CLC YMCA’s new childcare director Meridith Gray (Photo courtesy CLC YMCA)
The Central Lincoln County YMCA in Damariscotta is pleased to announce Meridith Gray has accepted the position of childcare director.
Gray has 10 years of experience working with children after attending the University of Maine at Farmington. She has spent the past two years as the site coordinator of the Y’s Nobleboro childcare center. Gray has excelled in leading the staff and helping children reach their potential.
Gray was just awarded her director credential through Maine Roads to Quality. With a focus on social and emotional development, Gray strives to create a welcoming and inclusive environment for all families and students, using the Maine Early Learning Development Standards to guide the curriculum and help children grow into kind, helpful, and healthy members of the community.
A Lincoln Academy graduate, Gray is thrilled to be a part of the CLC YMCA family.
“I’m so proud of the work we are doing at our Y,” Gray said. “Early childhood education can be such an integral part of a student’s success in school and life. What we are teaching right now is helping form the core of how a child sees the world and sees their role in it. If we can teach kindness, patience, and understanding at this age, how will we feel the ripples of that in the time to come? My daughter is growing up in this community, as did our older children, as did my husband and I. We know what a valuable resource and how important the YMCA is to families, and I love being a part of that experience for people.”
Recently, Sens. Susan Collins and Angus King and Rep. Chellie Pingree announced the CLC YMCA is going to receive $1 million through the federal appropriations bill. These funds are earmarked for a new childcare facility. At this point, the Y is still in the exploratory stages to determine the feasibility and total costs of this large project.
As a major childcare provider in Lincoln County, the need is great and the Y will do its best to address the shortage in care. Providing the highest quality childcare and expanding access to the community is an important part of the Y’s strategic plan.
These are initiatives Gray will lead the Y to explore.
