Gabby Goose Daycare celebrates 25 years in business

By AARON BOHACHEK

Staff writer

BONNERS FERRY — Gabby Goose alumni, past and present are invited to a 25th anniversary barbecue at the child care facility today, June 6 at 6 p.m.

They will be holding an open house with a magic show, book fair, hot dogs, cake and a bounce house.

Gabby Goose opened June 2, 1989, and after 25 years, owner and director Margaret Huggins is taking a break and turning the day-to-day operations of her facility over to director Lael Alexander.

Alexander is the childcare and financial director. She has been with Gabby Goose since April 2011.

Alexander has a medical assisting credential through Parks College and is obtaining her child development associate’s credential.

Gabby Goose started with a 12 child load every day, and is now licensed for 42, with an average of 36 children daily.

Huggins says she has been around long enough to start seeing second generation goslings, children whose parents once came to Gabby Goose.

Gabby Goose is a Quality Rating and Improvement System facility, which requires four hours of training per year. After current training is completed, Huggins says her key staff will have over 40 hours of training.

Katie Huggins is the lead teacher/curriculum director. She graduated from Lewis-Clark State College with a degree in natural science education. Huggins has been with Gabby Goose since April 2007.

Jennifer (Jenny) Liermann is the kitchen director and has been at Gabby Goose since March 2012. Jenny has her food handler’s license and is currently obtaining her child development associate’s credential.

Barbara Binnall, Jennifer Hamilton, Mandy Blevins, and Kayti Tompkins are teachers at Gabby Goose.

All teachers are members of the IdahoSTARS Professional Development System and maintain appropriate credentials and early childhood education hours as outlined by QRIS.