Since there is power in knowledge and strength in numbers, Edna McClendon’s plan is for large numbers of people at NOAH to continue seeking knowledge.

The longtime educator promotes a knowledge-hungry culture at NOAH that encourages - even insists - that staff members, supervisors and board members continue to seek opportunities for certifications and leadership training that will help increase the agency's productivity.

"We want to empower workers with the skills they need to provide development for our children," she said. "And we do say child development because that’s what we are trying to do — develop the whole child. We don’t say child care."

"I don’t care how much you think you know, you can always learn something else and use that knowledge to build a better organization," she said. "If you’re a plumber and they’ve got something new and you need more skills, go to school."

She certainly leads by example. She graduated in 1968 from Lake Shore Junior/Senior High School in Belle Glade. She then went to Palm Beach Community College before transferring to Nova University, where she got her Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education, and eventually a master’s degree from Nova Southeastern University in Educational leadership. She also received a certificate from the University of South Florida in Adult Education for school principals. After five years as Assistant Principal at Roosevelt, she has become a Manager of the School District's Alternative Education program. And recently, she completed a leadership program for board members.

Other NOAH leaders embrace the concept. Gladys Given-Barber, the director of NOAH’s family Services division recently graduated from a year-long leadership program. She and Matilda Edwards, director of the South Bay child development centers, also completed PBCC’s first leadership class designed for directors of early education programs.

As an agency, NOAH seeks top-level accreditation. The family centers maintain the highest ratings from independent evaluators, and NOAH recently received certification from the Center for Nonprofit Excellence. Executive Director Thomas Roberts, along with Givens-Barber, Edwards and Board member Pauline Lockett, recently accepted a plaque from the institute on the agency’s behalf. The plaque was presented by William Fuller, Fiscal Director for NOAH. It comes with the recognition gained from the multi-step process shows that NOAH meets high-level, mandatory standards.

"We don’t work for ourselves," McClendon said. "We work for our clients. We want to continue to do better."