‘LIKE A SECOND FAMILY’
INGREDIENTS
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8 oz spinach leaves
8 oz cream cheese, softened
1 cup sour cream
3/4 cup chopped marinated artichoke hearts
1 tsp minced garlic
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
WHAT SETS KELLY MILLER’S PRESCHOOL APART
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided Sliced bread, crackers, or tortilla chips for serving
Early childhood education was a family business for Kelly Miller, but she didn’t necessarily see it as her career path. “I’ve always been a math person,” Kelly says. She majored in finance, and when her sister graduated with an education degree, they decided to open a school together. Kelly was responsible for the finances, but she soon learned she loved working with children. The sisters eventually sold their business and opened Cedarview Learning Center Too in Port Richey in 2001. Twenty-two years later, they host an infant program, preschool, and after-school program for children up to 12 years old. They have grown to a dozen teachers and have roughly 85 children enrolled across all ages. Kelly loves the flexibility of owning a business, but more than that, she says, “I love watching the children grow and bonding with them.” The school takes pride in its commitment to meeting children’s therapeutic, emotional, and educational needs. They have APPLE child care management accreditation and participate in the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) food program, so students receive all the nutrients they need to thrive. “We help the children and their families with all their needs,” Kelly says. “We do assessments to determine if the kids need special services beyond what we provide here,” she continues. “If we suspect a child might be on the spectrum, we’ll contact an agency for support. And if they need speech therapy or occupational therapy, we help them access those resources. We’re kind of like a second family to them.” Kelly is married, and the couple has three daughters aged 16–27 and three dogs. Though her children are mostly adults, she says the family still vacations together as often as possible. “We really enjoy traveling — we’ve been to many places and continue finding new ones.” She notes Italy is her favorite place to visit. “We’ve been there a couple of times, and it just feels like home to me,” she says. Above all, Kelly takes the responsibility of child care very seriously. Every teacher at Cedarview Learning Center Too undergoes three background checks and must complete at least 50 hours of training within their first year at the school. These precautions keep children safe while ensuring they receive the education they deserve.
DIRECTIONS
1. In a medium pan, steam or sauté spinach until wilted. When spinach cools, ring out excess water, then chop coarsely. 2. In a large bowl, mix cream cheese, sour cream, spinach, artichoke hearts, garlic, salt, pepper, Parmesan cheese, and 3/4 cup of mozzarella cheese. 3. Spread the mixture onto the prepared baking dish. Top with remaining mozzarella cheese. 4. Bake for 20 minutes or until the dip is bubbly. Turn the oven to broil and cook for an additional 2–3 minutes so the cheese will begin to brown. 5. Immediately serve with bread, crackers, or tortilla chips.
(EASY WAY OUT)
Cedarview Learning Center Too is accepting new enrollments! For more information, visit CedarviewLearning.com or call (727) 849-4151.
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800-800-4300
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