FKO Staff Member and Winthrop Resident Leila Ribeiro: A Shining Light of Innovative Leadership and Perseverance

Like many others, FKO Staff Member and Winthrop Resident Leila Ribeiro lost her two jobs at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Leila worked as a house cleaner and helped with children’s parties, both jobs, which were deemed non-essential, had abruptly shut down. Due to the loss of income, Leila started to receive support from Mi Amore, a food pantry for Winthrop residents in need. 

“I have never been without a job since I came to the US from Brazil in 2007,” said Ribeiro. Leila discussed her unemployment with Mi Amore volunteer, Nicole Ferrara. Nicole, a longtime supporter of FKO, recommended Leila apply for a position at FKO Winthrop. 

As schools across the state shut their doors, FKO, in need of staffing support for their full-day Covid Emergency Child Care program, welcomed an interview with Leila. At the time, Leila spoke very little English but her enthusiasm, passion and love for children shined at her interview.  “Leila personifies all of FKO’s Core Values,” said Deputy Director, Briana Flannery. “It’s been amazing to watch her grow and evolve alongside the children.”

Since 2020, Ribeiro, who began at FKO as an Assistant Group Leader, has worked her way to Group Leader where she is now in charge of kindergarten and first grade children. At FKO Winthrop, Leila spearheads an enrichment called Little Architects, a project she started last year. Children use recycled materials to create replicas of the local buildings around town. “It’s amazing to see their imagination come to life. They look outside the windows and decide what they want to create, and how they’re going to create it,” said Ribeiro. Ribeiro credits her Little Architect enrichment idea to a video she watched at an FKO staff training. “Caine’s Arcade is about a little boy who uses recycled materials to create a model arcade. I thought this is what the kids here need- something to get their imagination going, something that shows them they can make, and be anything.”

Leila’s success with Little Architects has been praised by colleagues, FKO families, and most recently The Department of Early Education and Care (EEC)’s Acting Commissioner, Amy Kershaw. FKO is proud of all Leila has accomplished and looks forward to her continued growth.