Choosing a childcare center that will nurture your child from infancy through preschool may be one of the most important decisions you make. The St. Augustine Child Enrichment Center, rated Gold by Ohio’s Step Up to Quality program, provides a safe, loving and nurturing atmosphere where children can learn, grow and develop. Located on the St. Augustine Health Campus just minutes from downtown Cleveland, the Child Enrichment Center is licensed by the State of Ohio to serve children six weeks to five years old.
Our focus supports school readiness through:
Our not-for-profit philosophy is designed to give children at each stage of development a beginning foundation of success and to promote a love of learning while encouraging self-sufficiency. In an environment that nurtures self-esteem and fosters respect for diversity, our highly trained and caring staff help develop each child to their fullest potential developmentally, physically, emotionally, socially, and cognitively with an emphasis on self-reliance skills. With smaller class sizes and low child-to-teacher ratios, the Child Enrichment Center is able to create a nurturing environment that allows children to be problem-solvers, independent explorers and creative thinkers.
Step Up to Quality Gold Award:
The Ohio Department of Children and Youth has recognized St. Augustine Child Enrichment Center with the prestigious Gold Award under the revised Step Up to Quality rating system. This award reflects the highest level of quality in early childhood education programs, replacing the previous five-star designation.
The Gold Award highlights our commitment to exceeding Ohio’s rigorous standards for early learning and development, which now include enhanced requirements like:
These standards ensure that our program not only meets but surpasses foundational health and safety requirements, fostering an enriching, high-quality environment where children thrive.
Pre4CLE Center of Excellence:
The St. Augustine Child Enrichment Center has been accepted into PRE4CLE, a city-wide initiative to expand access to high quality Pre-K to the children of Cleveland. The Center is one of the first of 90 providers in the Cleveland to be a part of the effort – an early adopter!
Laura H.
Enrollment Coordinator / Receptionist
Laura is our receptionist and enrollment coordinator and has worked at the Child Enrichment Center for 15 years. She holds a bachelor’s in applied behavioral science from Kent State University and has a teenage son who is a 2012 Child Enrichment Center graduate! Laura believes that early learning is important because the lessons that are learned, the habits that are formed and the bonds and connections that are made during a child’s first five years can determine the course of their life.
Kate L.
CEC Director
Kate L. is our CEC Director and holds 8 years of teaching experience. She is a graduate of John Carroll University with a B.A. in Economics and Spanish, M.Ed in Education and loves all the little magical moments that come along with working in early education. “I love the happiness, innocence, and silliness of young kids – it is a privilege of being a caretakers for them in the formative years.” When asked what Kate enjoys most about this field, she said, “the most rewarding aspect of working in Early Childhood Education is receiving the love, hugs, and smiles from the kids every day. Seeing them happy and healthy makes all the hard work worth it!”Jen D.
Infant I Teacher
Miss Jen is one of our infant teachers and she can be described as kindhearted, friendly, and hardworking. Miss Jen considers herself a nurturing person by nature and has always had a passion for teaching. “It is such an amazing feeling knowing that I play a role in children being loved, cared for, and growing a healthy body and mind,” Miss Jen shares. She also enjoys seeing each child develop in their own unique way.
Mary J.
Infant II Teacher
Having been in the child care field for 29 years, Mary has been part of the Child Enrichment Center family for over 16 of those years. She has two grown daughters and is our Infant II teacher. Watching the babies reach their major milestones like learning how to walk and talk and seeing the smiles on their faces when they come in to the Center in the morning are among her favorite parts of being a teacher. An important skill infants learn in Mary’s classroom is using spoons when feeding. This skill is the beginning of the Infant II babies’ journey to independence, as well as an aid in developing their fine motor skills.
Maddie P.
Preschool Teacher
Maddie recently graduated from John Carrol University with a bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science. She has a passion for children, helping them to learn and grow. “I am excited for all that is ahead at the St. Augustine Child Enrichment Center!”
Kathy M.
Preschool Teacher
A veteran of 32 years in the child care field, Miss Kathy has been a member of the CEC family for over 8 years. She is a graduate of Cuyahoga Community College with a degree in early childhood education and mom to her adult son. Kathy says that the most important thing kids learn from being in her classroom is independence and self-help skills. “I try to help them gain these skills by allowing the kids time, trial and error, and opportunities to think abou tother ways to solve problems.”
Meghan M.
Infant I Teacher
Meghan has been an infant I teacher in our Center since 2010 and has three young children of her own. Miss Meghan feels that early learning is important because the early years provide a foundation for all future learning and development. Children can then build and branch out in any direction and learn so much more because they have that steady foundation to refer back to. When asked what the most important thing students learn from being in her classroom is, Meghan says, “That they are safe here, their needs will be met and I am on a team with their parents/caretakers, working together for their success.”
Skylar P.
Toddler Teacher
Skylar is one of our preschool teachers at the Child Enrichment Center. As the oldest child in a large family, she discovered her passion for teaching early on, finding joy in helping children grow and develop their unique personalities. “Helping teach and nurture children is the most rewarding thing a person can experience. It truly is a joy to be part of their lives.” Skylar’s enthusiasm and dedication make her an invaluable part of our team.
Alexis F.
Toddler Teacher
Alexis is one of our toddler teachers at the Child Enrichment Center. She graduated from Bowling Green State University with a degree in criminal justice but had always aspired to be a teacher since she was a little girl. Alexis spent the past four years nannying and working with children, enjoying the little moments with them. “It really is an honor to watch them grow and learn, I feel privileged to work here with such great staff and wonderful kiddos.”
Ellie D.
Float Teacher
It has always been a passion of mine to work with kids, helping them to learn, grow, laugh and play. I love walking in in the morning and the kids all say good morning, Miss Ellie with a big smile on their faces and smother me with hugs! I am excited to watch the kids grow up and show their personalities.
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