Andrea Knope’s passion for early childhood and community connection
If you’ve attended an Achieve Brown County event focused on young children and families over the last couple of years, you’ve likely met Andrea Knope.
As the Director of Early Childhood at Family & Childcare Resources of N.E.W., Andrea is a familiar face around many of our tables. Whether she’s advancing developmental screening efforts, sharing expertise on the child care landscape, or showing up to support community events, she consistently brings both her experience and her heart to the work.
For Andrea, supporting children and families isn’t simply a profession. It’s been her life’s work for more than 25 years.
Leading with Heart for the Community
At the center of Andrea’s work is a commitment to community.
Her personal mission statement is to be open and honest while helping both herself and others grow. She believes every person has a unique journey and that meaningful collaboration begins when we take time to appreciate one another’s experiences and strengths.
“I have learned to never expect more than a person can give, including allowing myself that compassion.”
She carries those values into every room she enters.
Finding Her Place in the Work
When Andrea stepped into a leadership role at Family & Childcare Resources of N.E.W., she knew building relationships across the community would be essential.
“Being new to a leadership role within our organization, I realized the value of making connections with other agencies within our community.”
That desire to connect led her to Achieve Brown County. Over the last two years, she has become an active contributor to several efforts focused on improving outcomes for children and families.
Some of the ways Andrea has engaged include:
- Attending our Week of the Young Child Proclamation
- Participating in the Make a Circle film screening
- Presenting at our Child Care Business Breakfast series
- Serving on the forWORDS Developmental Screener Action Team
Advancing Early Literacy Through forWORDS
Andrea is an active member of the forWORDS Developmental Screener Action Team.
The team is working to better understand:
- Where developmental screening is happening in Brown County
- How families and providers access screening tools
- Gaps in awareness and utilization
- Opportunities to identify developmental concerns earlier
- Ways to connect families to support sooner
The goal is simple: help more children receive screening early so intervention and support can happen when it matters most.
Andrea brings decades of experience to these conversations and helps ensure the work remains grounded in the realities families face every day.
“Success is confidence in families knowing how to advocate for their family and find needed supports.”
Bringing Real-World Perspective to Child Care Conversations
Andrea also helped lead an important conversation at Achieve Brown County’s first Child Care Business Breakfast.
The breakfast brought together employers, community leaders, and child care advocates to better understand how child care impacts workforce participation and economic growth.
Andrea shared:
- The current state of child care in Brown County
- Challenges facing providers and families
- Workforce shortages across the sector
- Innovative solutions being piloted locally
One example she highlighted was Family & Childcare Resources of N.E.W.’s partnership with COMSA.
The partnership helps refugees gain the skills and training needed to become multilingual, culturally responsive child care providers. The effort creates new workforce pathways while helping families access care that reflects their language, culture, and lived experiences.
By sharing these examples, Andrea helps move conversations beyond challenges and toward solutions.
The Power of Working Together
One theme appears throughout everything Andrea does: collaboration.
She has seen firsthand what happens when organizations align around a common purpose.
“It has been beneficial to see others in our early childhood community coming together for an organized purpose. This profession needs champions.”
She also believes some of the strongest ideas emerge when organizations recognize each other’s strengths.
“Our community does great things on their own within their organizations, but not one organization can do it all on their own.”
Looking Ahead
When Andrea thinks about success for children and families, she envisions a community where families feel confident, connected, and supported.
Success looks like:
- Families knowing where to find help
- Parents confidently advocating for their children
- Early childhood professionals equipped with strong skills
- Children receiving support as early as possible
- Organizations working together rather than in isolation
Why Achieve Brown County Matters
When asked to finish the sentence, “Achieve Brown County matters to me because…” Andrea’s answer perfectly captured her personal and professional why.
“Collaboration in supporting our youngest learners is a driving force and part of my personal ‘why.’”
We’re grateful for Andrea’s leadership, expertise, and commitment to collaboration. Through her work, Brown County is building stronger supports for children, families, and the professionals who care for them every day.
Could You Be Part of the Solution?
People like Andrea remind us that meaningful change doesn’t happen because of one organization or one leader. It happens when community members come together around a shared vision for our kids.
If you’re passionate about helping children and families succeed, we invite you to learn more about Achieve Brown County. Attend an Intro to Achieve Brown County session to learn about the work underway and discover how you can contribute your voice & expertise.
The future of Brown County’s children belongs to all of us. We’d love to have you join the conversation.