New Beginnings for Bend’s Biggest Preschool
Bend’s largest childcare center has completed an exciting management transition and has a new name, Inspire Early Learning Centers. The organization, also known as Crawmer’s Critterz, Inc., is a non-profit preschool and childcare with two centers in Bend. Inspire is managed by a working board of directors who are striving to provide business transparency and quality early childhood education to our community’s littlest members.
The organization is happy to report that families and staff are excited about where they are headed. Statewide agencies and local resource groups have expressed their interest and desire to see Inspire fulfill its potential as both a high quality childcare program and a community resource.
The management team is working closely with the Oregon Office of Childcare, Department of Human Services and other government bodies to make sure the vision, policies and procedures align with all rules and regulations. Management members are actively creating and rebuilding partnerships throughout the area in order to become a more positive and productive member of Central Oregon’s early childhood education community.
Inspire’s mission has not changed: to provide an inclusive, family friendly community, which is focused on best practices in early learning. The focus on outcomes-based learning will continue, with care provided by outstanding and highly qualified teachers. The president of the board of directors, Joe Bettis, addressed the organization’s future saying, “Our short-term goals include growing enrollment, lowering tuition and increasing teachers’ wages. Our long term goal is to expand this preschool model to other cities and regions where we can make a positive impact for children and families.”
As Inspire Early Learning Centers solidifies their financial footing for the future, they are excited to expand their scholarship program. The intent is to provide high quality childcare regardless of a family’s economic situation and specifically to help families who are in the difficult place of not qualifying for state assistance, yet still unable to afford the cost of childcare.
Both of Inspire’s locations are currently offering enrollment discounts and will continue hiring as enrollment increases. The organization is actively recruiting for board positions.
For more information, to make a donation or if you would like to be directly involved with this exciting 541-330-1437
