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Departmental Spotlight:

As part of a regular feature, one department in Student Affairs will be in the spotlight each month. This month we spotlight the Children’s Creative Learning Center at Modesto A. Maidique Campus.

Mission Statement
The Children’s Center at FIU seeks to offer an opportunity for optimal growth and development for each child by providing a socio-emotional based early care and education program including communication, expression of feelings, decision making and critical thinking experiences.  A welcoming, secure, diverse and multi-cultural environment is offered to each family while serving as a demonstration and research site for departments of the University and programs in the community.   Each family is given the opportunity to build a partnership with the staff on behalf of their child.

Program Highlights
The Children’s Center supports access, enrollment and retention of University students on     the Modesto Maidique Campus by offering a safe, secure, and affordable nationally accredited pre-school, VPK, and Kindergarten program. Student parents, with children 2 ½ to 5 years of age are better able to enroll and stay in school with the availability of the Children’s Center full-day program. The Center also offers students on-campus employment opportunities as well as hands-on classroom experience in the field of early childhood education. 

Children of staff, faculty, alumni and the surrounding communities are also included in the composition of the Center’s enrollment. The diverse population allows the Center to maintain a balanced environment; ratios of age, gender, ethnicity and racial diversity for research purposes. The Children’s Center often serves as a demonstration site for departments of the University and programs in the county, i.e.: observation, presentations, special programs, training and research.

Staff
Director:  Nancy J. Ponn
Associate Director:  Libby A. Kirsch
Assistant Director:  Janice Lopez
Coordinator Administrative Services:  Silvia Valdes
Coordinator Student Affairs:  Rosa Arce and Ann Marie Ojeda
OPS Student Office Assistants:   Vanessa Fernandez and Francia Lopez
OPS Student Teacher Aides:  Cesar Azuaje, Jamie Baltra, Rebecca Bello, Sofia Calvo,
Maria Carla Esperon, Andrea Jordan, Guadalupe Juarez, Dilia Kalaf, Victoria Palma,
Katharine Pedyk, Manuela Rodriguez, Rachel Vogle, and Alexandra Wolfe

Location
Children’s Creative Learning Center
CCLC Building
Modesto A. Maidique Campus
11200 SW 8th St. Miami, FL
(305) 348 – 2143
www.fiu.edu~children