Inclusive Early Education - Northland Early Education Center

Age Groups & Classrooms

NEEC has two infant rooms. Each room can have up to eight children with a teacher-child ratio of 1:4.

In the infant classrooms consist of children ages birth to 12 months who remain in the same classroom until transitioning to the toddler room after turning 12 months. Daily routines are initiated by families and maintained by staff throughout the day. For example, teachers will follow the family’s lead for eating table food once initiated within the home environment. At approximately 8 months old, children will be introduced to a school day routine and lessons that is similar to the toddler classrooms. Lead teachers provide monthly lesson plans that reflect the diverse developmental levels of all the children within the classroom and follow Project Construct Curriculum. Infant rooms are shoeless environments where anyone entering the room removes their soiled shoes and enters the room with visibly clean feet, wear shoes that are only used within that room, or cover their shoes with a medical bootie (these are not provided by NEEC).

Paula Morrow – Pink Room Lead Teacher

Paula has worked for NEEC since 1992, all of which has been in the Infant department, though her association with the school began 1 ½ years earlier as a parent when her youngest son began receiving therapy services. She graduated from Kansas City Board of Education Program of Practical Nursing in 1984.

Laurie Scott – Purple Room Lead Teacher

Laurie Scott has worked in early childhood as a lead teacher in various age groups for over 20 years. She started as Lead Teacher in the Purple room in October of 2021. Laurie loves seeing the infants move through their developmental stages of growth.

Laurie and her husband wed in April of 2023, and she enjoys spending time with her family, reading books, watching cooking shows, and going to the movies.

NEEC has two 1 year old-toddler rooms. Each room can have up to eight children with a teacher-child ratio of 1:4.

In the 1-year-old-toddler classrooms consists of children ages 12 to 24 months who remain in the same classroom until the child turns 2-years-old and can transition to the 2-year-old classroom. A daily routine is followed by all the children. Activities include circle time, group work, sensory/math/science, literacy, and lots and lots of social/emotional skill building. Play is the most important activity you will see in this classroom. Lead teachers provide weekly lesson plans that follow Project Construct Curriculum and the many standards set forth by our national accreditations.

Amy Croghan – Red Room Lead Teacher

Amy started working at NEEC in 2006. She has been the lead teacher in the Red room for her entire NEEC career. Amy has her bachelor’s degree in music therapy from the University of Kansas and enjoys incorporating music into lesson plans and daily tasks. She is married and has a handsome son and beautiful daughter who have both attended school at NEEC. She enjoys watching young children absorb all the information around them and the relationships they form at such a young age.

Nina Torres – Yellow Room Lead Teacher

Nina began working at Northland Early Education Center in February of 2020 and loves be a part of this wonderful community. She’s working toward her bachelor’s degree in early childhood education and working with children is her true passion. Nina loves watching and helping them learn, grow, and reach important developmental milestones. This is the most rewarding part of her job! She also married her high school sweetheart and enjoys spending quality time with family and friends.

NEEC has three classrooms that educate two-year-old children. Two-year old children remain in the same classroom until they turn 3-years-old and are able to transition to the pre-kindergarten classroom. Teachers in these rooms always supervise children by sight and sound. These classrooms can have up to 12 children with a 1:6 teacher-child ratio. Potty training is initiated by families and maintained by staff throughout the day. NEEC does not require children to be potty trained before moving up to 3–4-year-old classrooms. Rewards or incentives can be discussed with the classroom lead teacher and should not be food related. The teachers will consider all the children in the classroom when implementing such a system. Praise and personal satisfaction should be tried first. For children enrolled in Missouri’s First Steps Program, local school district testing and a transition meeting will occur approximately 6 months before their 3^rd birthday. Transportation to and from the district for therapy services will be discussed at that time.

Carol Anselmo – Brown Room Lead Teacher

Carol started at NEEC as Lead teacher in the Brown room in August of 2026.

Chloe Robenson – Teal Room Lead Teacher

Chloe started at NEEC as Lead teacher in the Brown room in September of 2026.

NEEC has two classrooms that provide education for 3–5-year-olds, serving up to 20 children with a teacher-child ratio of 1:8. The lead teacher creates weekly lesson plans through which all the children grow and develop skills. Teachers create an environment where all children are challenged and functioning at their fullest potential. Children are supervised primarily by sight but supervision by sound is permitted for short intervals. Classrooms are organized with learning centers in which the children can explore during planning times. For those children who qualify for services from the NKCSD early intervention program they may either receive services at the district building or here at NEEC from an auxiliary district therapist. When North Kansas City School District or any other district the child is enrolled in is in session, the child must attend, including Extended School Year (ESY) in June. NKCSD provides bus transportation to and from NEEC. If a child for any reason is not permitted on or misses the bus, the family is responsible for picking up and transporting that child to and from NEEC. NEEC is not for ill or recovering children, so if your child is not permitted to attend NKCSD they may not attend NEEC either.

Jami Schwermer – Orange Room Lead Teacher

Jami Schwermer, is the lead teacher in the Blue room. She has four kids; three girls and a boy. Her and her husband recently became Grandparents! She has been in early childhood education for 20 years and is completing her degree at Park University. In her free time, she likes to garden, read, and to spend time with her family.

Kelcey Copeland – Blue Room Lead Teacher

Kelcey started at NEEC as Lead teacher in the Brown room in June of 2026.

NEEC has two kindergarten readiness classrooms. Children move into this classroom on or around their fifth birthday and may remain until the following August school district enrollment date or for an additional year. This classroom will serve 12-20 children with a teacher-child ratio of 1:10. The lead teacher creates lesson plans similar to local public school district requirements, focusing on 5 and 6 year old developmental milestones and kindergarten readiness skills. For those children who qualify for services from the NKCSD early intervention program they may either receive services at the district building or here at NEEC from an auxiliary district therapist. When North Kansas City School District or any other district the child is enrolled in is in session, the child must attend, including Extended School Year (ESY) in June. NKCSD provides bus transportation to and from NEEC. If a child for any reason is not permitted on or misses the bus, the family is responsible for picking up and transporting that child to and from NEEC. NEEC is not for ill or recovering children, so if your child is not permitted to attend NKCSD they may not attend NEEC either.

Quincy Tant – Copper Room Lead Teacher

Quincy joined NEEC in July of 2023 as an assistant teacher in the Copper Room. Quincy enjoys working with children and took on the lead role in September of 2025. Quincy holds a bachelor’s degree in Instrumental Music Education from Millikin University.

Charity Shinabarger – Silver Room Lead Teacher

Charity joined NEEC in August of 2020. She has a background in working with at-risk kids. She has three children of her own, a son and two daughters. She looks forward to getting to know the families and children she serves in her classroom.

Charity obtained her bachelor’s degree in early education with a leadership concentration from Park University in 2026. She has a passion for inclusion and plans to make supporting that passion her lifelong goal. She will continue to work through her degree while leading the Silver Room.

Nondiscrimination Pledge

The Northland Early Education Center does not discriminate against and will not refuse services on the basis of race, color, gender, religion, or national or ethnic origin.

Tuition

Effective January 1, 2026, rates for early care and education services from 8:30 a.m. -4:00 p.m. for full-time enrollment are:

Age:	Tuition:	Billed:
Birth to two years old	$305	weekly
2 years old	$262	weekly
3-6 years old	$246	weekly
Learning 4 Life (K-5^th grade) Summer Program (6 weeks)	$200	weekly

*All field trips will be scheduled between 8:30am-4:00pm. *Tuition rates are based on the child’s chronological age and will be adjusted on the first Monday after the child’s birth date.

Part-time enrollment is generally offered specifically to families of children with special needs. Part-time enrollment must be scheduled and approved by the Program Director.

Effective January 1, 2026, rates for early education services for part-time enrollment from 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. are:

Age:	Tuesday/Thursday	Monday/Wednesday/Friday	Billed:
Birth – 2 years old	$152.50	$213.50	weekly
2 years old	$131.00	$183.40	weekly
3-6 years old	$123.00	$172.20	weekly

Families must remit $60 to register for Northland Early Education Center’s waiting list. This fee is nonrefundable. If the child enrolls within 12 months, the first year’s initial enrollment fee is waived.

Every August, each family will pay a $30.00 administrative fee to continue enrollment for their child(ren) for the next school year unless the child was enrolled after June 1^st of that year.

Northland Early Education Center does not accept cash or checks for tuition or enrollment fees. Tuition and enrollment fees are paid through Tuition Express by ACH bank transfer, automated credit card payment or Point of Sale (POS) credit card payment. A $30 insufficient fund charge will be added to accounts that come back unpayable.

Payment for each child’s tuition will be transmitted on Monday of each week. If paying by POS credit card or if there is insufficient funds in the bank account on record, a $20 late fee will be added to accounts not paid in full by Thursday of that week. Days missed, sick days, holidays and closure due to weather or power/water outages, will not be deducted from the tuition as NEEC’s expenses remain constant throughout the year. Children will not be accepted for services if payment is more than one week overdue.

Tuition Due Policy

Because our costs remain the same whether your child attends school or is absent from school, it is our policy to charge families for all absences, with the exception of one tuition-free vacation week per calendar year, which will be granted during Winter break for all families regardless of enrollment status or start date. NEEC will be closed for Winter break during the week in which December 25th falls. When this date falls on a weekend, NEEC will be closed the week after. Families who separate from NEEC on or before winter break of each calendar year do not receive this benefit.

Terminating Enrollment

Parents may terminate enrollment at any time, but must give two weeks written notice to teachers and administration. Please remember to retrieve all your child’s belongings. Northland Early Education Center will assume that all articles left are donations. Parents must notify NEEC within 24 hours of an absence, or it will be assumed the family no longer desires NEEC services.

Northland Early Education Center may terminate a child’s enrollment under the following conditions:

If NEEC proves unable to provide the most appropriate learning environment for your child, or is unable to meet specific needs of your child;
If you do not comply with these policies & procedures;
If you do not comply with payment policies; or
If you do not submit required health information on your child in a timely manner.

After leaving the program, all families will receive a follow-up survey which should be completed and returned as soon as possible. This is a way to improve our agency and the services we provide.

Communicable Diseases

According to the Dept. of Health licensing regulations, all children with any symptoms listed below will be sent home. If you are unable to pick up your child within the hour, you must make other arrangements. The teachers will attempt to keep your child isolated to minimize infecting other children. In order to return, children must be symptom free without the aid of medication or on an antibiotic for 24 hours. If a child is required to leave due to an indication of illness, that child will not be allowed to return that day nor the following day without written consent from a physician indicating the child’s symptoms are not contagious. This policy pertains to NEEC staff as well.

Indications of Illnesses:

Fever of 100.0 or more, or a very low temperature
Vomiting more than once
Severe coughing
Yellowish skin or eyes
Pinkeye/conjunctivitis
Unusual spots or rashes
Impetigo that cannot be covered with a watertight bandage
Unusually dark, tea-colored urine
Grey or white stool
Headache and stiff neck
Labored or rapid breathing
Diarrhea and/or uncontained diaper more than once
Changes in skin color
Severe itching of the body or scalp

Lice are considered an infectious disease, and the child will be sent home with treatment information, and not allowed to return until they are completely nit (egg) free.

NEEC staff utilize a 3-step cleaning and sanitizing solution consisting of soapy water, rinse water, and a 5% (non-toxic) bleach solution to clean and sanitized frequently used items, toys, etc. throughout the day to ensure that health and safety measures are being implemented.

Medications

Chapstick, lotions, creams, and medications CANNOT be stored in backpacks, cubbies, or in children’s pockets. If it states “keep out of reach of children,” we have to do so to keep all children safe. Sunscreen and non-medicated diaper creams (including Triple Paste) are the only topical treatment that NEEC will administer without a doctors order. Sunscreen permission forms are updated annually. Diaper cream acknowledgement is required on enrollment forms.

NEEC can only administer medication that is medically necessary for a child to receive during their regularly scheduled hours. For example, if the order requires the medicine to be administered 2 times per day (BID), these doses are to be given at home. If the order requires 3 times per day (TID) administration; only 1 dose will be administered at NEEC. The first dose of any medication must be given at home to monitor any adverse reactions. If your child requires a medication to be given every X hours, a new parent authorization form must be filled out each day to reflect the first dose given at home and the exact times of each dose to follow while at school.

Medication Authorization form must be completed by a parent

-This authorization must be updated every 30 days for Early Childhood program and annually for the Learn 4 Life; School Aged program unless changes in medication occur.

-This form is required for any prescription medication and over-the-counter medication (including homeopathic and non-FDA approved medications) to be administered at school

-Requires dosage, name of medication, possible side effects, exact times child needs to receive meds, and parent signature

-Rescue medication that is only used in an emergency, must be disclosed on enrollment paperwork. Parent authorization form will be completed upon day administered.

Medication Order forms must be completed by a physician

-Orders from parent/guardian of the child will not be accepted, even if they hold physician credentials.

-This order must be updated every 90 days for the Early Childhood program and annually for the Learn 4 Life; School Aged program.

-This form is required for any prescription medication and over-the-counter medication (including homeopathic and non-FDA approved medications) to be administered at school

-Requires name of medication, dosage/frequency, route, and times to administer at school, anticipated reactions/side effects, and a physician signature

-For all age groups, asthma action plans and rescue medication orders may exceed 90 days but must be updated at least annually.

Medication must arrive in labeled original pharmacy bottle with a copy of the information handout that accompanies all prescribed medications and the prescribing physician’s name. NEEC cannot split pills; NEEC can crush pills. All medication supplies such as syringes, pill crushers, etc must be provided by the parent. NEEC will not share medical equipment, not even with siblings.

Over the counter meds must arrive in original bottle and box labeled with child’s name. It is the parents’ responsibility to track dates of medication orders and medication authorizations to keep forms current.

NEEC staff CANNOT administer medications without current forms. Expired medication will be sent home with parents. For your convenience, medication orders can be faxed from the physician’s office to 816-420-9010. Standing orders for the entire facility shall not be allowed. In an emergency, the physician may change the prescription via fax or telephone.

NEEC will not administer any P.R.N. (as needed) medications. These types of medications include, but are not limited to, ibuprofen, Tylenol, cold medicine, lotion, Chapstick, teething tablets, etc.

Administering Medications

Medication Administration certified staff must take the following steps when administering any medication to a child attending Northland Early Education Center

Ensure all required paperwork is current
Wash hands
Take the medication from the locked medication cabinet
Check the pharmacy label against the medication orders for the following information:

Name of the child
Name of the medication
Dosage and time (certified staff have a 15-minute window before and after the stated time to administer the medication)
Medication has not expired

Measure out the dosage
Double-check the dosage against the medication order and the prescription’s container
Make certain you administer the medication to the correct child
Administer the medication by route stated on order
Immediately log the appropriate information on the medication form

Staff name
Medication
Date
Time of administration
Dosage administered

Put the medication back into the locked medication cabinet
Completely rinse and secure the equipment out of the reach of the children

Northland Early Education Center will not administer any P.R.N. medication. Staff cannot split pills but can crush pills with a pharmaceutical pill crusher, provided by the parent/guardian. All supplies necessary to administer medication are provided by the family. NEEC will not share medical equipment, not even with siblings.

Assistive Feeding Devices

Northland Early Education Center staff will administer tube feedings when written consent from the doctor in the form of Individual Specialized Child Care Plan, which is required for all children receiving services or diagnosed with a delay. Upon completion of the necessary forms, classroom staff will be given specific verbal and written instructions by the parent/legal guardian as outlined in the Assistive Feeding Instruction Form. Any amendments to the feeding process must be documented each time. Documentation may be made by the family or through verbal communication with and recorded by staff.

Inclement Weather Closure Policy

Northland Early Education Center may close, dismiss early or schedule a late arrival due to weather, water or power outages, or other serious events. Families will receive notification through email, ProCare and updates will be posted on social media. Updates should be expected at 6am the morning of the expected close date. NEEC uses Oak Hill Day School as a guide for closure in inclement weather situations, but will post closings individually on local television stations (Channels 4, 5, 9 and 41). These days will be very limited. Weekly tuition for these emergencies will not be waived.