Transition will preserve early childhood education at 18th and State streets and provide continuity for children and families
ERIE, Pa. — St. Martin Center announced today that it will transition operation of its Early Learning Center to ABC Day Care, led by longtime Erie child-care provider Tiffany L. LaVette. The transition will allow the Early Learning Center to remain at its current location at 18th and State streets, preserving access to early childhood education for the children and families who rely on the center.
The decision follows a thoughtful process focused on identifying a sustainable path forward for the Early Learning Center while maintaining quality care and education for the community it serves.
“From the beginning, our priority has been finding a path that would allow the Early Learning Center to remain open and continue serving the children and families who depend on it,” said Michele Bagnoni, interim CEO of St. Martin Center. “We are incredibly pleased to have found that path with Tiffany. She brings extensive experience in early childhood education, strong community relationships and, most importantly, a genuine commitment to children and families. We believe she is the right person to lead the center into its next chapter.”
LaVette is the founder and CEO of HER POWER, which owns and operates ABC 24hr Childcare and ABC Early Learning Center. She has extensive experience developing and sustaining child-care programs, building strong teams and advising early learning providers. She also has served local and statewide education and community organizations and holds a Master of Social Work.
“I am honored to lead the Early Learning Center into its next chapter and build upon the strong foundation already in place,” said LaVette. “My focus is on making this transition as welcoming and reassuring as possible for the children, families and staff. I look forward to building relationships and creating new opportunities for children to learn, grow and succeed.”
St. Martin Center and ABC Day Care will begin the transition process on September 1, 2026. During this period, the organizations will work collaboratively to complete licensing requirements, final agreements and other necessary approvals. Once those requirements are complete, ABC Day Care will assume full responsibility for the Early Learning Center’s operations at its current 18th and State streets location.
ABC Day Care plans to retain all current Early Learning Center staff as part of the transition, helping preserve the familiar relationships that are important to children and families. As with any transition, individual employees will ultimately decide whether they wish to continue with ABC Day Care. Current families will receive information and guidance throughout the transition to help ensure continuity of care and a smooth process.
“This is about more than keeping a building open,” Bagnoni added. “It is about ensuring that children continue to have a place where they can learn and grow, families continue to have access to care they depend on, and an important resource remains available to our community. We are grateful to Tiffany for seeing the same possibilities for the Early Learning Center that we do, and we are excited about what comes next.”
