Serving Central Oregon Families Since 1966

For over 50 years, The Children's Learning Center has been dedicated to providing accessible, high-quality early childhood education to the Madras community.

Our Mission, Values & Vision 

Guiding our approach to accessible early education and community partnership.

Our Mission

We partner with families, providing an inclusive, nurturing environment where every child has access to high-quality early childhood education.

Our Values

Safety, Equity, Integrity

Our Vision

  • Empowered families.
  • Fostering a lifelong love of learning through structured, modern pedagogical approaches.
  • Creating a modern workplace that attracts and retains dedicated educators.

A Legacy of Learning in Madras

  • Founded in 1966 at Culver Christian Church.
  • Officially formed with the State of Oregon in 1986.
  • Moved to the current location in 2000 via a Community Block Grant (spearheaded by Jodi Eagan).
  • We operate 5 programs, with Oregon Prekindergarten Head Start being the largest.
What started as a small local initiative has blossomed into a comprehensive early education center, touching the lives of generations of families in Central Oregon. We've continually evolved, combining our decades of experience with modern pedagogical approaches.

Governance & Leadership

Guided by our community and parents.

Board of Directors

The Children’s Learning Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization governed by community members and parents focusing on strategy and oversight.

  • Alexa Gassner – Chair
  • Rachel Fiocchi – Vice Chair
  • Natalie Richards – Secretary
  • Hannah Feigner – Member
  • Marcus Thompson – Member
  • Katherine Schuh – PC Rep

Policy Council

The Policy Council plays a crucial role in overseeing Head Start services and meets monthly to ensure our programs meet the needs of our families.

Interested in joining or attending meetings? Please contact the Executive Director for more information.

Contact Us

Join Our Community

Whether you are a parent seeking a nurturing environment or an educator looking for a supportive team, we welcome you to TCLC.