Founded in August, 1974, the Green Acres Baptist Church Early Education Center (GABC EEC) is governed by a church-appointed committee and administered by the director who reports to the Children's Minister. It is operated as a non-profit educational ministry to the children in our community. Curriculum is primarily based on the WEE LEARN series published by LifeWay in Nashville, TN.

Our teachers are an experienced, Christian staff dedicated to providing children with a creative approach to learning about God's world.

903-525-1104 Office
903-525-1180 FAX
leigh@mail.gabc.org

Is there a cost reduction if there is a second child attending?

There are no discounts or reduced fees for multiple enrollments from one family.

Making a Payment

We are always happy to look up your balance in the EEC office. Payment should be made by check. We do not have change in the EEC office. Tuition is billed weekly for full-time enrollment. Part-time classes are billed monthly.

Planned Closings

The EEC is closed on New Year's Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, July 4th, the 2nd Friday in August (teacher training), Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and the following Friday, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and the day after Christmas. Please listen to local radio and television stations for announcements concerning closings for emergencies and bad weather. You may also call the school for updates about closings on voice mail 903-525-1104 or check the GABC home page.

Parent Expectations

Before the beginning of the fall semester, there is a required Parent Orientation meeting. We want to be a partner with the parents and encourage good communication with your child's teachers. Conferences can be scheduled as needed. Parents are encouraged to be actively involved. We can always use volunteers to help with parties, field trips and enrichment activities.

Medication

EEC teachers may not administer any medication to a child. All medications must be given by the parents or a designated person other than EEC staff. (Exceptions to the rule: medicine for ADD, ADHD, breathing treatments, external medication such as ear drops, eye drops, medication for diaper rash and teething.) All teachers are trained in Pediatric First Aid and CPR.

Pick-Ups & Drop-Offs

Parents are required to walk the child to the room. Each child must be signed in or out upon arrival or departure. The EEC has a security system in place. Entrance is through only one door and everyone entering the building is identified. All other entrances to the church are locked during the week.

Teacher Training

Our teachers receive a minimum of 18 hours of training/enrichment each year. Our teachers attend the regional or state Texas Baptist Church Weekday Education Association conferences each year. The EEC's Curriculum Coordinator, who is an Early Childhood Specialist, facilitates in the planning and implementing of all center curriculum.

School Age Children

We pick up after school at three elementary schools in Tyler; Andy Woods, Clarkston, and Rice. We also provide full day accommodations during teacher workdays and holidays. During the summer months, we have a full calendar of field trips and activities to make the summer at Green Acres a fun place to be! Our school age children attend Vacation Bible School and 1 week of camp at the Green Acres Lake Property.

Picky Eaters

Lunches are included in tuition, with menus provided each month. Milk is served with all lunches. If you prefer to send a sack lunch, there will be no reduction in tuition. Please do not send peanut butter products, candy or drinks in the sack lunches. Lunches must be left at the front desk, so they can be refrigerated until lunchtime.

Clothing

Please send your child to school in "play clothes." Many of our fun activities are messy! Every child needs to keep a complete change of clothes at school. Accidents do happen! Closed toe and heel shoes with rubber soles are required. Tennis shoes are preferred for safety in climbing. We go out every day that the weather permits. Our highest and lowest temperatures for going outside are 40 and 100 degrees.

Parties & Invitations

You are welcome to celebrate your child's birthday with us. Please let the teacher know ahead of time so that she can cancel snack and make time in the schedule. Invitations to birthday parties that will be held away from the center will only be distributed if there is one for each child in the class. This spares hurt feelings.

Illness

Parents will be called if signs of illness occur during the day. A child will be sent home if there is a temperature of 100.4 with other symptoms, two incidents of diarrhea, vomiting, or if they cannot participate comfortably in class activities. A child may return to school 24 hours after he/she is free of temperature or symptoms, or with a doctor's release.

Teacher-Child Ratios

The EEC operates under the guidelines of the Texas Departments of Family & Protective Services and maintains child/staff ratios falling well within the ranges of the Minimum Standards for the State of Texas.

AGE	TEACHERS	CHILDREN	AIDES
0-11 months	2	9
12-17 months	2	10
18-23 months	2	11
2 years	2	12
3 years	2	16
4 years	2	18
Kindergarten	1	18	1

Leadership Staff

Leigh Evans, Weekday Director

leigh@mail.gabc.org
Leigh holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Hardin-Simmons in Abilene, Texas and an Early Childhood Certification from Texas Tech University in Lubbock. She has served as the GABC Early Education Director since late 1994. Leigh has nine years experience as a Kindergarten teacher, four of these were spent at Green Acres. She has also served in home child care, and as a preschool director for Taylor-Carden School of Tyler and as a Division Director of 2-and 3-year-olds at GABC for nine years and serves as the Department Director for 4-year-old Sunday School.

Joan Riddle, Curriculum Coordinator

joan@mail.gabc.org
Joan holds an undergraduate degree in Elementary Education from East Texas Baptist University in Marshall, Texas and a Master's degree in Early Childhood Education from the University of Texas at Tyler. She has teaching experience in the Texas public school system and has been on staff at GABC since 1976, serving as Curriculum Coordinator since 1980. Joan is a GABC member who has many years experience as at preschool Sunday School teacher. She is an active Celebration Choir member.

Nancy Elliott, Assistant Director

nancy@mail.gabc.org
Nancy is currently involved in undergraduate work at Navarro College and the University of Texas at Tyler. She has been on staff at the EEC since 1980 and has worked in every age group since then. She served as the EEC Bookkeeper and afternoon supervisor and has held the assistant director position since 1995.