by Victoria Howell
Sometimes really bad stuff happens and when it does, all you can do is try to learn from the experience and do what you can to prevent it from ever happening again. Sapphire Early Learning Center (SELC) in Stevensville is doing just that.
SELC is a non-profit childcare facility licensed to care for children ages 0-12. The center is located at 216 College, adjacent to the United Methodist Church; however, the two entities, although affiliated, are run independently from one another, and SELC is not a “church” daycare.
Sapphire Early Learning Center in Stevensville, adjacent to the United Methodist Church at 216 College Street. Photo by Victoria Howell.
The facility is governed by a board of directors. One of the board members, Jaime Devlin, has been running the daycare center for the last couple of months, following a serious incident which resulted in felony assault charges being filed against an employee after he allegedly mishandled one of the children. Devlin, a local business owner whose daughter attends SELC, stepped up to make sure the daycare continued running without interruption while changes were made to the daycare’s administration and operation.
“I put my other business obligations on hold for over two months to take over as director until we could find the right person,” said Devlin, who is still working at SELC part-time.
The board was “proactive” following the incident, according to Devlin. They sought help from Edie McLean, state licenser, who helped them with everything as they replaced staff and made improvements.
Left to right: Julie Ludington, SELC board member; Jaime Devlin, SELC board member and interim director; Kelsey Mayhan, new SELC director, and Alyssa Fusco, professional development specialist with SPARK. Photo by Victoria Howell.
“She was just incredibly helpful and supportive in every way,” said Devlin.
Now the board has hired a new director and is ready to tell the community about the opportunities available at SELC.
“We’re moving forward, learning from what we were and becoming better,” says board member Julie Ludington. “Our management is more intentional.”
SELC has hired Kelsey Mayhan as director. Mayhan is an experienced educator, having taught middle school for eight years. She’s now boning up on the administrative side of things, working with Alyssa Fusco who provides free support for childcare providers through a state-funded program called SPARK. Fusco is helping Mayhan get up to speed on areas such as licensing requirements, handling student and staff files, and billing software. Mayhan is also working with Jason Nitschke of Montana Zero to Five, which provides free business support, such as best practices and budgeting training.
Mayhan has also applied for SELC to be part of an infant and early childhood mental health consultation program, and for staff training to help elevate the environment so it’s engaging for every developmental level.
“The importance of that,” says Devlin, “is that this isn’t just a daycare.”
The facility space is divided by age groups, with a teacher and assistant teacher in each room, all certified by the state. All staff members have up-to-date CPR and first aid training. All workers, even volunteers, are federally background checked and fingerprinted. SELC also has a video surveillance system in place, which parents are free to look at.
A bright and colorful classroom space at Sapphire Early Learning Center. Photo by Victoria Howell.
SELC is the only licensed early education center in the north valley.
According to Devlin, SELC’s tuition is comparable to other childcare providers in the area. For example, infant to 2-years-old is $275 per week; 3-years-old and up is $250 per week. That includes breakfast, lunch and snacks, as well as diapers, wipes and formula. They offer free pick-up from school. They take children on the holidays when schools are closed, and also on Fridays when four-day schools aren’t open. Hours are 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., with plans to expand to 6 p.m. State-funded scholarships are available for families that qualify.
“Our cost is comparable, but we provide so many added benefits,” says Devlin, mentioning speech therapy and occupational therapy – such as how to wipe after using the bathroom – as examples. A lot of emphasis is placed on kindergarten-readiness and collaboration between teachers of the various age groups.
“Our mission, in a nutshell,” says Devlin, “is to provide a safe and nurturing environment for children, and to be a community resource.”
Good words to live by on a sign in a classroom at Sapphire Early Learning Center. Photo by Victoria Howell.
SELC gets a lot of help from volunteers. Volunteers do all the maintenance. Volunteers recently built planter boxes so the children can grow vegetables. Volunteers also recently installed a new playground structure, and provide storytelling and music sessions with the kids.
“It feels positive and inviting to be here,” says Mayhan, whose two-year-old daughter attends SELC. “I really care about this place. I believe in the future of our facility.”
Mayhan said that, although she’s currently putting in a lot of time setting up the necessary business systems, her ultimate goal is to “spend time in the classrooms, training teachers, and building curriculum.” She’s also creating a part-time position for an assistant director, to do some of the staff management and office work.
“It’s just a pretty exciting time here, for sure,” said Mayhan.
Currently, there are about 30 children attending SELC, which is about half the capacity. Enrollment is open now for full-time child care, the summer program, and after-school care. For more information, call 406-625-2660 or visit www.sapphireearlylearningcenter.com.
“We have amazing children here, and the parents have been so supportive,” said Devlin.
According to Mayhan, not one family left following the aforementioned incident.
“Sometimes it takes a bad thing to make something good happen,” said Devlin.
“This has all meshed nicely,” said Ludington. “We didn’t have to kiss a bunch of frogs first. I’m excited for what we’ve begun building. I’ve been on this board from the beginning. It just feels different now. What I feel now is so positive and bright.”