The "Manhattan Optimist Club Bulletin" Vol. 2025 #44 8-27-25
VOLUME 2025 AUGUST 27 NUMBER 44
First Vice President Kelly Karl welcomed the membership and guests and the flag salute followed. Bruce McMillan presented a reflection.
Bruce McMillan introduced Bronwyn Fees, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and a professor in the Department of Applied Human Sciences at Kansas State University. She spoke on the Kansas Child Care Training Opportunities Inc. (KCCTO) which has been serving child care providers in Kansas with professional development training. She is the principal investigator for the grant funding the program. Patty Peschel, who could not attend, is the Executive Director and handles the day to day operations.
KCCTO is a sponsored project of the College of Health and Human Sciences, created by the faculty and extension personnel in 1986, and has been serving child care providers in Kansas. KCCTO is a 501 C(3) status non-profit organization governed by a board of directors which gives assistance to child care care providers to ensure high-quality early education and care through professional development and support for those who work with, and on behalf of, young children. Child care providers can't leave their homes and centers to come to support professionals; the support needs to come to them. This organization was designed to accommodate practitioners by operating similar to agriculture extension services. All of the employees are subcontracted through KSU and are employees of KSU. It is a competitive grant, funded by federal Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) dollars through Kansas Department for Children and Families (DCF). The grant is administered out of Kedzie Hall on the KSU campus and staff are in locations across Kansas like extension.
KCCTO offers non-credit bearing, clock hour coursework with over 300 courses that last two to four clock hours and the hours are considered towards their professional development and do not provide college credit. The hours accumulate to allow growth in levels of licensure. Other courses within the College of Health and Human Sciences offer college credit to students. The KCCTO courses are aligned with the Kansas Early Childhood Core Competencies which provide a framework for early childhood professionals by outlining essential skills and knowledge necessary for effective practice in early childhood education. These are the same competencies used at all levels of early childhood education and professional development across Kansas.
KCCTO is engaged directly in the community with early childhood care and educational professionals throughout the State. They listen to the needs of the practitioners and bring that information back to develop coursework, training, and experiences to further develop early childhood educators' expertise.
KCCTO is a child centered organization and they put the child first to provide the best professional development for the early childhood educators to ensure they have the most up-to-date information and they have the skills that will help them be successful in helping the children in their care to be well rounded citizens. Early childhood education has a high rate of turnover, thus it is important to offer a wide range of training opportunities.
- In 2024 they trained 13,762 unique professionals enrolled in trainings in 37,480 enrollments for a total of 8,900 clock hours serving all 105 counties in Kansas.
- They provided technical assistance to 3,312 child care professionals by giving coaching advice to 1,754 providers and consultation to 1,558 providers.
- The Infant-toddler Specialist Network serves 78% of Kansas Counties and assistance is provided via on-site services (62.7%), virtual services (25.8%), and phone services (6.5%).
As the professional development points accumulate, the professional child care provider can assume increased duties in licensed child care centers.
KCCTO has also been tasked with creating a pathway to licensure for both credit coursework and professional development credits to achieve licensure. There are nine professional achievement levels which are comprised of 1)formal education, 2) ECCE professional learning, 3)certifications and credentials endorsements and professional licenses plus, 4) experience.
- Points towards the levels are determined in each of the four areas.
- Points are calculated as “moment in time,” not a designated date.
- Points are cumulative in both ECCE professional learning and credentials, endorsements, and licenses components.
- Points in the education and experience components are determined at the highest level achieved.
- Professional Achievement level is determined by the total of the four components.
Kansas, through KCCTO, has created a registry of child care providers in order to identify and assist them in providing early childhood education. KSU also assisted in creating a data base for recording and keeping records for childcare providers' professional development.
In 2023 the Kansas Early Childhood Care and Education Workforce study had 5,623 surveys completed from across the state and thirty-nine focus groups were conducted. It was one of the best, if not the best return of surveys in the nation. The results were used to help inform the legislators in the last session about what early childhood education professionals earned, what they thought of the regulation process, what kind of professional development and support they want, how they want it delivered, and what benefits they receive or do not receive. This data helps policy makers and decision makers understand early childhood education and its challenges and rewards.
She thanked the Optimist for having her share early childhood education information.
GUESTS: Jerry Banaka introduced Tom Schmitz, former principal of Manhattan Catholic Schools, who has recently moved here from Hiawatha, Kansas.
CLUB STUFF/ANNOUNCEMENTS AND UPCOMING EVENTS:
The Optimist club will park cars at Central National Bank for the August 30th KSU football game that starts at 6:00 pm.
The Fall Social will be at Optimist Park September 21st at 5:00pm.
The new Optimist Board will be installed October 1st.
Bill Wisdom announced the Chili Crawl is October 18th 3:30 to 6:30. Twelve competitors are participating this year. Volunteer signup will begin soon.
KSU Home volleyball match, Friday, September 5th at noon. Several are interested, for more information, contact Ashley Urban, Jim Blanton or Jerry Banaka.
Meeting adjourned with the Optimist Creed.
SAVE THE DATE: Fall Social, September 21st and Chili Crawl, October 18th 3:30 to 6:30
SEPTEMBER 3 - MORNING MEETING: Program: Garrett Seuser, Avocational Archaeologist, Teacher: Topic: “Metal Detecting History”
SEPTEMBER 10 – NOON MEETING: Program: Kendra Kuhlman, Executive Director, Manhattan Arts Center: Topic: “MAC Activities”
SEPTEMBER 17 – MORNING MEETING: Program: Larry Hoobler, Owner Operator, Triple T Farms: Topic: “Farming in Kansas & America Today”
SEPTEMBER 24 – NOON MEETING: Program: Greg McCune, Outgoing President: Topic: “Farewell Address”
