MEET OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
A native Floridian, Patricia Zindler, “ended up” in child care when her own children were young. As a result of wanting to be with her young children daily, Pat owned and directed two different child care centers, one for 20 years in Missouri and another for 4 years in Ocala, FL. Additionally, Pat worked as visiting faculty at Florida State University’s Center for Prevention and Early Intervention Policy with Dr. Mimi Graham whose contributions to building an Infant Mental Health System in Florida are significant. Pat also directed the Picower Quality Child Care Project in Palm Beach County where she made strides in a short time toward improving the quality of care in seven distinctly different child care centers using the High Scope curriculum.
Pat is not a stranger to Orlando Day Nursery because she has served as Secretary to the Board of Directors for the last year and a half. Besides all the years of child care training, Pat holds a Master of Public Administration from the University of Central Florida and a Bachelor of Music Education (K-12) degree from the University of Florida. But none of that education stops her from sitting on the floor with children and staff in order to learn something herself!
STAFF
Orlando Day Nursery exceeds the guidelines required from the State of Florida for staff. Every classroom has at least one CDA credentialed teacher. Currently, staff includes a Director, an Office Manager, an Office Assistant, one Dietician/Cook, a Social Worker, five National CDA full-time teachers, five EQ full-time teachers, 3 aides, and 1 Support Worker/Floater. The child-to-teacher ratio per age group is usually always as follows:
|
Age
|
Ratio
|
Maximum
|
|
One
Year Old
|
6 to one teacher
|
12 children
|
|
Two Years Old
|
8 to one
teacher
|
16 children
|
|
Young Three's
|
8 to one teacher
|
16
children
|
|
Three's & Four's
|
10 to one teacher
|
20 children
|
|
Pre-K
|
10
to one teacher
|
18 children
|