Day Nursery Indianapolis names new President & CEO

Ted Maple, Ph.D.

Indianapolis – The  board of directors of Day Nursery Association of Indianapolis, Inc. is pleased to announce the appointment of Ted Maple, Ph.D. as the President and CEO. He will succeed Carolyn M. Dederer who will retire August 2 after 15 years with the organization.

Maple comes to Day Nursery from United Way of Central Indiana where he led United Way’s education priority with a focus on early childhood and school-age initiatives.

He earned his bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from the University of Indianapolis, a master’s degree in Elementary Education from Butler University and his Ph.D., in, Early Childhood Education from Ball State University.

Carolyn Dederer welcomed Dr. Ted Maple to his new office at Day Nursery this morning. They will work together for three weeks until Carolyn officially retires on August 2.

He began his career in education as a kindergarten and first grade teacher in Pike Township. Following his time in the public schools, he served as Director of the Early Childhood Program at St. Mary’s Child Center where he led the nationally-accredited early childhood program for 200 at-risk preschoolers at two locations in Indianapolis. In 2005, Maple’s career in early childhood took a different turn, when he was selected as United Way’s Director of Success By 6. In this role, over more than eight years, he crafted United Way’s early childhood agenda that included programs, policy advocacy and community engagement. In 2012, he was promoted to Director of Education to oversee United Way’s two education priorities: children entering school ready to learn, and performing on grade level by sixth grade.

He lives with his wife and three children on the northeast side of Indianapolis.

ABOUT DAY NURSERY:
Day Nursery Association is the oldest and largest non-profit provider of early care and education in central Indiana. Founded in 1899, the agency has been educating the youngest children of Indianapolis for over 100 years. Serving more than 1,350 children annually ages six weeks to six years old in 7 locations in Marion and Hendricks County, Day Nursery believes that all children, regardless of a family’s income, should have access to the highest quality of care. Day Nursery is a United Way agency.

Thankful Thursday: Celebrating retiring CEO Carolyn Dederer

Since 1998, Carolyn Dederer has dynamically led the Day Nursery Association of Indianapolis. Carolyn will be retiring August 2, 2013 and we wish to thank her for leadership and service. Her untiring effort to grow Day Nursery and raise the bar for early childhood education in our community is truly commendable. Last night we celebrated Carolyn’s service with a party. Here are a few pictures from the event.

Carolyn sharing some thoughts with the guests.

Child Care Answers staff

Guests filled the Reuben Community Room at WFYI

Wanda Kaiser, Day Nursery CFO thanked Carolyn on behalf of the staff.

Susie Friend of United Way of Central Indiana and Carolyn

Carolyn and son Andrew

Carolyn with Board Chair Raven Buchanan

Long time board member Lloyd Lyons led off the evening’s tribute to Carolyn.

We know that her many gifts to Day Nursery and the Indianapolis community will continue to touch children’s lives for many years to come.

Sincerely,
Raven M. Buchanan
Day Nursery Association of Indianapolis Board Chair

Day Nursery Outdoor Classroom provides meaningful experiences for preschoolers

Matt Miller

Today we feature a guest post by Day Nursery Preschool Specialist Matt Miller who is the lead teacher in the Preschool 2 room at our Day Nursery Hendricks County Early Learning Center in Avon. 

Our Outdoor Classroom is a space on the playground dedicated to meeting the same development areas and core standards expected in a traditional classroom. Think back to where you played as a child. Many of us spent our free time outside! The Outdoor Classroom is our way of taking advantage of the beautiful weather and providing meaningful experiences and activities centered on natural materials, outdoor spaces and the environment.

Why is outdoor play important? There are so many reasons!
Loris Malaguzzi, founder of the Reggio Emilia Approach to Learning, believed we should focus on reconnecting children with nature and their environments. Connecting children to the environment teaches children compassion and respect for the environment and for each other. Outdoor learning centers such as the mud kitchen, the gardens and the water exploration tables all provide children with the chance to experience natural elements of our environment within a context with which they are already familiar.

Lenore Skenazy, author of Free-Range Kids, states many people believe playing indoors is “safer” for children, but children without access to natural play areas are at a greater risk for depression, diabetes and obesity while being less educated about the environment and the natural world around them.

According to a study published in the journal Applied Psychology: Health and Well Being by University of Illinois professors Frances Ming Kuo and Andrea Faber Taylor, children with regular access to green spaces (i.e., outdoor classrooms, open grass fields, etc.) are less likely to develop ADHD symptoms and tendencies. Their research also shows a substantial and dramatic decrease in symptoms of children previously with ADHD.

Preschool 2 and Preschool 3 using the Kid Wash and a giant inflatable bowling set donated by Jen Rivera

Lisa Murphy, Author of Play… and What to Say When the Wolves Come Knocking, discusses the importance of outdoor play in her workshop “Let’s Go Outside!” The Vestibular System (controlling movement and balance) is the first sensorial system to develop (in utero). The Vestibular System is greatly influenced by the inner ear and the position of the head. The RAS (Reticular Activating System) is a nerve system located in the brain stem that, in essence, wakes up the neocortex. It says “Wake up! Something’s coming in!” Now, Proprioception is the body’s sense of itself in space. Proprioceptive Receptors (located in all your muscles) allow us to move, explore our environment and maintain our balance. The Proprioceptive System and the RAS are linked to the Vestibular System. When we do not move and activate the Vestibular System we are NOT taking in information from the environment. Meaning – we will not be ready to learn!
So, when you are playing on the swings, hanging upside down, spinning, walking backwards, skipping, jumping rope, doing somersaults, cartwheels, spinning the swings, flying on a tire swing, jumping off a rock, you are not “just playing outside” you are activating the vestibular system (Murphy, 2008)

Whom is the Outdoor Classroom for? We created the Outdoor Classroom for all preschool aged children at Day Nursery Hendricks County with the hopes of adding it as a permanent part of our program.

The teachers and administrators of Day Nursery Hendricks County strive to provide the highest quality Early Care and Education experiences possible for our students. The construction, execution and facilitation of the Outdoor Classroom is just the latest example of this goal.

Now, in the words of the great Lisa Murphy, “Let’s Go Outside!”

See ya in the backyard,

Matt

Day Nursery Indianapolis teachers show their Pacer Pride

Day Nursery State toddler teachers, Mr. Daniel and Ms. Debbie showing their Indiana Pacers pride!! Beat the Heat!

The Hand Holders – A Tribute to Childcare Providers

I made a rainbow by Dereon age 3

The Hand Holders
A Tribute to Childcare Providers

There is no job more important than ours,
no job anywhere else in the land.
We are the keepers of the future;
we hold the smallest hands.
Into our care we are trusted
to nurture and care for the young,
and for all of our everyday heroics,
our talents and skills go unsung.
We wipe tears from the eyes of the injured.
We rock babies brand new in our arms.
We encourage the shy and unsure child.
We make sure they are safe from all harm.
We foster the bonds of friendships,
letting no child go away mad.
We respect and we honor their emotions.
We give hugs to each child when they’re sad.
We have more impact than does a professor,
a child’s mind is molded by four,
so whatever we lay on the table
is whatever that child will explore.
Give each child the tools for adventure,
let them be artists and writers and more;
let them fly in the wind and dance on the stars
and build castles of sand on the shore.
It is true that we don’t make much money
and we don’t get a whole lot of praise,
but when one small child says, “I Love You,”
we’re reminded of how this job pays.
~author unknown

Day Nursery Ft. Harrison staffer enjoys biking to work

Even before she realized that May is National Bike Month, Day Nursery Ft. Harrison Assistant Director Jessica Stewart and her two-year old daughter Ava started biking to work from their Lawrence area home. Jessica says the pair make the 20 minute ride several times a week through neighborhoods and a park.  Today is National Bike to School Day and we salute Jessica for setting a good example for the children in her center.

Day Nursery Federal Center two year olds celebrate Earth Day with special visitors

Day Nursery Federal Center teacher Nina Woodbury is known for going the extra mile to present a hands-on learning opportunity for the two-year olds in her classroom.  Today she didn’t have to travel any further than her driveway at home to find some special visitors for her class. On her way to work, Miss Nina scooped up a handful of earth worms to bring in to celebrate Earth Day today.  While our downtown Federal Center has a beautiful playground, it doesn’t have much dirt on it to explore so Nina imported the visitors. The chatter around the earthworm table has been punctuated with giggles this morning as the children have worked up the courage to touch the worms and marvel at their mobility.  Hope you and your little ones have a chance to dig into the dirt today.  Happy Earth Day!

Post update 11:15 am-Just got this photo emailed to me by Day Nursery Federal Center Director Sarah Parks.  She wanted to share this picture of the worms being released on the grass in front of the Federal Building.  She thought some grownups might be concerned about the worms spending the entire day with two year olds.  Rest assured, the worms have been safety returned back to the earth.

Reggio approach inspires Day Nursery teachers

Day Nursery teacher Matt Miller shares with his peers his reflections of the morning session

Six of our staff members,  Marsha Lindsey (Chief Operating Officer), Shannon Garrity (Ruth A. Lilly Center Director), Sara McHenry (Lilly Center teacher), Jeannette Wrightsman (Lilly Center teacher), Matt Miller (Avon Center teacher) and Shanna Nowosielski (Northwest Center teacher) are in Kentucky today for a professional development opportunity: Building Continuity of Learning through Reggio Approach: Creating Excellence in Education. While we wish we could have sent representatives from every center, we know these six will bring back great information to share with our teachers. The Reggio approach to education isn’t an early childhood method or set curriculum, but rather a deep knowledge in theory and community-constructed values that have been and are continuously being translated into high quality early childhood practices.

Day Nursery Indianapolis Annual Meeting

The Day Nursery Association of Indianapolis held its Annual Meeting October 23, 2012 at the Tabernacle Presbyterian Church on Central Avenue.  During the first half of the meeting, new board members were elected, retiring board members were saluted and community volunteers and donors were honored. The second hour of the board meeting was filled with recognition of Day Nursery staff.  Here’s a recap of the staff who were honored.

Day Nursery Staff honored for 5 Years of Service Sherri Shidler* (Avon), Nichole Blackwell (Avon), Larissa Freeman* (Avon), Rhonda Ostrum (Avon), Vanessa Shenfeld (Avon), Gaye Ireland (Child Care Answers), Amy Cavin (IU Health), Tammia Sanders* (IU Health), Syretta Warren (IU Health), Rhonda Roberts (Lilly), Twannette Harrington* (State) *indicates they are included in this photo

Day Nursery Staff honored for 10 Years of Service Matt Miller* (Avon), Joslyn Hurm-Sullivan* (Child Care Answers), Cathy Johnson* (Admin), Kimberly Townsend* (Fort), Neila Raine (IU Health), Shelly Anderson* (State) *indicates they are pictured in this photo

Day Nursery Chief Operating Officer Marsha Hearn Lindsey was honored for 20 years of service to Day Nursery. She is pictured here with board member Ivan Hoffman.

Congratulations to Day Nursery IU Health Center Office Manager Melinda Memmer who was honored for 25 years of service

These staff members were recognized for 20+ Years of Service: Sally Coombs* (Lilly Center 21 years), Cheryl Knierim* (Avon Center 21 years) Eva Johnson (Northwest Center 24 years), Colleen White* (Avon Center 28 years), Teresa Carter* (Fort Center 31 years), Jesse McCloud (State Center 32 years), Jackie Williams* (Avon Center 32 years), Joyce Martin* (Nurse Practitioner 32 years), and Anita Jones (Lilly Center 38 years) *indicates they are included in this photo

These staff members were recognized for their Educational Achievements:
Shannon Ford, Master of Science – Education (Child Care Answers); Sylvia Harris*, Associate of Science-Early Childhood Education (Child Care Answers); Cassie Miller, Bachelor of Science-Elementary Education (Federal Center); Ana Maria Romero*, CDA (State Center); and Marissa Williams CDA (Northwest Center) *indicates they are pictured in this photo

These staff members were recognized for Staff Promotions: Keah Hilderbrand , Lead Teacher (Avon Center); Tomi Lessaris*, Lead Teacher (IU Health Center); Kia Fears, Lead Teacher (IU Health Center); Marissa Williams, Lead Teacher (Northwest Center); Natalie Wiseman, Lead Teacher (Northwest Center); Asia Carter, Lead Teacher (Lilly Center); Ana Maria Romero*, Lead Teacher (State Center); Ashleigh Smith, Lead Teacher (State Center); Dorresa Thomas, Lead Teacher (State Center); Sylvia Harris*, Administration (Child Care Answers); René Withers*, Coaching Coordinator (Child Care Answers); and Charity Jablonski, Center Director (IU Health Center) *Indicates they are included in this picture

Joslyn Hurm Sullivan was honored for 10 years of service to Day Nursery, most recently with our Child Care Answers program. She arrived after the group picture was taken.

Charity Jablonski was honored at the Day Nursery Annual Meeting for her promotion to Day Nursery IU Health Center Director.

Day Nursery Federal Center staff bid farewell to a great teacher

Miss Amanda with Federal Center Director Sarah Parks and her daughter Selena

Today’s post was submitted by Day Nursery Federal Center Director Sarah Parks

Day Nursery Federal Center staff gathered Friday night to celebrate Amanda Childress, her 10 years of service to Day Nursery, the friendship and memories we share with her, and to wish her well as she starts a new chapter in her life in Alabama.  She was presented with a plaque, as well as a “moving gift” of cash from staff, families at the center now, as well as families whose lives she has touched in the past.  There were hugs, tears, smile, and lots of laughter.  The whole week Ms. Amanda was visited at the center by a host of families–past and present, as well as Senior Management from the main office.  It’s not every day you come across someone so dedicated to her job and to the families that she served, we will miss her more than she knows. Good Luck Amanda, and thank you for everything!

Hey everyone its Ms. Amanda and I cant thank all of you enough for all the love shown to me during my last week and especially my last day. I love you guys and families that allowed me to become a part of your lives and will miss you all more than you will ever know. Thank you for all years of love and laughter. It has been a great journey and I wish all of you nothing but the best.