Miss B’s Story
Written by: Maggie Harper
Once upon a time, Besceglari Wilson had a dream. She dreamed that she could provide quality childcare and education to the youth of Rockingham County. She thought that her degrees in Business Administration and Vocational Technology Education, her background with the Department of Social Services (DSS) and the Rockingham County School System, would provide her with the necessary tools to realize her dream. So on January 1, 2017, Besceglari took a leap of faith and landed into a new identity. Aptly, she adopted a new, more kid-friendly name: Miss B. She built an addition onto her house, and chartered Milestone Family Learning Center, a licensed family childcare home.
As every entrepreneur knows, starting a business is overwhelming. Having established experts in your corner can make a world of difference. Miss B found the mentors she needed in the staff at the Rockingham County Partnership for Children (RCPC). “The Technical Assistants sit down with you and teach you how to be more creative and more open-minded, not only for how to work with the children, but also with the parents and the community,” says Miss B. She received advice on everything from furniture arrangement to resources and subsidy access. Miss B also appreciated the personal relationships she established with the early childhood educators . In her own words, “I think they’re a great asset. I love them all!” Through the Early Education Services (EES) team, RCPC’s Technical Assistants consult with new and existing businesses about the child care needs of their employees, establishing a link between economic growth and affordable, quality childcare. The program is a valuable resource to businesspeople in the childcare industry.
Miss B also utilizes RCPC’s continued education courses. In order to maintain her prestigious status as a four-star program, she must complete 28 hours of coursework each year. Miss B uses the Partnership’s classes for all of her hours. EES provides training for teachers and parents on a variety of topics related to child development and appropriate early childhood practices. A calendar of upcoming classes can be found at rockinghamkids.org.
As visionaries do, Miss B is dreaming bigger. She is in the midst of growing her business from the more intimate Family Childcare Home model to a more expansive Childcare Center. She recently purchased a building, and all the necessary renovations are well underway. Operation at the commercial level entails inspection by the fire marshall and city inspectors, addition of a wheelchair ramp, repainting, decorating, and more.
Four years in the business has lent her quite a bit of savvy, but Miss B still plans to utilize RCPC’s services. “As soon as I get that key,” she laughs, “I’m going to call up Latasha and ask her to come over and help.” No matter how many years one has put into the childcare profession, there is always more to learn.
Milestone Learning Center will open its doors the first week of October. There are already twenty-two kids waiting expectantly to start. Miss B owes such promising numbers to her reputation in the community as a quality educator. “Word of mouth is the only advertising we’ve done so far,” she states. The tight knit and capable staff at Milestone are prepared to welcome up to fifty little ones this fall. Spaces are available now, but Miss B’s services are popular. Interested applicants should call (336) 616-2214 to reserve a spot.
In addition to the standard North Carolina preschool curriculum, Milestone will offer small student-teacher ratios, community events like Mommy and Me classes and home visits.
Parents know that it takes a village. A teacher plays an indispensable role in a child’s life. Choosing the right one is a big decision. At Milestone Learning Center, Miss B will not only be backed by years of experience and a hardworking staff. She will also have the support of the leaders in early childhood education and services at Rockingham County Partnership for Children.
