A staff that lovingly, consistently, and creatively supports children’s natural desire to learn is the most valuable asset of our Learning Center.  Our teachers go through a pre-service training and a thorough orientation that cover all aspects of children’s development.  By providing nourishment, bodily care, rest, movement and safety the teachers will meet the student’s physical needs; by providing security and companionship the teachers will meet the student’s social and emotional needs; by providing opportunities to make choices, explore interesting materials, and try out a range of challenging experiences; by listening and paying careful attention to the students attempts to communicate their desires, by responding to these attempts, and by conversing with the students even when they’re too little to respond their sociolinguistic needs will be met. Our teachers are also required to attend at least 15 hours of ongoing annual trainings. (Research has shown that teachers who are better trained are better to prevent, recognize, and correct health and safety problems according to the Department of Family and Protective Services.) Teachers in the infant room are required to use disposable booties in order to provide a cleaner floor for our children who are in the crawling stage.