area programs for several years before settling into a career at The Learning Tree in Vail that spanned 15 years. During that time, she completed her preschool
director qualification, was an active member in Colorado Association for the Education
of Young Children, presented at state and national conferences and continued her education in best practices in Early Childhood Ed.

Following the reorganization of Learning Tree into The Children’s Garden of Learning, Cricket pursued a second career as a public librarian at Vail Public Library where she was affectionately known as Miss Cricket. Managing the children’s programs, story times and special projects for all kids from babies to teens, she enjoyed 17 years with the library. Cricket was an active member of the Colorado State Library and an active participant in state library programs and initiatives. Cricket now enjoys providing perspective and expertise at the Board of Directors level to the Family Learning Center.

Cricket lives in Edwards with her husband and enjoys traveling in their van, skiing, cycling, hiking and staying engaged in community activities, especially those centered around children and the environment.

Sally welsh

Sally Welsh has served on the board of Family Learning Center since early 2020 and is passionate about helping Family Learning Center share its story and impact with the community. She firmly believes every family should have equal access to safe, affordable and reliable childcare and views Family Learning Center as a cornerstone of the community. Sally has lived in Eagle County since October 2015 and is public relations director at Vail Health. She has previous PR experience with Vail Mountain, Beaver Creek Resort, Heavenly Mountain Resort, and the Houston Astros. Originally from Texas, Sally and her husband, Corey, have one young son and an old dog. Sally enjoys hiking, camping, fly fishing, skiing, teaching yoga, and chasing her son around.  
*FLC Board of Trustees is looking for additional community members to join the board.Please contact us today for more information.