By LEIGH FLYNN DOTY
The things we do and the choices we make when we are young definitely have an impact on our future paths. And when you find your passion in life early on, it seems like all of the rest takes care of itself.
When Michelle Queen enrolled in an “adult responsibility” class as a senior at ASH in 1991, she did not know just how far that path would lead. Now, 33 years later, she has been recognized as one of the top early childhood leaders in the state.
Queen, director of Bright Beginnings in Alexandria, is one of five finalists for the Early Childhood Leader of the Year for the Louisiana Department of Education. She has another interview in mid-April, and the winner will be announced at a gala in late July.
“This has definitely already been an honor,” she said. “Reading the amazing comments in the nomination letters and watching the children’s videos has been such a gratifying and humbling experience.”
In her nomination letter, Cindy Rushing, Rapides Parish’s director of Early Childhood/Headstart, said Queen builds “positive relationships with all that are part of her learning center through trust and a commitment to provide the best learning environment for the children in her care.”
Queen, who began working at the center in the summer after high school, says she never questioned whether she was where she was intended to be. She worked part-time at the facility while attending college. Then, in April of 1995, the childcare center was available for purchase, and her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Tom Arnold, bought it for her to operate.
While some may have questioned whether a 21-year-old had the skills and experience to run the facility, Queen said she never had a doubt. She said her family’s philosophy of fixing situations as they arise combined with treating others as you would want to be treated has been successful. “Because of these two strongly instilled values, I am able to run a successful business with compassion, care, fairness, kindness, and, most of all, love for each of my families and staff members.”
She said she and her staff work hard to ensure that each of the children in their care, as well as their families, feel loved and cared for as part of the Bright Beginnings family. As such, she has very little turnover among her staff, some of whom have been with her for more than 25 years. “We really are one big family,” she said.
Queen was up for the nomination last year, but she declined because of family health issues. Now, she is able to enjoy the nomination and the gala surrounded by all of her family.
As director of the center, Queen says her focus is on providing an atmosphere that encourages social, emotional, physical, and intellectual growth and development for all of the 110 children. The center routinely celebrates holidays and does other activities throughout the year to encourage that growth and development.
They also coordinate and participate in community efforts, including working with other child care centers to fill more than 200 backpacks with essential items for local schools, donating items to the Central Louisiana Homeless Coalition, and organizing food drives and other efforts for families in need.
“I believe Mrs. Queen’s greatest asset is to do whatever it takes to run a successful early learning program and provide a quality early learning experience for her children and their families,” Rushing said. “Her generous spirit is one of humble servanthood to give back to her community and create excellence in the work she does every day!”