Encompass: Leaders in Early Education and Care

Missy Schmeling, Executive Director

2024 was a year of investing in early childhood education and accessible, affordable childcare by expanding our footprint in the rural area of Oconto Falls. We are committed to building a foundation for a thriving community and serving our mission to provide high quality education and care to those who need us the most. When we invest in our educators by raising wages, we reflect true value of this field and when we foster continuous professional growth, we create a future where everyone can thrive. Our commitment to compassion, excellence, and advocacy is the foundation of our success. I am deeply grateful to all of you for your unwavering support and trust as we strive to build an even brighter future together.

Pat Cavanaugh, Board President

One of the many wonderful aspects of Encompass is the ongoing commitment and passion to live out the Mission of providing high quality education and care. 2024 was a signature year for Encompass with a new location in Oconto Falls! The expansion into this new community was a major win for Encompass and the Oconto Falls area, and we are grateful to all of the key stakeholders and donors who played a role in making this happen. The Encompass Team and Board also worked diligently to launch the new Strategic Plan for 2025-2028. This Plan will guide our decisions and efforts within the four key pillars of Encompass: Excellence in Early Education and Care, Staff Support and Development, Community Engagement and Financial Sustainability. On behalf of the Board of Directors, we appreciate the dedication and commitment to education and care our Encompass Staff exemplifies each day for our families and community.

Key Achievements in 2024:

Excellence in Early Childhood Education

We served 1,165 children and achieved the highest enrollment in our history, ensuring that all children have affordable and accessible high-quality education and care regardless of their socioeconomic status. All our programs are nationally accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), which is widely recognized and respected in the field of early childhood education. Our centers are also 5-Star rated by the State of Wisconsin, utilizing HighScope Curriculum and Conscious Discipline principles. We continued our commitment to supporting families with tuition support and wraparound care. In 2024, our Advocate Program served 99 children and 74 families. Tuition assistance was provided to 290 (25%) of children with the average annual amount of assistance received per child being $1,450. With the opening of our Oconto Falls Center on June 10, 2024, we helped provide 140 childcare slots to a community that the State termed a “childcare desert.”

Community Engagement

In 2024, Encompass made our Big Event for Kids – in its 35th year – a free event for the community. We saw attendance and corporate sponsorship grow for this event that focuses on hands-on, experiential activities for children from nearly 50 exhibitors. Encompass was also one of 45 nonprofits selected for Give BIG Green Bay, where we were able to raise over $160,000 in one charitable day of community giving. Not to mention, our Oconto Falls Center capital campaign was awarded a $250,000 Green Bay Packers Foundation Impact Grant to support our expansion.

Staff Support and Development

In 2024, we experienced 15% growth agencywide, and we made a significant investment in the recruitment and retention of staff with wage increases that averaged 8% and an average Educator wage between $16-21/hour. In addition, our leadership led the re-organization of our support teams to better meet the needs of our agency and to prepare for our current and future growth, succession planning, and distribution of responsibilities. This process, starting in March 2024, created new positions: Associate Executive Director, two Regional Directors, and a Director of Curriculum. In addition, it centralized enrollment with one position, making the enrollment process more seamless for families.

Financial Sustainability

Encompass continues to cultivate a diverse funding portfolio, including grants, individual donations, and corporate sponsorships. In 2024, Encompass received $1,491,788 in community support for our campaigns, Foundation, tuition assistance and the Child & Family Advocate Program. Thanks to the ongoing pledges from the For the Children Campaign and the Big Event for Kids, the Encompass Foundation has continued to thrive and support our mission.

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Thank you for the amazing work you do with our youngest and most vulnerable.

Encompass Donor

Our Oconto Falls Center opened on June 10, 2024.

Oconto Falls Center

When Encompass started the journey to open our 8th center in Oconto Falls, we were guided by one principle, expand childcare where the need is greatest, while remaining true to our century-long mission. In the Oconto Falls area, there are 35.3 children under age 5 for every childcare space. In all of Oconto County, there are 13 childcare providers and 273 spaces. With the 140 spaces that Encompass added with this new center, there was a 51.3% increase in spaces and Encompass provides 33% of the total spaces in the county. The design by Somerville Architects was carried out by IEI General Contractors and included an extensive internal remodel as well as building three playgrounds. Partnerships formed quickly and organically within the Oconto Falls community with TEDCOR, Oconto County/Oconto County Public Health, Oconto Falls School District, and the City of Oconto Falls.

Green Bay Packers Foundation Impact Grant

Just when our campaign needed it the most, the Green Bay Packers Foundation recognized our project with a $250,000 matching gift - that's a total of $500,000 - to help us reach our goal. Thank you to all our donors who have helped us raise the support needed for this matching gift.

Collaborations and Growth

In May 2024, Encompass was awarded the Wisconsin Rural Initiative Award at the Wisconsin Rural Partners Summit for our collaborative work to bring high-quality education and care to Oconto Falls. In September 2024, Encompass also was fortunate to be honored with the Community and Economic Development Award for Business Retention and Expansion from the Wisconsin Economic Development Association. The Oconto Falls Center has also become a Head Start site, a location for Oconto County WIC services and forged partnerships with Oconto Falls School District and Forward Services Corp.

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From the very beginning, the decision to wrap our arms around the Oconto Falls community and expand high-quality affordable care was an easy one. Encompass, along with many community partners, align with the proverb ‘It takes a village to raise a child’ and this expansion truly fits our mission.

Missy Schmeling, Encompass Executive Director

2024 Community Support

Advocate Program Support

$46,282

Tuition Support for Families

$239,911

Event Sponsorships & Donations

$96,746

General Donations

$330,295

In-Kind Donations

$123,562

Community Partnerships

Bobbi Jo Eisenreich, Assistant Director of Corporate & Foundation Giving

"The Green Bay Packers Foundation is pleased to be a part of Encompass’ initiative to expand childcare opportunities with the opening of their 8th center in Oconto Falls. Supporting efforts toward closing the gap of the childcare desert in the Oconto Falls region while also offering employment opportunities to the community are some of the reasons the Packers Foundation awarded Encompass an impact grant in 2024. Encompass has provided families accessible and affordable childcare for more than 100 years and the Packers Foundation is proud to support those efforts."

Heather Milbach, Community Relations Manager

At Schreiber Foods our vision is to do good through food, and one way we live out that vision is by partnering with non-profit organizations addressing basic needs in our communities. We’re proud to support the work Encompass is doing to ensure children in our community have access to quality education and care that is foundational to their future success regardless of their family’s current circumstances.

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Providing access to quality childcare and educational assistance supports working parents, allowing our employees to focus on their professional responsibilities with greater peace of mind. We believe the relationship with Encompass contributes to a culture of belonging here at Bellin, demonstrating a commitment to employee wellbeing and engagement.

Emplify Health- Bellin Region Partner since 1987

Little Libraries came to all Encompass Centers through Leadership Green Bay partnership

In May 2024, Leadership Green Bay Team 4 collaborated with Encompass to champion literacy in our community with the Little Libraries project. The team built and installed the libraries at each center and filled each one with books. A little library is a free library, a "take a book, share a book" exchange.

4K Partnerships

Encompass collaborated with school districts to offer 4-year-old kindergarten at each of our locations.

1,165 children served

Children received tuition support

Received diapers through Love Life

Children resided in foster care

Children screened by Oral Health Partnership

of families are single headed households

Families were homeless or in a transitional living

of families are living in or on the brink of poverty

meals served daily across all Encompass Centers

798 families served

Children's Health Impact

In 2024, children enrolled at Encompass received:

481 Acute Care Visits
153 Fluoride varnishes with 9 referrals
34 complex developmental assessments
66 total hours of service from BSN nursing students

$80,640

donated in-kind services from Bellin College Pediatric Health Center

Child and Family Advocate Program

The Encompass Child & Family Advocate Program provides wraparound support to children and families. Advocates support children and Educators one-on-one in the classroom to address and overcome developmental and behavioral setbacks. Advocates also support the family with basic needs assistance, resource navigation and goal setting. By wrapping our arms around the whole family, we see increased retention of children in care, which leads to better outcomes for their social, emotional and developmental milestones. Since the program’s inception in 2018, Encompass has seen the retention rate of at-risk families increase from six months to 37 months.

In 2024, the Child and Family Advocate Program supported:

Children

Families

Classrooms

Foster Grandparent Program

The Foster Grandparent Program joins together two generations- seniors and children. The program enhances the quality of life for seniors and gives them a sense of purpose. The Foster Grandparent’s presence in the classroom gives parents and children an extra sense of security. The children have a consistent grandparent figure who mentors and encourages them in social play and classroom activities. What a win-win-win situation for Encompass, the children and seniors! Some of a Foster Grandparent’s responsibilities might include working with children who need extra attention, rocking infants, reading to toddlers, assisting at mealtimes, accompanying children on walks and field trips, if able, and being an all-around grandparent role model.

2024

Program Stats:

32 Foster Grandparents
384 Children Supported
73 Children Matched
96% of children matched saw their COR (Child Observation Record) scores increase.

Encompass Staff Numbers

Teachers

Center Support Staff

Administration

As part of our commitment to excellence in early childhood education, Encompass held its annual All Staff Professional Development Day to enhance the skills and knowledge of our team. This dedicated day provided staff with the opportunity to engage in focused training on key areas essential to fostering a high-quality learning environment.

The training sessions covered mental health and well-being for educators, effective lesson planning, classroom management strategies, and the implementation of conscious discipline techniques. These professional development opportunities ensure that our staff remains equipped with the latest tools and best practices to support the growth and success of every child in our care.

To reinforce these learnings, we continue professional development throughout the year during after-hours staff meetings. Investing in our educators’ growth directly enhances the quality of care and education we provide to families.

We appreciate the ongoing support from our Encompass community, which allows us to prioritize professional development and uphold our commitment to excellence in early childhood education.

2024 All Staff Professional Development Day at UW-Green Bay.

View our Leadership Team

Nurturing Educators, Strengthening Our Future

At Encompass, we believe that investing in our educators means investing in the future of early childhood education. Through mentorship, professional growth opportunities, and competitive compensation, we are building a team of passionate, highly skilled professionals dedicated to shaping young minds.

Paola Berumen Vejar, Assistant Teacher

From Youth Apprentice to Educator: Paola's Story

The Youth Apprenticeship (YA) program allows high school juniors and seniors to gain real-world experience in early childhood education while completing related coursework. It provides students with a hands-on introduction to teaching, helping them determine if this career path is right for them.

✨ Meet Paola:
✅ Joined Encompass as a Youth Apprentice while in high school
✅ Gained hands-on experience working with young children
✅ Graduated in 2024 and transitioned into a full-time teaching role
✅ Currently pursuing her degree in Early Childhood Education

Paola’s journey is proof that early exposure to the field creates future educators who are ready to make a difference.

Stephanie Springer, Director of Curriculum

Elevating Excellence: Our First Director of Curriculum

To support our educators and ensure high-quality learning experiences, we introduced the Director of Curriculum position in 2024. This role focuses on:

✔ Training & mentorship for educators
✔ Developing curriculum that aligns with best practices
✔ Providing ongoing professional development

🔹 Meet Stephanie Springer 🔹
✅ Joined Encompass in 2022 as a Child & Family Advocate
✅ Earned her Master’s in Early Childhood Education
✅ Passionate about equipping teachers with the tools to succeed
✅ Promoted to Director of Curriculum in early 2024

Stephanie’s leadership ensures that our educators receive the support, training, and resources they need to create engaging, developmentally appropriate learning environments.

Competitive Wages, Meaningful Careers

We know that early educators deserve to be recognized and fairly compensated for their expertise and dedication. That's why in 2024, Encompass made a significant wage investment, including:

💰 A market rate increase to stay competitive
🎖 Merit-based raises to reward performance and dedication

This commitment reflects our dedication to attracting, retaining, and valuing top talent in early childhood education.

By fostering career growth, enhancing professional development, and ensuring competitive wages, Encompass remains a leader in early childhood education. Our investment in our educators today means a stronger, brighter future for the children and families we serve.

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It feels good to be recognized for my hard work which makes me want to keep doing it and showing up. Other places do not always show this kind of appreciation.

Encompass Educator

Annual Celebration

The Encompass It's for the Children Annual Celebration brings donors, stakeholders and community members together to showcase the impact of Encompass programs and to unite around a shared vision for supporting our most vulberable children and families. In 2024, this annual gathering welcomed over 100 attendees and was hosted by Fox 11's Emily Deem.

President's Luncheon

A long-time tradition at Encompass was reignited this year with the Encompass President's Luncheon hosted by the Board of Director's President Pat Cavanaugh and Foundation Board President Tom Arndt. While this event had historically brought past Board President's together, this year's event welcomed all past and current Board and Foundation Board members. Speakers included both Presidents, Cavanaugh and Arndt, as well as Encompass Executive Director Missy Schmeling. We are thankful to the many past and current Board and Foundation Board members who have served Encompass and who continue to support and share our mission in the community.

The Big Event for Kids

2024 marked the first time in The Big Event for Kids' 35-year history that the event was free and open to all community members. Removing the cost of attendance helped Encompass ensure the vision for the event continued and allowed us to host a record 3,000 people at Heritage Hill State Park. With over 40 exhibitors and many sponsors, we were able to raise over $90,000 for Encompass children and families!