Walk through the halls of the Bulldog Early Learning Academy, and you’ll likely spot Gail Alvey. She might be greeting parents at orientation, passing out weekend food bags, or decorating for an evening family carnival. Her official title is Parent Coordinator, but in truth she wears many hats—advocate, event planner, resource guide, encourager. For families of BELA’s three-, four-, and five-year-olds, Gail is often the first connection to the school community and one of the strongest reasons they feel supported.

Alvey’s role is both practical and deeply personal. At the start of each school year, she makes it a priority to introduce herself to as many families as possible. Whether in the hallway, at meet-the-teacher night, or during classroom visits, she explains her purpose simply: “If you need something, I’m the one you can come to.” That might mean food, clothing, or utility assistance. It might mean connecting families to community agencies, from food pantries to electric bill relief programs. “Sometimes people don’t even have to tell me directly,” she said. “They just mark it on a parent form, and I’ll work quietly behind the scenes to get what they need.”

Each Friday, about 25 BELA families receive weekend food bags through a partnership with Caring for Kids, a program founded and created by a local church. This is one example of the many organizations with which she partners. Others reach out for clothing, information about behavior support, or guidance on positive parenting. Alvey responds with discretion and empathy, driven by her own lived experience. “I’ve walked in their shoes,” she said. “I want our families to know we are just regular people here. We all have trials. We all have things we’ve had to overcome.”

Her connection to BELA goes back decades. In 1999, when her son was in preschool, his teachers invited her to come read to the class. They encouraged her to apply for a position with the district, and she soon began as a copy aide. Over the years, she served as a personal aide, a kindergarten aide, and a pre-K aide. When the previous Parent Coordinator retired, Alvey stepped into the role and has now served in it for 18 years. “Someone in pre-K once encouraged me,” she explained. “That’s why I’m here today. I want to do the same for others.”

Her belief in creating joyful experiences for families has shaped BELA’s culture. Each month, she plans and hosts free family events that bring as many as 240 people—parents, grandparents, siblings, and children—into the building. Past events have included book fairs with cookies and milk, fall carnivals with games and community guests, grandparent pie feasts, mother-child muffin mornings, and father-child woodworking nights. At Christmas, every child leaves with five handmade ornaments. Once, the cafeteria was transformed into a life-size Candy Land board game. “We don’t want to just throw a few things out and say we had a night,” Alvey said. “We want it to be worthwhile, something that makes people want to come back.”

Making these events possible requires teamwork. Teachers, aides, custodians, and volunteers stay late to decorate, run stations, and clean up. “It takes a village,” she often says. “And this is my village. We all do it together.” That collaboration reflects her philosophy that schools thrive when families and staff work side by side, not as separate parts.

Alvey also runs BELA’s library, though not in the traditional sense. Knowing how busy families are, she sends books home with children in special bags rather than expecting parents to visit the library. She teaches children how to care for books—no sticky fingers, always put it back in the bag—and encourages them to “read with their eyes and imagination,” making up stories from pictures if they cannot yet read the words. “If you put books in their hands early,” she said, “they’ll be better readers later.”

Beyond events and resources, Alvey coordinates with outside organizations such as Ag in the Classroom, which visits monthly to teach children about nature and animals. She also leads BELA’s parent advisory committee, similar to a PTO, which invites parents and grandparents to have a voice in planning activities and volunteering during school hours.

Though the work can be tiring, Alvey never doubts its purpose. She has raised four children and now her adopted grandson, all of whom attended preschool programs in Harrisburg. Her love for children is what keeps her going. “Kids are my passion,” she said. “I sometimes miss being in the classroom every day, but I wouldn’t trade this job for anything. I love what we do for families, and I set a bar for myself. I don’t want that bar to drop.”