About the NCMC Early Learning Center
About the Early Learning Center
The NCMC Early Learning Center (ELC) is a cornerstone of the Child Care Initiative (CCI) Phase II, representing an innovative step toward creating a sustainable and community-centered child care system in Emmet County, Michigan. This center operates under a true cost business model, ensuring the delivery of high-quality care while maintaining a living wage scale and benefits for its dedicated staff.
As part of CCI Phase 2, the Early Learning Center is a research hub exploring effective practices and strategies for building a viable local child care system. By focusing on community needs and sustainability, the CCI team is leading efforts to develop a model that supports families and strengthens the local economy.
To learn more about the Child Care Initiative and its mission, visit the Child Care Initiative webpage.
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Anne Thornton
Role: ELC Program Director
Alma mater(s): Bachelors in Family Community Services, Early Childhood Education from Michigan State University and Masters of Educational Policy and Administration through the Buell Fellowship program from the University of Denver
Research interests: Outdoor and nature based education, brain development in the early childhood years, transformational and servant leadership, and workforce development for educators.
Something I love about working in Early Childhood Education: Witnessing the incredible growth that happens in the early childhood years; we get to watch personalities being built!
Personal Interests: Spending time on the Great Lakes, snowboarding, hiking, mountain biking and chasing my three kids while they do all of the above.
Angie Moulton
Role: ELC Lead teacher
Alma mater(s): Associates in Early Childhood Education from North Central Michigan College and currently working on a Bachelors in Teaching Early Childhood Birth-K and Early Childhood Special Education from Central Michigan University
Research interests: Child development, emergent curriculum and learning experiences, and methods of individualizing to meet the needs of all students.
Something I love about working in Early Childhood Education: Partnering with families to provide an individualized, successful experience for every student
Personal Interests: Bird watching, hikes and beach walks, sewing, reading, baking, playing card games, and letter-writing with pen pals from many countries.
Sophia Henry
Role: Associate Teacher
Alma mater: Associate in Early Childhood Education from North Central Michigan College
Research interests: Working with a variety of children to help expand my teaching skills so that I can help support children of all backgrounds.
Something I love about working in Early Childhood Education: I love seeing how creative kids can be, especially when you set up an environment they can freely explore.
Personal Interests: Tabletop role-playing games (TTRPGs) like DND, needle felting, drawing, crafting, swimming at the beach, playing in the snow, and spending time with my friends.
Kate Haubein
Role: Associate Teacher
Alma Mater: Bachelors in Early Childhood Education from Missouri State University
Research Interests: Social and Emotional Development and Play-Based Learning.
Something I love about working in early childhood education: Every day is different and every child is different. Being able to watch the growth and excitement in a child’s learning is really fulfilling.
Personal Interests: Arts and crafts, diy home projects, cooking and baking, shore/beach visits, thrifting and up-cycling, puzzling and being a dog mom.
The ELC is a licensed center in Michigan. In Michigan, child care centers are regulated by the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA). They provide comprehensive guidelines and rules for child care centers to ensure the safety and well-being of children. These rules cover various aspects such as staff qualifications, health and safety requirements, and facility standards. They partner with other State entities such as the Bureau of Fire Safety and Environmental Health. ELC Staff will complete training on Licensing through the onboarding process and ALL staff are responsible for complying with Licensing Rules. A complete set of licensing rules and regulations can be found on the LARA website.
All child care centers must maintain licensing records, including inspection reports, special investigation reports, and all related corrective action plans (CAPs). The notebook must include all reports issued and CAPs developed on and after May 27, 2010, until the license is closed. The NCMC ELC record is available online. Reports for at least the last three years can be accessed on the State of Michigan Child Care Licensing website. If you need support accessing reports or have questions, please contact the Program Director. The following links are helpful reminders and guidelines for common licensing rules:
- MI Kids Matter has additional resources for families, such as current infant and child product recalls, assistance programs, and information on child development.
- The ELC participates in the Great Start to Quality (GSQ) Improvement Process. Throughout this process, the ELC works with GSQ staff to reflect on their practices and is connected with resources, guidance, and coaching. Following the process below helps programs create goals for improvement and ensures the highest-quality care for the children and families they serve.
High-quality early care and education build children's foundational skills to thrive in school and life. Children in a high-quality program have a safe space to grow and learn. They can explore the world around them, build relationships with trusted, caring adults, feel accepted, and gain confidence to become active learners. This is especially important when 90% of brain development happens in the early years of life. A high-quality learning environment sets children up for success in school, improves health, and increases earning outcomes over their lifetimes. It matters now and for their future.
In addition, the ELC will work toward accreditation through the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), which examines a wide range of best practices for early childhood programs.
The ELC staff and program are members of additional local, state, and national organizations, including the Michigan Association for the Education of Young Children (MiAEYC), the National Coalition for Campus Children's Centers (N4C), and the North American Reggio Emilia Alliance (NAREA).