Director of Hoya Kids Learning Center

Jane L. Banister is the Director of Hoya Kids Learning Center.  She has been with HKLC since January 2000.  Before coming to Georgetown University she taught and directed a variety of employer-sponsored Early Childhood programs.  She has worked professionally with children for more than 17 years, but young children have captured her heart for many more.  She believes that this is the time of building that ever-important foundation for life -- self-esteem, a love of exploration, limitless questions, curiosity - the list goes on.  She feels honored to be a part of their lives during this time.  Being on a University campus, she is very interested in utilizing the resources and diverse talents on campus to enrich the program and increase its value to clients as well as Center staff.  Jane has bachelor's degree in Child Development and Family Relations from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, and a Master's degree in Early Childhood Program Administration from George Washington University at Mount Vernon College.

Our Center is also staffed by an outstanding group of dedicated teachers and professional caregivers. They are educated and trained in early childhood education and can provide the environment and activities appropriate for our children.

Our staff believes that a cooperative relationship is essential between the Center and parents so that a quality program can be provided for all children.  Teachers will keep parents informed about their child’s daily activities and developmental achievements; likewise, teachers will seek information about your child’s daily activities at home, developmental achievements and behaviors observed out of school, and anything that may affect your child’s behavior at school (including but not limited to parents’ business or personal travel, loved ones planning to visit your home, important family events, upcoming changes in the household like moves or pregnancies, and more).

All teachers at HKLC must have an enthusiasm for teaching young children, a basic foundation in child development, an appreciation for each child’s individuality, and an ability to stimulate a child’s natural creativity and curiosity. They must also be sensitive to each child’s needs and responsively involved with children. Their understanding of the needs of working parents and their ability to collaborate for the benefit of the children is an essential part of their unique qualifications. Our staff receives ongoing in-service training and attends available workshops, courses, and consultations. We expect all staff members to perform all aspects of their job as completely and professionally as possible regardless of their race, color, creed, gender, religion and natural origin. All employees share equal duties, regardless of gender.

Hoya Kids also relies on a number of part-time employees who help set up the Center each morning, maintain cleanliness and safety in the classrooms throughout the day, and clean up and reorganize the Center before closing each evening.  Many of the part-time employees are GU students.  They are energetic, engaging and fascinating to the children; they bring different perspectives, share new ideas, and provide able assistance to the full-time teaching staff.