Never A Dull Moment in 30 Years

By Dawn Neuses, dneuses@qconline.com

MOLINE -- She could always see something more, always had a vision for the agency, knew the impact she wanted it to have on children, parents, the community and the state beyond.

It is that vision that has held Laurie Walker at Skip-a-Long Child Development Services for 30 years, an anniversary she recently celebrated.

In many ways this 28-year CEO is like a mother -- a never-tiring advocate, a strong presence, a guiding force -- to an agency that now helps more than 900 children learn and grow while giving parents the opportunity to work and move forward. But Ms. Walker is more comfortable crediting the founding fathers, the community, the donors and the staff for Skip-a-Long's success.

But her impact is clear.

"She was a part of the overall growth, development and maturing of the organization from really being a daycare to being an early childhood development agency. She has really been instrumental in making that happen for the community," said Dan McConaghy, Skip-a-Long board chairman.

"Her commitment to children and families specifically in the Quad-Cities and the state of Illinois has been outstanding," he said, adding that the commitment she shows is what brings others from the community together to give to Skip-a-Long.

Skip-a-Long was founded in 1970. When Ms. Walker started with the organization, as a teacher and social worker in 1976, the organization was guiding and educating 75 children and had a budget of $100,000.

Now, with four campuses and a budget of $5.5 million, it helps more than 900 children of mostly low- to moderate-income families learn and grow. Ninety percent of the children leave prepared for kindergarten.

Ms. Walker witnesses the success of what they do. She sees it in the smiles and the day-to-day growth of the children. She sees it in the parents in the halls. She is even reminded of it in the mall, when she runs into current and former Skip-a-Long families and hears their stories, receives their thanks.

"I know we are achieving quality services for the community," she said.

Ms. Walker meets with the new staff quarterly, and tries to instill in them the history of Skip-a-Long, that they should be thankful to the those who launched the organization and made it an agency before its time.

She wants the staff to carry on that role, that pride.

"I want to be developing that culture so they carry that forward," she said.

After reflecting recently on her long tenure, Ms. Walker realized that while she doesn't plan to retire soon, maybe she won't be in the office at the end of the hall forever.

"I began to think that I needed to prepare the agency for the future," she said.

"I have 30 years worth of experience and lessons learned, and I'd like to get the high points written down, what are the things that make the organization click that cannot be lost," she said.

Ms. Walker recently went through her thick, vanilla-colored employment file and saw the goals she had set for herself through the years.

One stood out -- promoting public awareness. She had set it as a goal every year for the past three decades. While she achieves it regularly, the need for it continues to grow.

Ms. Walker dives into public policy and has a role in promoting public awareness of the importance of early care and education. She is a 22-year member of Action for Children, and past-president of the state-wide advocacy organization.

She is also a member of the Illinois Advisory Council, the Early Childhood Coalition of Illinois, and on a sub-committee of the Governor's Early Learning Council.

"It is one of my more critical roles, to look beyond the four walls of Skip-a-Long and see where can I educate people beyond the Quad-Cities." she said, adding that she likes politics and always have.

"Who can speak for the children if we do not?" she said.

Ms. Walker said there have been very few bad decisions, but of those she has walked out taking a positive with her, positives that have helped shape the future of Skip-a-Long.

She feels that her job as CEO allows her to follow her heart, to be a social worker and a teacher, while also running the organization as a business.

"This is the best combination of all of that. Having a social work background keeps this from becoming too rigid of a business and constantly reminds us we are here to serve families and children. It defines our ethics," Ms. Walker said.

"It is not a job. It is very much who I am."

She is proud to say that during her tenure as CEO, the Davenport and Moline campuses were built and fully-funded by the community.

Ms. Walker is proud to say that under her leadership an in-home network of caregivers was established, and now they have 42 in-home providers taking care of 300 children whose parents work second and third shift. It is the largest in-home network in the state.

She is proud to say that she was involved for years in the PreSchool For All collaboration which has brought $1.7 million into the area to serve children.

"Yes, I am proud. Yes, I've worked very hard," Ms. Walker said. "It feels very much like a calling to me rather than a job."

She is one to push forward, and laughs that she never just sits at her desk in her high-back chair with nothing to do. Her red leather planner barely shuts. She always has a written list of areas to she'd like to expand, areas in which to improve.

Return to Top

Back to News