Every month, the Administrative/Professional (A/P) Council highlights an A/P staff member through a series of questions as another way for the Illinois State University community to connect. This month, readers can get to know the Director of the Illinois State University Child Care Center, Carrie Carlson.
Job title/position
Director, ISU Child Care Center, and I’m also a faculty member in the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences.
Job duties
I oversee the entire childcare program to ensure we are meeting our goals to provide high-quality learning and developmentally appropriate practice with the children, families, and college students. This includes tasks such as hiring staff, staff development, and leadership of professional teaching staff as well as student employees and practicum students. In addition, I oversee the budget, maintain the staff schedule, pay the bills and invoices, work on strategic planning, and ensure that we are providing safe indoor and outdoor equipment and supplies. I also work to enroll all of our children, including building good relationships with families from the start and then maintaining good communication and relationships throughout their time in our program.
The Child Care Center is licensed by DCFS, accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), and rated as a Gold-level of quality center in the state’s ExcleRate Illinois quality rating and improvement system. This means I guarantee we are compliant with all of our regulatory bodies such as DCFS and ExceleRate Illinois, along with agencies such as the McLean County Health Department and the State Fire Marshall. Working with all of those agencies means we are implementing and practicing policies and procedures that meet food, health, safety, and sanitation practices every day. I plan our snack and lunch menus with the goal of offering children a variety of foods throughout each month. I also teach one FCS course each semester, mainly Development and Guidance of Preschool Children or Organization and Administration of Early Childhood Programs.
How long have you been an employee at ISU?
I just started my 10th year at ISU.
What do you love most about working at ISU?
ISU has been a part of my life since I was born. My parents were students at ISU when they started our family. I watched my dad work hard to finish school when we were young. He worked in many positions throughout campus and retired from ISU after a 30-year career. His dedication to ISU and the relationships he built on campus persuaded me to pursue my college career at ISU. As an alum of ISU and FCS, my goal was always to seek employment here. ISU feels like a second home to me. I love that there are still people on campus that knew my dad and that I can also make connections with. Overall, I really enjoy the people I work with and the feeling that I’m helping to make a difference for children and families, every day. I also love working with our college students who want to work with children and families. Modeling best practices for them to take into their future careers feels very important to me.
What is one fact about yourself that might surprise people?
I think most people know I’m quiet, which is true. What people may be surprised with is that I’m actually pretty talkative and funny, when in the right setting! My humor comes out in the quietest moments, which often takes people off guard!
When you’re not working, what are you most likely doing?
Spending time with my family, or I’m at the beach if I’m on vacation. The ocean is a giant aquarium. I love finding shells and sea life. Nothing beats a manatee or dolphin swimming within twenty feet of you while you are in the water!
What is your favorite spot on campus?
The Child Care Center playground. It’s so peaceful, even with 20 kids playing on it. It’s really a great place to be and just relax. You can’t find many treehouses like what is on our playground. I also love the Quad and all the beauty it offers through the seasons.
What quote most inspires you? Why?
Honestly, I don’t have one quote. I think depending on my mood or what is going on at the moment, different quotes resonate with me. One quote that always gets me is, “You’ve always had the power, my dear, you just had to learn it for yourself,” by Glinda, the “Good” Witch—The Wizard of Oz. I have always loved The Wizard of Oz movie. I also think this inspires me because I’m my own worst critic. When I’m feeling like I’m defeated or unsure of myself, I have to remember that I do have the courage and power to do the difficult things and persevere. I only need to believe in myself to accomplish those things that feel out of reach. I think helping others find that courage in themselves, too, is a quality that I have.
