The emphasis is definitely on the “learning” part of the Tiger Learning Center at the Rockdale Independent School District (RISD.
The center, located on the elementary campus, provides day care for children of RISD employees and others affiliated with the school system.
“We’ve heard a parent say ‘my kid has homework’?” laughed Pam Kaufmann, assistant principal. “Then they come back and share that their children are actually learning during their day care.”
The Tiger Learning Center serves infants to pre-K age and parents must be affiliated with the Rockdale ISD to qualify.
That not only includes teachers but employees in other areas and even children of high school students. “We currently serve four of those,” Kaufmann said.
Parents pay $25 per day.
“One of the big advantages for them is that we follow the school calendar,” Kaufmann said. “We’re always open when school is in session and we’re closed on school holidays.”
AWARDS—The Center came about as the district learned child care was a factor in attracting qualified staffers.
“Rockdale has several fine child care facilities, but availability space in them has been a concern for prospective employees” Kaufmann said. “Through a partnership with Workforce Solutions of Texas, the district developed a plan to open a high-quality early-learning center to provide on-site child care for all district staff.
Over the course of three years, the Tiger Learning Center has become a Texas Rising Star certified Four Star facility.
Texas Rising Star (TRS) is quality based child care rating system of child care providers participating in the Texas Workforce Commissions subsidized child care program.
All of the center’s teachers have attended the 9-month, 120-hour board sponsored Child Development Associate credential class and will receive their CDA next year.
The Center was recently notified of their accreditation from the National Association of Education of Young Children (NAEYC). NAEYC is the largest nonprofit association in the United States representing early childhood education. “The Tiger Learning Center is the only NAEYC accredited child care facility in Milam County,” Kaufmann said.
Last month, the Tiger Learning Center received the Excellence Childhood Education Award from the Workforce Solutions of Central Texas.
Staffers include director Pieda Flores and child care providers Jamie Henderson, Erika Robertson and Emelia Seda.
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