Huffer Memorial Children’s Center

2000 North Elgin
Muncie, IN 47303
Telephone: 765-289-0409
FAX: 765-289-0430

Director: Carrie Bale

Services Provided: Pre-school with child care services, inclusive special needs pre-school, school-age before/after school, school-age summer day camp, child care resource and referral

Grade Levels: Ages 2-10

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Annual Report
2005-2006

BACKGROUND
Huffer Memorial Children's Center (HMCC) has been in operation for 34 years. The early childhood program is nationally accredited and licensed by the state of Indiana. Located at 2000 N. Elgin in Muncie, approximately 150 children currently attend the program. Mrs. Judy Miller retired as executive director in January, and Mrs. Carrie Bale became the executive director in February 2006. Currently there are 15 teaching staff members. HMCC also houses Child Care Resource and Referral for a 10-county region, so the total staff for the program is 32.

Funding for child care is received from parents (based on a sliding fee scale), CCDF vouchers, CCDF contract, school age contract, and United Way. HMCC works with the Delaware County Special Education Cooperative and approximately 15 special needs children attend the preschool program. In addition, HMCC has served as part of the Ready Schools initiative since fall 2004. Summer enrollment includes approximately 120 preschool children and 60 school-age children.

In addition to the placement of student teachers at HMCC, two students from the BSU Family & Consumer Science Department completed internships at HMCC, one fall and one spring. Also two students completed a special education practicum at HMCC, one spring, one summer.


PDS FUNCTIONS AND GOALS
HMCC has been in the Professional Development School (PDS) Network since the fall of 1998. The 2005–2006 goals established for HMCC and Ball State University (BSU) were as follows:

Teacher Preparation
Goal:
Provide placement site that models best practice for BSU student teachers in the spring and summer.

Progress:
The PDS Liasion and Adjunct Faculty carefully selected classroom supervisors for the four student teachers. Three student teachers were placed Spring 2006 and one Summer 2006.

Goal for 2006–2007:
Provide placement site that models best practice for BSU student teachers and practicum students.

Staff Development
Goal:
Support Christina Lynn-Wright's research project regarding staff morale.

Progress:
The PDS liaison supervised a class project conducted by Christina Lynn-Wright. Christina researched ways to improve staff morale and implemented changes as part of her project.

Goal for 2006–2007:
Develop quiet kits/activities appropriate for children who do not sleep to do after the 30 minutes of required rest time.

Student Learning
Goal:
Continue to work towards meeting NAEYC guidelines for accreditation.

Progress:
With the appointment of Carrie Bale as the executive director, regular staff meetings are held during the day for teachers.

Goal for 2006–2007:
Look for resources to address children's challenging behaviors in the classroom. Perhaps guest speakers or continuation of ideas presented by Dana Sinclair from Child Care Resource & Referral.

Research
Goal:
None identified for 2005–2006

Goal for 2006–2007:
Complete the NAEYC self-study for re-accreditation. This will require data collection and review.

Prepared by Linda Huber, BSU Liaison to HMCC, and Site Council members: Marissa, Cynthia, Wendy T., Wendy S., Deb, Paula, Christina, Rene, Heidi