Joleen Patton
Program Director
Blessing Hospital Child Care Center
|
"Obtaining the Illinois Director Credential was easy and
rewarding. The credential has provided me with professional recognition in my
work environment and has added to my professional growth."
|
Joleen was awarded the Level I Illinois Director Credential in October 2000. She
has been the Program Director for Blessing Hospital Child Care Center for over
12 years and is currently working on finishing her Bachelors Degree at Western
Illinois University.
Joleen knew that she wanted to go into the child care field ever since she
graduated from high school. It just "seemed like the right fit" for her.
Since entering the field, Joleen says she feels very fortunate to have been
given opportunities for professional growth and advancement. She attended
Lincoln Land Community College and graduated with an Associates Degree in Child
Care Services. She began working as a Home Visitor for PACT (Parent and Child
Together) Head Start. Then, in 1981, she was promoted to Education Coordinator
there, which gave her even more knowledge about curriculum and management of
early childhood programs. In 1989, a local hospital wanted to open a day care
center for their employees and Joleen was hired to start up and direct that
center. After several expansions and a merger with Blessing Hospital, Joleen
became Program Director of Blessing Hospital Child Care Center in Quincy,
Illinois.
Ask Joleen why she went into the field of early childhood and she'll tell you
she has never considered anything else. If you ask why she stays in the
field, she recounts the following story:
"The other day I was in Wal-Mart. A lady who I did not recognize stopped me and
said, 'Aren't you Joleen?' After saying yes but not being sure I should, she
said, 'Years ago you were Jack's teacher - you came into our home and worked
with us.' After twenty years, the family remembered me. I was pleased to hear
that Jack was in college and working successfully."
"I choose to stay in this field because I am living out my favorite phrase - 'A
hundred years from now it will not matter what my bank account was, the sort of
house I lived in, or the kind of car I drove . . . but the world may be
different because I was important in the life of a child."
Among her professional distinctions, Joleen is Vice Chairman of the Board of
Directors for Child Care in Health Care, an organization for directors of
hospital child care programs. She is also Chairman of the Board of Directors
for PACT Head Start.
Joleen has two children, ages 21 and 22, who have recently stepped out on their
own. She lives with her husband in Paloma, a small town with a population of
52. In her spare time, she teaches second grade children at St. Joseph's
Catholic Church Sunday School, enjoys walks with her dog, Dook, and loves to
watch movies.
|