EDUCARE HISTORY

Educare   evolved  from a  family  that knew how to care for children.

Pauline's   mother   modeled   the  skills   of motivating  children   in  fun.   She is the real heart     of   Educare   even    though  she  is gone from us.   Pauline's father, always   the inventor  and creator, has even  now  at  98 helped  to make the school a happy home for them.   
HEART of EDUCARECECILE M. (Lemrise) SEYMOUR

Joseph,     himself     one    of     eleven, understands the values  of  family  life and is Educare's strong support for  the  children's   "home  away  from home."

In   November,  1983   Joseph   &    Pauline Mikuska opened  Educare's  doors  first  as  a   small   licensed   day   care   home   with eight children.

Later    that    year     the    Pre-School   was certified and  by  1985 a Kindergarten class was   added    to  meet   the   needs  of   the families.

Since   then  many    children   have   had   a positive   start  in    building   not   only  good learning  skills, but,  also strong inner values  and  strengths  to   begin   their  lives  for  the future.

STAFF BACKGROUNDS AND  EXPERIENCE

All   Pre-School  and  Kindergarten  teachers are  certified  as  well as two certified cooks.

Staff  change-over  is   very  low  with  some serving at Educare over 25 yrs.

Staff  dedication and  commitment  is strong and loyal to Educare's Philosophy of helping children reach their potential.

EACHER 

EDUCARE KITCHEN & TEACHER MEETING ROOM

Daily    well-balanced     nutritional    and home-cooked    meals    and    snacks   are served     daily   by   an   experienced    and certified cook.

Monthly    staff    meetings     including Professional Growth    are     held    in     the Teacher     Meeting     Room    as    well   as monthly    mental    health    sessions hosted  by  each  team  of teachers to nourish  staff   family  spirit  and  team spirit. 

LOWER SECTION OF THE TWO & THREE YEAR OLD'S CLASSROOM

Every  classroom  is   self-contained  with its own  teaching,  eating, and  playing areas.     Each    room    has    its    own   washrooms   and   drinking fountains.  This helps to build a sense of home.

THE DREAM OF THE ADULT BEGINS IN THE HEART OF A CHILD!

JOSEPH L. MIKUSKA-OWNER & ADMINISTRATOR

Himself,   a  member   of   a  family  of eleven, Joseph has strong,  dedicated commitment to helping  families  and  their   children grow with  good  family values.

M.A in mathematics  from  DePaul U.

M.A. from  Loyola in Administration & Family Guidance skills.

Experienced   Teacher   as   well as thirty  years   Member  of   Technical Computer    Programming   Staff   at Lucent Technologies.

Self-trained lead harmonica player in his   family  music group sharing  his gift to bring joy to others.

Twenty-seven years being  the "mind' behind the heart  of  Educare  to keep it  financially and physically sound.  

PAULINE T. MIKUSKA-OWNER & DIRECTOR
  

Pauline   was   inspired  at   the  age of    sixteen   to    give   her   life   to  help  children   after  the enlightening experience   of  caring  for  neglected children  in their homes.

Certified   Director  with  an   M.A. in Administration and Family Guidance with a Minor in Music & Art.

Fifty plus yrs.   teaching children  with two of those  years  teaching  English in  Africa   to  high-school  girls  in  a Cameroun jungle boarding school.

Three  years  serving as  Principal  at St.  Mary  Magdalene's    Elementary Parochial School in Joliet, IL.

Twenty-seven  years serving  as  the only Director of Educare.      

 Her first twenty-five years of teaching were  as  a Sister Servant of the Holy Heart of Mary, which order was begun in France during the first world war to care for orphans.

Pauline feels that she is continuing that call by caring for children who today are "economic" orphans of our society!

UPPER SECTION OF THE TWO & THREE YEAR OLD'S CLASSROOM

Only    eight  children   with  one  teacher use  the  two and  three  year  olds'   room.    This   gives each    child    more     personal care,    love    and    one-on-one  teaching  time.

This      room    has    its      own sandbox,   horse  carrousel and  other   materials  more suited to this younger age.