Cindy Ruble

Michigan Nightlight: What does being a leader mean to you?
Educators’ Task Force Executive Director Cindy Ruble: Stewardship! Leaders establish a vision, in partnership with many, and then they spread that vision throughout the community with passion. Leaders support the work around the vision, and partner with others to remove obstacles, open doors, and ensure that the vision – the dream – becomes reality.
 
What is your dream for kids?
Every child graduates from high school with the skills needed and resources available to continue their post secondary

Every child has a dream for what they can be and for what they can contribute to society and that dream can and will become a reality!

education. Every child has a dream for what they can be and for what they can contribute to society and that dream can and will become a reality!
 
What is one concrete thing that could be done to improve the environment for social sector work in Michigan?
I believe Michigan MUST invest in our community’s children, starting at birth and continuing support until they graduate from high school. It is also important that every graduate has the skills needed and resources available to continue their post-secondary education. Legislatively speaking, I would love for Michigan to take a stand on supporting services for birth through age four. Expenses for incarceration and job training are so high. By taking the long view, the state would save money on these costs by investing it earlier in a child’s life.
 
How do you know you’re making progress?
The Educators’ Task Force (ETF) represents all Battle Creek area public and private school leaders, including the community’s two colleges. The Task Force has established goals and a work plan with many partners to support our community’s children, from birth through high school. ETF also is working to ensure every graduate has the skills needed and resources available to continue their post-secondary education. Progress is measured along the way through data as

Expenses for incarceration and job training are so high. By taking the long view, the state would save money on these costs by investing it earlier in a child’s life.

well as through stories. Statewide, each child is assigned a Unique Identification Code (UIC) that tracks their progress from the time they enter school. In Battle Creek, we actually track the children from birth, so we can see what specific early childhood programs and interventions have impacted their progress.
 
What are you most proud of?
Our community is genuinely beginning to come together in support of children and families. Agencies are collaborating and realizing that the purpose of their work is to help families articulate their future vision, define their family values, and set goals they feel passionate about, creating a plan for their own development in support of children.
 
What keeps you awake at night?
What keeps me up at night is the realities families face every day: The mom that walks over two miles everyday to get her child to preschool; the mom who is new to the United States, speaks no English and is giving birth in a hospital where no one speaks her language; the family who is homeless and has little community support in getting back on their feet.