WSU Child Development Center

Annual Report 2022-2023

 

*Department Mission

~The Wichita State University Child Development Center is dedicated to serving the needs of young children by providing a high quality, culturally diverse early childhood program within a safe environment.  The Child Development Center encourages physical, social, emotional, creative, and cognitive development of each child through the use of developmentally appropriate practices.  Our mission is also to provide top notch educational applied learning opportunities to WSU students who are seeking employment in Early Childhood Education or a related field.  This also includes providing WSU students with hands on learning, life skills and educational trainings to further their educational knowledge in the field of Early Childhood Education.

*Staff Accomplishments

~Early Childhood Impact Awards:  Jill Hoefer, Amy Mease and Michelle Jarboe from administration; Merry Kirkpatrick, Angie Knighten, Misty Weiss, Autumn Bergkamp, Jessica Martin, Brandy Harris, and Tiffany Littlejohn for the lead teachers; Ariana Hernandez, Zane Parker, Ashlyn Riggs, Valeria Aranda, Lylia Fernandez, Mackenzie Freeman, Allison Quintana, Bethany Choriego, Lauren Thimmesch, Celine Edelby, Natalie Mora, Taylin Coleman, Terry Ta, Haley White, Victoria Chacon, and Bailey Fulghum for the teacher assistants.  The above individuals were nominated by their co-workers and parents at the center.

*Amy Mease, Tiffany Littlejohn, Ariana Hernandez, and Victoria Chacon were spot light award resupinates.  

~Misty Weiss was voted Teacher of the Year and Victoria Chacon was voted Teacher Assistant of the year.   They were selected by parents and co-workers.
 
*Staff Highlights
~Tiffany Littlejohn recently completed a recertification training to become a certified trainer in car seat installation.  

~Jill Hoefer and Michelle Jarboe are part of Early Childhood Director’s Organization.   They have been a part of setting up quality trainings for directors in the Wichita area, which has been lacking in trainings in the past.

~Amy Mease will be celebrating her 25th year at the center in September!!!!  
 
~Autumn Bergkamp, Tiffany Littlejohn, Merry Kirkpatrick, and Angie Knighten give trainings to other centers around the city, surrounding areas, and the staff at the Child Development Center.  They continue to develop new trainings.

~Ellie Rinkenbaugh was hired as a permanent sub for the lead teachers and to help in classrooms as needed.

~Brandy Harris has been accepted into the TAP program at WSU.

~Tiffany Littlejohn is looking into the process of becoming certified in infant/toddler mental health.
 

*Impact on Student Retention and Graduation

~How many student workers we have: 45-50
~How many stay vs. how many leave-why do they leave?
-In 2020 we hired 33 teacher assistants
-In 2021 we hired 23 teacher assistants
-In 2022 we hired 39 teacher assistants
-Out of the 33 teacher assistants that we hired in 2020, 4 of them are currently still working at the center
-Out of the 23 teacher assistants that were hired in 2021, 3 of them are currently still working at the center
-Out of the 39 teacher assistants hired in 2022, 20 of them are still working at the center
-In 2021, we had 6 teacher assistants quit, due to student teacher, practicum, and internships all for their major.   Out of those 6, 2 of them have graduated and started their careers.  We had a total of 23 students quit in 2021.
-In 2022, we had a total of 32 students quits.  Out of that 32, 6 teacher assistants quit, due to graduating and 8 quit, due to student teaching, practicum, and internships all for their majors.  The rest of the students left due to financial issues, trouble handling work and school and the job not being what they expected.
-We had a total of 48 teacher assistants that worked in 2020
-We had a total of 43 teacher assistants that worked in 2021
-We had a total of 48 teacher assistants that worked in 2022
 
~Student employees have:
-flexible schedules (we work around their class schedule, with very little evening commitments)
-leadership opportunities
-opportunities for networking within the community and campus
-ability to develop connections with families, children, and peers
-applied and experimental learning
-training opportunities

*At a Glance

~Based on exit survey’s given to student employees when they quit, we had 29 complete them with an 100% satisfaction rate.  Also, 100% said they would recommend us to a friend for a job.
~Based on survey’s given to parents twice a year, we had a 100% satisfaction rate.     
~As of June of 2023, we have 95 children on the wait list and 85 children enrolled in the center.  

*Student Affairs by the Numbers

~Students using Child Development Center to help with their field of study/degree:
-Nursing Students
-Physical Therapy Students
-Play Therapy Students
-Communication Science Disorders Students
-Speech and Hearing Clinic Students
-Dental Hygiene Students
-Practicum Students for Education
-Music (students come in and have music time)
-Spanish (students come in and teach the children Spanish words)
~Students using Child Development Center:
-Student Employees: average 45-50
-Student Parents: 8
~Students using Child Development Center:
-Student Employees: average 45-50
-Student Parents: 8
~Number of Student Leadership Positions
-7 Lead Teacher Assistants
-We had the same number of lead teacher assistant positions in 2020, 2021 and 2022
~Number of Trainings Offered
-12 yearly trainings for all staff and 3-6 yearly trainings for parents
~Number of partnerships/collaborations with faculty/departments
-Susan Bray, Play Therapy
-Melissa Vagts, Speech and Hearing Clinic
-Samantha Gregus, Assistant professor, Psychology
-Cindy Malcom, Education Department
-WSU PD, reading to the children 
-WSU PD, active shooter training for staff
~Number of community partnerships
~Number of community partnerships
-Happy Feet
-Happy Hoops
-Children Behavior Services
-Greater Wichita Area Kansas Association for the Education of Young Children
-Breastfeeding Coalition
-Make a Difference Trainings
-Early Childhood Directors Organization
-Kansas Department of Children and Families
-Kansas Child Care Training Opportunities
-Kansas Department of Health and Environment
-Rainbows United
-Spirit Engineering, do STEM activities with the preschool age children
-Early childhood professionals from around the area can observe our classrooms
-The Treehouse an organization that helps low-income families
-Toys for Tots, collect new toys -Food Drive for Shocker Support Locker, Kansas Food Bank and Food 4 Kids
-Union Rescue, collected personal hygiene products
-Child and Adult Care Food Programs
*Goals

~Forge a relationship between Child Development Center and other departments on campus to help WSU Students with their academia
~Continue to build partnership with early childhood education
 ~Continue to collaborate with academic departments on campus on research projects that involve children birth thru age 6
 ~Partner with Human Resources and Office of Multicultural Affairs on diversity trainings

*Looking Ahead: What We Would Like for the Center

~Current center: 

-Expand Parking Lot
 -Expand All Playgrounds
 -Playgrounds to become certified by Nature Explorers

~All Lead Teachers to be involved in a professional organization

~Retention Incentives

~Increase pay for staff 

~Future: A New Center with double the capacity to support our wait list, bigger playgrounds, and bigger parking lot