The experience and professionalism of RCC's staff sets us apart from other child care programs. Each classroom is led by a degreed teacher and support staff, which may include assistant teachers and aides. Our direct care staff members have on average eight years experience working in early childhood or child development programs.
Our extremely low staff turnover rate-typically less than 5%, compared to industry averages of 31 to 50%-is key to our providing consistent and reliable care. In 1997, RCC embarked upon a program to upgrade staff wages to "living wage" levels, recognizing the critical role consistent staff members play in the success of our children.
Staff members enhance their skills through annual staff training and professional development. As a matter of fact, RCC staff strives to attain 24 hours of specialized early childhood training each year. All staff members have first aid training, and many are certified in CPR. In 2001, RCC was honored to receive a professional development funding from an anonymous source that allowed teachers and assistant teachers to further their skills and knowledge about early child development and appropriate programs by participating in national conferences.
Family - Staff Interactions
Families are welcome to visit RCC anytime, with or without advance notice. Many of our classrooms offer discreet viewing windows so that you may observe your child unobtrusively.
Most classrooms have information boards summarizing key accomplishments of the day, to give you an overview of what the class is doing. For individual updates, you are welcome to speak briefly with teachers while dropping off or picking up your child; call during rest time (1:30 p.m. and 3 p.m.); or schedule a one-on-one conference at your convenience.
Teachers will provide you with a comprehensive written assessment of your child's development and progress in the classroom. RCC uses the High/Scope Child Observation Record as a guide to observe skills that your child is emerging, developing and mastering. Parent-teacher conferences are then held to discuss these reports that summarize staff members' observations of children's cognitive, social, physical, and emotional development.