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Staff

The Child Care Center staff is a unique group of caregivers trained to offer a positive, nurturing, age-appropriate environment. The staff is a mix of early-childhood teachers and students from the IPFW campus, most of whom are training to become education professionals. Training sessions are held prior to employment covering topics such as The Creative Curriculum, positive guidance, safety and sanitary procedures,and teacher-child interactions. In addition, new staff receive fifteen hours of supplemental training. All staff receive annual tuberculosis tests and are trained in first aid and CPR. Monthly staff meetings offer professional development to promote excellence in early childhood education.

Lynda Place

Lynda L. Place, director, is a graduate of Purdue University with a degree in elementary education and early-childhood specialization. Her experience includes teaching in an elementary school and in a YMCA preschool, and directing a large preschool for 16 years. She has been director of the IPFW Child Care Center since 1997.

Risha McLellan

Risha McLellan, assistant director, is an IPFW graduate with a degree in sociology. For the past 12 years she has played an important part in early childhood and family education in northeast Indiana by providing education and training to early childhood professionals and parents. She has assisted in the development of two programs: Paths to Quality, now a statewide standard of quality for preschools and child care centers; and The Family Enrichment Series which teaches parents how to protect their children from the risks of divorce and single parent homes.

Stephanie Breidenbaugh

Stephanie Breidenbaugh, lead teacher, is a graduate of Eastern Michigan University with a bachelor's degree in early childhood education. She has a wide range of early childhood experience with children ranging from infant through five. "Ideally, children should have at least one place that is just for them; a place where they are loved and valued for who they are; a place where their feelings, thoughts, and ideas are important; a place where they can learn and grow and explore in their own time, in their own way without fear of making mistakes; a place where they can be successful. Hopefully, we can be one such place. That is what I strive for everyday."

Beth Ward

Beth Ward, lead teacher, is a graduate of IPFW and Ball State University with a bachelor's degree in elementary education and a license in early education. Her experience includes child care and public school settings with pre-kindergarten and kindergarten children. " I am dedicated to helping children discover who they are and who they can be."

IPFW is an Equal Opportunity/Equal Access University.