Long before a child ever sits on a classroom rug or learns how to hang their backpack in a cubby, many Unity Point families meet one person who becomes their guide through those first big steps into school. That person is Jennifer Sykes, the Family Support Specialist for the Preschool for All expansion program. She is often the very first friendly face parents encounter, the one helping them through paperwork they’ve never seen before, calming fears they didn’t know they had, and celebrating successes—big and small—as their children adjust to school for the first time.

Unity Point now serves seventy-five preschoolers across four classrooms thanks to additional state funding, and Jennifer supports them all. Preschool for All is a state-funded program that provides free, high-quality preschool for three, four, and young five-year-olds. The “expansion” grant added new seats and required every program to hire a Family Support Specialist. That’s how Jennifer stepped into this role, and it is clear she was the right person for it.

The enrollment process can feel overwhelming for families who expect preschool to work like a private daycare. Instead, they complete eligibility paperwork, income forms, and a detailed parent questionnaire that identifies family “stressors” to determine need. Once enrolled, children attend a full-day program in mixed-age classrooms. They eat family-style breakfast in their rooms and walk to the cafeteria for lunch—a routine Jennifer helps parents understand and prepare for.

From the beginning, she becomes the bridge between home and school. At the start of the year, Jennifer assembles transition packets with tips on routines, handling separation anxiety, and preparing children for longer school days. She checks on physicals, dental exams, and vision and hearing screenings, all required by the state. “You feel like you’re harassing them,” she joked, “but you know everything you’re asking for is important.”

As parents become more comfortable, they begin asking her deeper questions—about bedtime battles, how much screen time is too much, potty training setbacks, or what to do when a child struggles with big feelings. Jennifer meets families wherever they feel most comfortable. Sometimes that means sitting in her office. Sometimes it means joining teachers during home visits. Sometimes it means going herself when another supportive adult is needed. “If they are in the Pre-K program, they have me for whatever they need,” she said.

Jennifer’s ability to connect with families comes from decades of experience. She grew up attending District 95 schools in Carbondale, went on to SIU, and earned her bachelor’s degree in elementary education. She taught at Carbondale New School before joining Southern Region Early Childhood Programs, where SIU later funded her master’s degree in early childhood education. She taught Pre-K across multiple counties before realizing that building relationships with parents—especially during home visits—was something she was uniquely skilled at. When a parent educator position opened, she moved into that role and began supporting families of infants and toddlers, teaching them about development, routines, and early learning.

Her career grew with the programs she served. She followed the center-based program to SIU’s Child Development Lab, eventually becoming the sole parent educator for infants and toddlers. Later, after moving to South Carolina, she returned to Illinois and rejoined the Southern Region. She took on the combined role of toddler teacher and parent educator before returning once more to the Child Development Lab. In 2017, she joined Unity Point as the lead parent educator for the birth-to-three program and transitioned to the Preschool for All Family Support Specialist position around 2021.

Today, she continues to expand and strengthen the program. She collaborates with Pre-K teachers on social-emotional lessons, supports them with challenging behaviors, and brings Pyramid Model practices to families. She hosts Parent Cafés—open, honest discussions where adults talk about parenting, share struggles, and leave feeling understood. “Sometimes I just sit there with goosebumps,” she said. “They validate each other. They feel seen. They feel capable.”

One of her favorite projects is the storybook walk, an idea she dreamed up during COVID. Early versions were simple and taped to tree trunks, often blowing away. But when a Pre-K parent, Erin Ashley, wrote an $11,500 grant through the Illinois Arts Council, the project transformed. Soon, the new Trojan Tale Trail will feature weather-proof display stands and beautifully printed story panels for families to enjoy outdoors.

When asked if this is her dream job, Jennifer smiled. “It’s part of my dream job.” She also works after school as an infant mental health consultant and sees that as part of her future. But she is certain about one thing: everything she has done has led her here.