Grow your impact. Nurture your career.
Welcome, Montana childcare providers.
SPARK Learning Lab is the dedicated hub for Montana-specific technical assistance, coaching, peer connection, and resources. You support Montana’s children and families. Let SPARK support you.
Shaping Montana's Future by Supporting Child Care Providers
Thousands of child care heroes work across the state, helping families prepare their children for success in school and in life.
To invest in the development of the child care workforce, the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) commissions quality technical assistance services to child care programs and professionals.
Whether you’re a Center Director or a family child care provider, whether you’re looking to improve your operations or your family engagement practices, you’ll find the help you need here at SPARK Learning Lab Montana.
We are excited to share more information as it becomes available, so please check back often for updates.
Events
Stay tuned for more information on in-person and online events.
Team
SPARK Learning Lab Montana is powered by child care professionals across the state of Montana. Technical Assistance specialists will work across the state, and will be available in person and virtually. Technical Assistance staff and specialists will work from field offices across the state and will also be available via virtual and remote channels.
Sandy Cade
SPARK- Montana Project Director
Sandy is an early childhood professional with over 20 years of experience building early childhood system networks, developing new programs, providing leadership and engaging with stakeholders all across montana. She has focused on building professional development systems to increase programmatic outcomes for children and families. Sandy’s recent positions have included Montana Part C Coordinator and and the Preschool Development Grant Manager, both in the Early Childhood Bureau at DPHHS. Sandy has direct child care experience as a Head Start site director.
Cindy Straughn
SPARK Montana Deputy Director
Cindy has over 20 years of experience increasing the wellbeing of children and families in Montana through creative solutions, collaborative efforts, policy changes , and promotion of family strengths and independence. Immediately before coming to SPARK, Cindy was the Quality Team Program Specialist & Infant Toddler State Lead within the Early Childhood Bureau and DPHHS. Prior to that positions Cinndy spent eight years as the Providers Services Manager at The Nurturing Center in Kalispell. She has also been a preschool teacher and Head Start advocate.
We’re Hiring - Join Our Team
See open roles and submit your application today. More roles will be posted in the coming weeks. Stay tuned.
Partners
Four organizations have teamed up to ensure the child care workforce in Montana benefits from high-quality evidence-based support and professional development.
Department of Health and Human Services
Serving Montanans in their communities to improve health, safety, well-being, and empower independence.
Early Childhood and Family Support Division
The Early Childhood and Family Support Division provides coordinated services and resources to promote well-being and support the health and development of children, individuals, families, and communities. Learn more at dphhs.mt.gov.
Montana Association for the Education of Young Children
The Montana Association for the Education of Young Children is an organization of early childhood professionals working to solve local, state, and national issues that affect children and families.They are a community of professionals advocating for quality care and education of young children through collaboration. Learn more at mtaeyc.org.
The Montana Family Childcare Network
The Montana Family Childhood Network is a collaboration of early childhood interests, who represents Montana’s Family Childcare Educators and advocates with united voices on behalf of all children, families and family childcare educators. They promote and encourage quality professional family childcare and early education through professional education, mentoring and advocacy. Learn more at mtfamilychildcarenetwork.org.
Shine Early Learning
Shine Early Learning partners with states and local communities to accelerate child and family outcomes by providing technical assistance, professional development and other supports.
Since its founding in 2011, Shine Early Learning has partnered with cities, states, and programs across the U.S. serving hundreds of thousands of students, families, and educators. Learn more at shineearly.com.
Contact Us
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