Manistee Early Childhood Center
Infant & Toddler Care Program
High-quality, licensed care programming for babies and toddlers, ages 0 – 3. Our licensing process is underway for this new offering, with a target open date of November of 2025. We are currently establishing a wait list for those families interested in this option. There will be fast-track priority given for Tri-Share participants.
This program made possible by a grant from the Manistee County Community Foundation
View Manistee Early Childhood Center Staff
Manistee Early Childhood Center Staff
Andy Huber, Interim Principal, ahuber@manistee.org
Amy Miller, Secretary, amiller@manistee.org
Kindergarten Teachers
Crystal Harthun, charthun@manistee.org
Megan Lowe, mlowe@manistee.org
Cindy Lundberg, clundberg@manistee.org
Allison Veine, aveine@manistee.org
Student Services Teacher
Chastity Gouker, cgouker@manistee.org
Specials
Amanda Feyen, Music, afeyen@manistee.org
Art: TBD
Cassie Miller, Physical Education, cmmiller@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
TBD:
Nicole Anisco, Child Care 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 Chandler, Assistant Teacher, cgibbs@manistee.org
GSRP 2
Renee Turmel, Lead Teacher, rturmel@manistee.org
Nancy Zatarga, Associate Teacher, nzatarga@manistee.org
Ashley Johnson, Associate Teacher, akjohnson@manistee.org
GSRP 3
Lead Teacher: Posted
Rising Mariners (age 4) - 231.398.3754
Sandy Ludwig, Lead Teacher, sludwig@manistee.org
Julie Zajac, Lead Teacher, jzajac@manistee.org
Shyan Mauntler, Assistant, smauntler@manistee.org
MiniMariners (age 3) - 231.398.3754
Sandy Ludwig, Lead Teacher, sludwig@manistee.org
Julie Zajac, Lead Teacher, jzajac@manistee.org
Shyan Mauntler, Assistant, smauntler@manistee.org
Infant Toddler (birth to age 2.9)
Amber Hiipakka, Lead Teacher, ahiipakka@manistee.org
Associate Teacher: TBD
Morning Care Staff - 231.398.3758
Renee Turmel, Lead Teacher, rturmel@manistee.org
Brenda Struble, Associate Teacher, bstruble@manistee.org
Ashley, Johnson, Associate Teacher, akjohnson@manistee.org
After School Care Staff - 231.398.3758
Nicole Anciso, Lead Teacher, nanciso@manistee.org
Natalie Beldo, Lead Teacher, nbeldo@manistee.org
School Custodial Team
Don Froncek, Head Custodian, dfroncek@manistee.org
Johnny Skocelas, Custodian, jskocelas@manistee.org
Nutrition Services
Bonnie Kruse, bkruse@manistee.org
Rich Koon, rkoon@manistee.org
WHO?
Children ages 0-3
WHEN?
Monday – Friday
7:30 – 5:30
COST?
Sliding scale, eligibility based $825 $1,100/month
Required 4 month commitment
Welcome to Infant & Toddler Care
The Manistee Early Childcare Center is excited to introduce our Infant & Toddler Childcare to our offerings. This program will be available late in 2025 at the new childcare center in the former Madison Elementary building.
This program will provide high-quality, licensed care for infants and toddlers in a safe, supportive, and engaging environment. At the heart of our mission is a deep commitment to early childhood development, where every child is treated as an individual and supported with age-appropriate learning, nurturing care, and meaningful connections.
Our qualified staff will provide a warm, enriching atmosphere where your child can grow, explore, and thrive during these critical developmental years. With thoughtfully scaled space, a strong focus on safety and wellness, and a play-based curriculum tailored to each developmental stage, we will help lay a strong foundation for your child’s educational future.
Frequently Asked Questions
How soon will the 0-3 program be offered?
The building is currently being renovated and classroom space designated for the new 0-3 childcare program. In addition to preparing space, we are hiring staff, acquiring furnishings, and doing the work necessary to obtain licensing with the State of Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs. All of this work takes time, but we are hoping to still be able to have this program operational this year. We are currently targeting a November 2025 start date.
If you may be interested in this program now or in the near future, please reach out to us today. A member of our staff will collect your information, share details about the program, and answer any questions you may have.
Please note that anyone participating in the MI Tri-Share program will be receiving priority placement on our waiting list. Click this LINK for more information about MI Tri-Share.
In which school building is the 0-3 program offered?
At the conclusion of the school year, work immediately began at the former Madison Elementary building in Filer Township in preparation for the relocation of the Manistee Early Childhood Center programming from Jefferson Elementary. As the summer has progressed, this work has met some challenges.
Although we would like to be reporting otherwise, we will continue the Manistee Early Childhood Center programming at Jefferson Elementary for the beginning of the 2025/26 school year. Because work at the new location is not yet complete, we believe meeting state licensing requirements for this new facility prior to the beginning of the school year will not be attainable. The Jefferson Elementary facility is currently compliant with licensing requirements; therefore, we can continue offering early childhood services at that building while final preparations are made at our new space.
The delay of this move will keep all preschool and kindergarten students at the Jefferson Elementary building, as well as before and after care services until we are able to finalize the new space and arrange for the move of our classrooms. We are working closely with the construction superintendent to bring this project to completion and to confirm a date for the move. Additional details will be shared as they become available.
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 once it is complete. Renovations are being 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.
