Skip to main content

Toot Toot!

I don't often toot my own horn professionally.  I work really hard to make the child care center I work at amazing for the children, families, and my staff.  I spend a lot of time at home reading about best practice.  I keep going back to school like some sort of glutton for punishment (though this latest adventure came without adding to the student loans so it was much welcomed).

The state of Illinois has recently launched ExceleRate Illinois, a Quality and Improvement Rating System.  Programs strive to earn a circle of quality (licensed, bronze, silver, or gold).  They claim it's not meant to encourage competition, but really?  You've named these circles after medals.  Who wants to be bronze?  I want(ed) gold, baby!  Programs who had participated in the previous program (QRS) or had NAEYC accreditation were grandfathered into ExceleRate with a provisional rating.  We were rocking the Gold provisional rating.

SO...

When the opportunity presented itself, I jumped into the paperwork pile and submitted everything necessary for the new program.  I spent hours assisting my staff with the application process so they could earn their credentials.  I made sure that everyone had the required training hours.  I set a deadline of June 30th (the original date on which the 'provisional' rating was set to expire).  I figured with my upcoming maternity leave, it would be a great way to go out.

Folks, I am going out with a BANG.

Our center was the FIRST in the STATE of Illinois to achieve the full-fledged Gold rating in the new ExceleRate program.  Woot. Woot.  I got a visit from the governor's office (though certainly took note that he himself was not here) and was presented with our framed certificate!  It was such a shock that we were the very first.  I am so excited!  Yesterday they announced that much like the QRS system, ExceleRate will be linked to incentive dollars.  So our little program here will be receiving a one-time bonus and then 15% added to our child care subsidies.  As such a small site (only 33 children), it's important to find these opportunities and run with them.

For more information about the ExceleRate Illinois program, visit their website here.
(They didn't sponsor this post but I figured some of you might like to read more about the new system)

Don't mind me, I'll just be over here, brushing the dirt off my shoulders...

xoxo

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The neighborhood gem

We have lived in our current place for about 2.5 years. Sunday marked the first time EVER that we walked to the neighborhood park and participated in open swim at the pool. I don't know why it took so long... maybe because we're not usually here on the weekends? Not sure. But Sunday was such a gorgeous day that we couldn't resist the urge to be outside but this preggo needed to be cool. I mentioned the pool and called to find out deets (hours, type of swim, fee, etc) and we slipped on our suits & were out the door in no time! We had been working all morning to assemble baby gear and catch up on laundry so we welcomed the break. We spent about an hour soaking up the sun and floating around in the water. We really aren't going anywhere (no more trips to the cabin or Green Bay for me) between now and the baby's arrival so I suspect that if the weather is nice, we'll be more likely to consider the pool.  Hey, it's clean, free, and close to home. Can...
1 comment
Read more

Maternity Pictures

I let out the biggest squeal of joy when I went to get the mail today and found this package waiting for me! Seriously, I've been stalking Bobbi's life and seeing everyone's amazing teasers was making me so much more excited to get our pictures!  I'm so happy to share the amazing work done by Bobbi at The Salty Peanut.  I highly recommend her to all of my Wisconsinite friends, particularly those in the Madison area, though she's willing to travel.  Check out the website here  and let her know that Mrs. Porch sent you her way!  Her work speaks for itself so I won't gush too much...... I seriously cannot pick a favorite.  So I'm not going to.  But you can!  :) Just 19 days until Baby Porch is predicted to arrive!  I'm so happy we got these back before she arrived; it's such a fun way to remember this exciting time in our lives.  And soon, we won't look nearly as well-rested, but we'll have ...
Post a Comment
Read more

when even the doctor feels badly for you

went for the repeat ultrasound yesterday with my heart filled with positive thoughts and feelings just to find out that my uterine lining is WAY too thick to move forward. in fact, dr. b was worried because my uterus and ovaries seem to be having different conversations about where they are in my cycle. blood was drawn and results revealed that i hadn't ovulated and so, my dear friends, i am back on birth control for an undetermined length of time. the short version of this paragraph:  i didn't bleed enough this month so i have to do it again. you know it's rough when even the doctor has that sad look in her eyes and wraps up the appointment with, "I feel so bad for you, it's just one thing after another." that's why i like her, to be honest. let's not sugar coat this process and let's skip the whole "we'll get 'em next time, tiger" pep talk. it sucks. and we're allowed to feel that, my fellow infertility peeps. it's o...
Post a Comment
Read more