RSG Staff Spotlight: Vitzah Santilli (she/her/ella)

Meet this month’s staff spotlight, Vitzah Santilli (she/her/ella)! Vitzah is Program Coordinator at the Wichita Center for children ages three to five. She has been with the Ready, Set, Go! program for nine years and has over 30 years of experience in early childhood development.

Vitzah began pursuing a career in early childhood after graduating high school and since then has continued her lifelong passion of working with children. After coming to the United States from Costa Rica, Vitzah received a Bachelor’s degree in Human Development and subsequently pursued a Master’s in Early Childhood Development. She explains that she was deeply fascinated by the ways in which “children think, learn, and behave” and wanted to explore how to provide the best environment for this as an educator.

Before starting with Ready, Set, Go! Vitzah worked for the Clackamas Education Service District where she frequently interacted with RSG! coordinators and families. She describes the dedication and passion from the teachers she met as well as hearing participants speak highly of the program. Vitzah was immediately drawn to the program and when an opportunity arose to take on a position with RSG! she was eager to take it. 

Vitzah highlights that her favorite part of the program is that RSG! is here not just for the child, but for the entire family. She explains that Ready, Set, Go! is unlike many other early learning programs in that families are involved in the education setting. Caregivers learn and play alongside their child and are able to transfer and reinforce those skills at home. 

“We get to see parents and family members growing alongside their children” -Vitzah Santilli

She points out that many families take different aspects of the program such as specific toys, books, or activities and incorporate them into other parts of their life. Vitzah also mentions the emphasis that RSG! places on the social emotional development of children which can sometimes be overshadowed by academic achievement, but is crucial at this early stage in a child’s life. 

As a parent herself, Vitzah understands that all children have different needs, personalities, and experiences. Coordinators work closely with caregivers, special educators, and other key resources to ensure each child has what they need to succeed. Having been with Ready, Set, Go! for almost ten years, Vitzah has been able to see it evolve over time while still maintaining its core values as a “culturally responsive, place based program that puts families first.”