Not everyone gets to work their dream job, but that is not the case with Tiffany Ryans who is the youth development director at La Porte County Family YMCA. Ryans has always been passionate about working with children and helping in the community, and her new position allows her to do just that.
Ryans started her position in March of this year. Becoming a director in a childcare position was always Ryans’ ultimate career goal, but those jobs are not easy to find. When the opportunity came up for Ryans to become youth development director, she did not let it pass by.
“For me, it’s one of those things you are just meant to do,” said Ryans. “It really just seemed like the cards fell into place at the perfect timing. So for me, it was really an opportunity I couldn’t pass up because it was a lifelong goal.”
Ryans is deeply passionate about working with children and helping them get educated. For her entire life, working with children has always come naturally and it is something she truly loves.
“Communicating and bonding with kids was always so easy for me,” said Ryans. “I would always be the one at the kid’s table at holidays, it has always been a passion of mine.”
In her position, Ryans helps oversee the La Porte County Family YMCA Child Care and Learning Center, two La Porte County Family YMCA Educare sites, and a preschool in New Carlisle. Overall, she is responsible for over 200 children and their families. Ryan makes sure these facilities are in line with state guidelines.
“A lot of it has to do with classrooms being in ratio,” said Ryans. “Ratio means how many teachers we are allowed to have per student, and also everything that we collect from the families. I make sure that every child that walks through the door is updated on their shots or current physicals.”
Ryans loves her job and the work she is doing. Her favorite aspect of the job is getting to interact with all of the children and knowing that the work she is doing is helping improve their lives for years to come.
“The best part is watching the kids when they get dropped off and being able to walk them to the classroom,” said Ryans. “Also, just me being able to walk freely into each and every classroom and having all the children say, ‘Miss. Tiffany!’ and then getting all of the hugs. It’s those kids that just keep you going every day.”
Another part of the job that Ryans loves is helping a large portion of La Porte County, not just the City of La Porte. This sense of helping to educate a large community is exciting to her, and she is very proud of the level of education that is being provided for the children in this area.
“The biggest thing is that we are out there in the community,” said Ryans. “We are here in La Porte, our Educare centers are in Michigan City, and then we are in New Carlisle. We pride ourselves on the education we are able to give”
To learn more about La Porte County Family YMCA, visit the website www.lpymca.org.
