Executive Diretor: Christie Howell-Yrios
Office Assistant: Beki Maier

Animal Crackers, Inc. childcare, preschool and afterschool program is a private, non-sectarian, non-profit incorporated organization whose mission is to provide high quality early education for all children and families, through meaningful and purposeful programming. Animal Crackers, Inc. utilizes a child-centered approach to its curriculum, where hands on/active learning is encouraged and supported. Animal Crackers, Inc. was created and is currently overseen by a volunteer Parent Board of Directors. Organized as a “service organization” our agency is a corporation created by statute that does not issue stock. Animal Crackers, Inc. was created with a specific educational purpose and is subject to the general laws governing non-profits. Our agency is a 501 (c) (3) organization with tax exemption status.

Our center’s educational philosophy for children states that the teachers support children’s learning through an educationally and emotionally balanced program where the curriculum components, goals and standards are developmentally appropriate. Our classrooms follow the Creative Curriculum. This type of curriculum provides children with opportunities in a child-centered environment. This particular curriculum assists teachers to implement developmentally appropriate practice. The 5 components of Creative curriculum are:

1. How children learn and develop
2. How the Classroom Environment is set up
3. What children learn (such as literacy, math, science, social studies, the arts and technology)
4. The Teacher's Role
5. The Parent's Role
   

In our Preschool Curriculum, the teachers also infuse kindergarten readiness skills and components called the Early Learning Standards as set forth by the Madison Early Learning Initiative and the Madison Metropolitan School District.

Another aspect of our program that we feel truly exemplifies our dedication to children is our Birth to 3 program and our Preschool Department. Children that start in our program as infants are grouped together according to age. We call this a “pod”. It is our goal that this pod and their immediate caregiver transition together from the infant room to the toddler room and then on to the two year old room. Once the children turn three years, they transition with their peer group in to the Preschool Department where they will have the same Preschool Teacher until they graduate into kindergarten. We know that continuity supports consistency and it is through consistency of care that children and their parents form strong bonds with their teachers.

Parent Board of Directors

Board Member Responsibilities:

• Corporate survival
• Financial viability
• Program success
• Fiduciary Responsibility

Fiduciary: to stand in a special relations of legal trust to others; answerable to the members and government agencies that regulate and monitor nonprofit corporations.

Responsibilities of a Board Member

I. Be committed to Animal Crackers, Inc.
A. Inform yourself about its purpose, structure, policies, budget,history, etc.
B. Visit Animal Crackers, Inc. if you’re not already familiar and periodically revisit.
C. Make the decision that this is an Organization you really want to support.

II. Follow through with your commitment by being responsible.
A. Work to understand your role as a board member.
1. Attend information sessions that outline responsibilities of board members.
2. Ask questions
3. Provide continuity – hang in there “ Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.”
4. Work to be clear about board territory and responsibility vs. staff territory and responsibility.
5. Develop a clear definition in your mind of board membership for you (a mental job description). Write it down and compare it with other members so you know what is expected of you and then pass it onto future board members.

B. Confidentiality!!!
1. Always keep board business within the board!

C. Volunteer to do board tasks that come up and make sure they get completed. Initiate, offer, don’t wait to be asked.

D. Set a goal for yourself as a board member to leave Animal Crackers Inc. at least one step better than when you arrived.
1. Pick a specific task to complete before your term ends
Examples: a. Compile a policy book for future board members
b. Write a concise history of Animal Crackers, Inc.
c. Develop a job description for board members that can be passed on.
d. Chair a committee that provides a major service to Animal Crackers, Inc. – parent education, fundraising, publicity, etc.
E. Consider yourself to be a working board member.

III. Participate constructively in board meetings.
A. Arrive at meetings on time.
B. Come with a positive, cooperative, creative, forward-looking attitude.
C. Consider yourself a meeting facilitator – think creatively
D. Prepare ahead – know policies, read minutes and agenda and bring all needed materials with you.
E. Concisely share thoughts, opinions, and ideas – stick to the subject at hand.
F. Encourage others to speak and listen to other’s thoughts, opinions and ideas.
G. Be willing to work through personality conflicts or minimize them by keeping in mind your commitment to Animal Crackers, Inc.
H. Assist the leader in moving the meeting along, keep order and on track, minimize digressions.
I. Give your uninterrupted time and energy to the meeting time.
1. Avoid communications that disrupt the group – outside phone calls, sarcasm, asides, etc.
J. Keep track of what you agree to do in the meeting and do it.
K. Continually keep in mind the overall purpose of the board – to
support, maintain and improve the ongoing services and smooth functioning of Animal Crackers, Inc.
L. Have a sense that the whole board is more important that any of its parts and Animal Crackers, Inc. is more important than the board.

At the end of your term, if you can answer the questions – “Did I make a positive contribution to Animal Crackers, Inc.?” and “Did I make a difference for Animal Crackers, Inc.?” with a Yes, you’ve been a successful board member!

Biographys:

Christie Howell-Yrios is the Executive Director of the Animal Crackers, Inc Childcare, Preschool and After-school Program. She began working at the center in 1993 and has worked as an After-school Teacher, a Summer Camp Counselor, a Preschool Teacher, the Program Coordinator and the Assistant Director before taking over the Executive Director position in October of 2003.
Christie attended UW Madison for her undergraduate and graduate studies and holds board positions on several different Early Childhood and Educational Board of Directors in Madison.

Beki Maier is the Office Assistant of the Animal Crackers, Inc. Childcare, Preschool and After-school Program.

Back to the top