Little Sprouts Learning Center continues with improvements; applicants sought to expand

Little Sprouts Learning Center is thriving and growing and with the increasing need for childcare in the Haxtun community, board members and staff continue to progress the Center to better accommodate childcare needs. Improvements happening now include addressing safety concerns and playground updates as well as internal structural work to expand services.

The Little Sprouts Learning Center is led by board members Darcy Garretson, Tana Pope, Meredith Sparks, Sara Huss, Jocelyn Ham, Michelle Gorman and Aaron Michael. Garretson and Pope serve as Co-Chairs of the Board. Julie Brown serves as the Center's Director, a position she took in March 2022.

To better accommodate needs of toddler-aged children, board members and staff are currently making changes to the infant room and licensing to broaden the age of children in that specific room. The goal is to provide more toddler spots for children 12 months and older. As it is now, the Center has only been able to accommodate children 18 months and older because of the lack of staff. Hopes are the changes will allow for more flexibility.

"We are so thankful to the community for their continued support over the past year and it's because of that support that we have been able to keep our doors open to provide this much needed service for Haxtun," said Ham, one of the Center's seven board members. "We are happy to say that we are headed in the right direction, although we still have a lot of work to do."

In addition to monthly income generated from tuition, assistance from grants and fundraising are necessary to sustain the Center, Ham added. Plans are moving forward to apply for several grants in upcoming cycles, but help is needed from grant writers. Ham said that is something Little Sprouts can help compensate for if the right person is willing to help.

Additionally, the Center is again selling pizzas on a weekly basis to continue to raise funds and other fundraisers are in the works. To learn more about fundraising efforts, follow Little Sprouts Learning Center on Facebook.

In late January, the Little Sprouts Learning Center passed a State inspection with no violations. Inspections before that, in January and June of 2022, received similar ratings.

Little Sprouts Learning Center currently has openings for children of all ages. Parents are welcome to tour the Center to ensure a perfect fit for children prior to enrollment. In addition, the Center is hiring teachers, teachers' aides and substitutes.

Rebecca Owens, Lead Preschool Teacher, is currently pursing higher education to become more qualified in early childhood education as are other members of the Little Sprouts Learning Center. The Board of Directors is prioritizing the advancement of staff and their education.

"We are working towards offering internships and incentives for staff to pursue higher certifications," Ham said.

For more information on openings, staff openings or fundraising efforts at the Center, contact Brown at (970) 774-5437 or contact any Little Sprouts Learning Center board member.