By Susan Shinn Turner

Smart Start Rowan

SALISBURY — Phil Barton was pleasantly surprised to see his family at the Shirley P. Ritchie Champion for Young Children ceremony sponsored by Smart Start Rowan last Thursday

Then Barton, who’s been a longtime board member, wondered why Amy Brown, the agency’s executive director, never got in touch with him about the award.

When Karen Campbell, the 2017 honoree, began reading the achievements of this year’s recipient, he suddenly realized he had won. Barton, who directed Rowan Public Library from 1997 to 2007, spoke to the crowd gathered at the Depot, which included numerous friends from his years at the library.

“My achievements are only as great as the people with whom I’ve shared these experiences,” Barton said, in his characteristic, soft-spoken way. “The blessings have been wonderful. Rowan Public Library has been the joy of my life.”

Barton also noted he sat in on the organizational meeting with Ritchie to secure funding for Smart Start Rowan.

“I am truly bowled over by this, and you have truly surprised me,” Barton said. “I appreciate it from the bottom of my heart.”

As poised as he was on stage, Barton admitted afterward that “my stomach was churning.”

Finding child care for children ages birth to 5 in Rowan County can also be a stressful experience. That’s why Smart Start Rowan chose to focus on the long-lasting impact of early care and education for this annual ceremony. The evening’s theme was “From Tiny Seeds Grow Mighty Trees.”

Smart Start Rowan partners with numerous agencies to offer programs and services for the county’s youngest.

“We love to tell you what we do,” Brown said. “That’s why one of our foundational components at Smart Start Rowan is early education.”

Board Chairwoman Susan Herrington recognized several of those partnering agencies, and board member Mary Ponds gave the invocation. Jason Walser, the evening’s emcee, has served on the Smart Start Rowan board for 18 years and will soon rotate off.

Quyona Rawley, Smart Start Rowan’s early education program lead, introduced Gemale Black, who shared his own experience as a Head Start student. He’s now the father of two girls, including one who attends Head Start and one who attends Partners in Learning. Black said he knew his teacher was there to help and that early education improved his self-esteem.

Emily Ballance, the evening’s keynote speaker, underscored Black’s comments. Ballance, a counselor and professional speaker based in Raleigh, spoke on “Love and Compassion on Grace Street.” She didn’t tell her age, but she did say she grew up in Rocky Mount — on Grace Street — during the Eisenhower administration.

“There were no ratings, and very few people were aware of early education,” she said.

Families depended on relatives or neighbors to keep children or private preschools — which were expensive — or they hired someone. For Ballance, that someone was Nannie Williams, an African-American woman who left a good job at a tobacco factory — at least it was good seasonal work — to care for young Ballance.

“She was kind and patient and I absolutely adored her,” Ballance said.

Williams had only finished third grade, Ballance said, “but she had a master’s degree in love, compassion and intuition.”

Williams provided her with child care, not babysitting, and involved her in play-based learning. She listened when Ballance told her that her father drank too much and was mean to her.

“He’s a good man on the inside,” Williams told the girl, “but something gets in the way and the good can’t get to the outside. You are a good girl and just keep on being a good girl.”

Williams gave her three tools to cope with the situation: go upstairs, close the door, and get out a coloring book. Her father’s alcoholism was an adverse childhood experience, Ballance said, or ACE. This term describes all abuse, neglect and other potentially traumatic events that happen to children under 18.

But protective factors — such as a caring adult — can mitigate those factors, she said.

“Think creatively about what you can do to help children in Rowan County,” she said. You can give money, help build awareness, support child care providers and facilities, and spend quality time with young children.

“Child care providers are that protective factor.”

In her remarks, Campbell said you never had to convince Barton about the importance of early education. During the 2000s, he joined the Smart Start Rowan board, serving as board chairman and later chaired multiple committees, she said.

“He leads in such an unassuming way.”

After leaving the board in 2016, Campbell said, Barton remained available for advice, mentoring, assistance with special projects, support and friendship.

“I came to realize the future of the business I was in depends on a literate public,” Barton said Monday after reflecting on his passion for early education. “The reality was to engage young children as soon as we could. Early education became an integral part of what I had to accomplish in my career.”

Barton’s brother and nephew, Tim and Max Barton, live in Pennsylvania. They picked up Bradley and LuAnn Barton, his brother and sister-in-law, from his native West Virginia. The contingent had left at 6 that morning to be with Barton for the awards ceremony, LuAnn Barton said. Their daughter, Leslie, could not attend.

“Phil is wonderful,” LuAnn Barton said.

Sponsors of the awards ceremony included the family of Shirley P. Ritchie and Greg and Missie Alcorn, First Bank, Novant Health, diamond; Gordon and Carolyn Hurley, J.F. Hurley Foundation, Salisbury Pediatric Dentistry, gold; Jarrett and Amy Brown, Steve and Karen Campbell, Darryl and Barbara Corriher, Glenn and Susan Herrington, Henry and Sharon Kluttz, Cork and Barrel Store, Salisbury Pediatric Associates, Snow Benefits Group, Trinity Oaks, Venue Services, and Walser Technology Group, silver.

Smart Start Rowan is a United Way member  agency.