Planting Seeds of Kindness: A New Chapter of Kindergarten Readiness for the Early Learning Coalition of Polk County, FL
In Polk County, Florida, early childhood leaders are expanding their thinking as to what it means to prepare young children for kindergarten. And they’re starting with something simple, powerful, and often overlooked: kindness.
As part of their new and evolving Kindergarten Bridge initiative, the Early Learning Coalition of Polk County (ELC Polk) has begun exploring new ways to support children’s development of kindness and empathy in preschool—laying the foundation for smoother transitions to kindergarten and stronger long-term learning outcomes.
While the work is still in its early stages, the team at ELC Polk is asking big, thoughtful questions and taking intentional steps to respond. Among them: forming new partnerships, investing in new tools, and gathering insights directly from educators.
A Moment of Clarity
The shift began with a simple question posed by ELC Polk staff to a group of kindergarten teachers: What’s the most important thing children should know when they enter kindergarten?
The response was clear—and surprising.
“Kindness,” the teachers said. Not letter recognition. Not counting. Not handwriting. Kindness.
That insight hit home for ELC Polk CEO Dr. Marc Hutek and his team. “The number one thing kindergarten teachers told us they need from incoming students is kindness,” said Hutek. “If children walk into the classroom ready to treat each other with care and empathy, everything else becomes teachable. That was mind-blowing. It totally changed how we think about readiness.”
In response, ELC Polk began looking for tools that could help teachers nurture kindness in the classroom—especially in ways that are easy to implement and developmentally appropriate for 4- and 5-year-olds.
A Partnership to Support Chapter One
This is where we at Highlights Early Learning entered the picture. Our team had the privilege of connecting with ELC Polk in early 2025 to discuss how we might support their vision. We shared two key resources: Kindness Connections, a preschool enrichment kit designed to build daily habits of kindness, and High Five magazine, Highlights’ beloved publication for young children and their families.
Both were seen as promising starting points—one for the classroom and one for the home.
“ELC Polk is leading with heart, vision, and creativity,” said Laureen Reynolds, Director of Product at Highlights Early Learning. “By prioritizing kindness as part of preparing preschoolers to transition to kindergarten successfully, they’re giving educators a powerful foundation to support not just learning but also lifelong well-being.”
A Celebratory First Step
To introduce Kindness Connections to local educators, ELC Polk hosted a joyful teacher appreciation and professional development event at the historic Polk Theatre in Lakeland, Florida. More than 200 early childhood educators attended, each receiving a classroom kit and training on how to begin using it.
The event featured remarks from Dr. Hutek, as well as Highlights for Children CEO Kent Johnson, who spoke about the company’s long-standing commitment to helping children grow into kind, curious, and confident individuals.
Our own Laureen Reynolds closed the evening with an interactive training session designed to equip teachers with the tools—and inspiration—to make kindness part of their classroom culture.
“There was so much energy in that room,” said Reynolds. “You could feel a shared commitment to doing more for young children. It felt like the beginning of a meaningful chapter—one grounded in kindness and community.”
A Broader Vision
This initial step is just one part of a larger effort. ELC Polk is taking a long-term view—recognizing that real change takes time, trust, and multiple layers of support. While Kindness Connections provides one helpful resource, the coalition is actively exploring additional strategies, tools, and partnerships to deepen its impact on social and emotional development and overall kindergarten readiness.
Through its co-branded and cover-wrapped distribution of High Five magazines to families across Polk County, ELC Polk is also investing in home-school connection—ensuring parents and caregivers are included in the work of nurturing empathy, cooperation, and readiness to learn.
A Journey Worth Sharing
While Polk’s journey is just beginning, it offers a powerful reminder: Sometimes, the most important work starts not with an answer, but with a question. And sometimes, a single moment of clarity—like the insight shared by kindergarten teachers—can shift the direction of an entire initiative.
“We’re honored to be walking alongside the ELC Polk team as they explore what’s possible,” said Highlights CEO Kent Johnson. “Their openness, creativity, and focus on what truly matters continue to inspire us.”