Manistee Early Childhood Center
Daycare Programs
High-quality care programs for students ages 5 -12, before and after school and summer care. Offering year-round options in a safe and welcoming environment.
View Manistee Early Childhood Center Staff
Manistee Early Childhood Center Staff
Andy Huber, Interim Principal, ahuber@manistee.org
Kindergarten Teachers
Crystal Harthun, charthun@manistee.org
Megan Lowe, mlowe@manistee.org
Cindy Lundberg, clundberg@manistee.org
Allison Veine, aveine@manistee.org
Jordan Riley, jriley@manistee.org
Student Services Teacher
Chastity Gouker, cgouker@manistee.org
Specials
Amanda Feyen, Music, afeyen@manistee.org
Cassie Miller, Physical Education, cmmiller@manistee.org
Kaitlyn Duke, Art, kduke@manistee.org
Laura Miller, Health/Wellness, lmiller@manistee.org
Parapros
Tiffany Bottrell, tbottrell@manistee.org
Kaitlyn Duke, kduke@manistee.org
Ashlee Gazda, agazda@manistee.org
Macie Miller, mgoodspeed@manistee.org
Rachel Lindeman, rlindeman@manistee.org
Behavioral Health Team
Stephanie Johnson, Behavioral Specialist, After School Care Assistant
Early Childhood Substitutes
Flynn Anderson, fanderson@manistee.org
Sadie Verheek, sverheek@manistee.org
Nicole Anisco, Manistee Early Childhood Program Director, nanisco@manistee.org
MAPS Great Start Readiness Program Staff - 231-398-3757
GSRP 1
Amy Brown, Lead Teacher, abrown@manistee.org
Brenda Struble, Associate Teacher, bstruble@manistee.org
Courtney Gibbs, Assistant Teacher, cgibbs@manistee.org
GSRP 2
Renee Turmel, Lead Teacher, rturmel@manistee.org
Nancy Zatarga, Associate Teacher, nzatarga@manistee.org
Ashley Johnson, Assistant Teacher, akjohnson@manistee.org
Mini Mariners (age 3-4) - 231.398.3758
Sandy Ludwig, Lead Teacher, sludwig@manistee.org
Julie Zajac, Lead Teacher, jzajac@manistee.org
Natalie Beldo, Assistant, nbeldo@manistee.org
Infant Toddler (birth to age 2.9)
Amber Hiipakka, Lead Teacher, ahiipakka@manistee.org
Associate Teacher: TBD
Morning Care Staff - 231.723.9285
Ashley Johnson, Morning Care Lead, akjohnson@manistee.org
Brenda Struble, Morning Care Lead, bstruble@manistee.org
Breanna Whitmer, Assistant, bwhitmer@manistee.org
Tiffany Bottrell, Assistant, tbottrell@manistee.org
After School Care Staff - 231.723.9285
Nicole Anciso, Lead Teacher, nanciso@manistee.org
Amber Hiipakka, Lead Teacher, ahiipakka@manistee.org
Ashlee Gazda, Assistant, agazda@manistee.org
Katie Henne, After School Care Assistant, khenne@manistee.org
Katilynn McDowell, Associate, kmcdowell@manistee.org
Jordan Riley, Associate, jriley@manistee.org
Donna Williams, Assistant, dwilliams@manistee.org
Summer Care - 231.723.9285
Nicole Anciso, Lead Teacher, nanciso@manistee.org
Amber Hiipakka, Lead Teacher, ahiipakka@manistee.org
Flynn Anderson, Care Associate, fanderson@manistee.org
Ashlee Gazda, Assistant, agazda@manistee.org
Katilynn McDowell, Associate, kmcdowell@manistee.org
Jordan Riley, Associate, jriley@manistee.org
Sadie Verheek, sverheek@manistee.org
School Custodial Team
Johnny Skocelas, Custodian, jskocelas@manistee.org
Nutrition Services
Bonnie Kruse, bkruse@manistee.org
Rich Koon, rkoon@manistee.org
WHO?
Students age 5 – 12
WHEN?
7:00 am to 5:30 pm
COST?
See pricing information below
Welcome to Our Daycare Programs
Our Elementary Daycare Program offers high-quality before school, after school, and summer care for children ages 5-12, providing families with dependable, year-round care in a safe and welcoming environment. More than just childcare, our program is designed to support the whole child. Children engage in meaningful social-emotional learning, build confidence and independence, and develop important life skills through daily interactions, guided activities, and real-world experiences. We focus on helping children learn how to manage emotions, build positive relationships, and grow into capable, respectful, and resilient individuals.
Each day is filled with enriching activities that balance fun and learning, including creative arts and crafts, hands-on projects, group games, movement, and outdoor play. Our experienced staff create an environment where children feel supported, included, and excited to participate. We are open year-round, and meals are included in the daily rate-making life easier for busy families while ensuring children are energized and cared for. This is a place where kids belong, friendships grow, and learning continues beyond the classroom.
MAPS Early Childhood Center FAQs
Where will the MAPS Early Childhood Center be located for the 2026/27 school year?
Preparations are nearly complete at the former Madison Elementary building in Filer Township in preparation for the relocation of the Manistee Early Childhood Center programming from Jefferson Elementary. Our plan is to relocate at the end of the 25/26 school year.
Summer care programming will be held at the new facility beginning in June, and all MECC programming (Pre-K, Kindergarten, Begindergarten, and Day Care) will be located at the new facility for the start of the 26/27 school year.
As always, we extend gratitude to our staff for their dedication to our early childhood programs and their support and flexibility as we transition to this new space and grow the services we offer to our community.
We are excited to share the new space with you. Renovations have been made to classrooms, playgrounds, and other amenities to provide space scaled for our youngest learners. We feel this configuration will welcome our newest Mariners and their families to the MAPS district, serving as an easily accessible and very friendly start to their learning experience.
Enrollment & Contact
Ready to Learn More?
We would love to welcome your family into our learning community.
Email: earlychildhood@manistee.
Call: (231) 723-9285, ext. 3313
Location: Manistee Early Childhood Center, 515 Bryant Ave, Manistee, MI 49660