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Mariah Duszynski

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My Story

Hello! My name is Mariah Duszynski, I am the Owner and Director of Story Book. I have lived in Story City since 2012. I live here with my wonderful husband, Rich, and our two busy kiddos, Memphis and Dodge. When I am not at Story Book I love cooking, canning and preserving foods, camping, hiking, and exploring outdoors.  

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I have been in the Early Childhood field since 2010. I started in the field as an Assistant Director of a faith based program in Fort Dodge, and then moved to the Ames area to teach PS for a year. In 2013 I opened an in-home child care center maintaining a level 5 on Iowa's Quality Rating Scale for six years before opening Story Book in August of 2019 where I am now the Director and Owner of the business.  

My Education and Training

Degrees and Credentials:

  • BA in Early Childhood Education from Northwestern College of Iowa - 2020

  • BA in Business Management from Buena Vista University - 2014

  • National Administrator Credential (NAC) - 2020

  •  Child Development Associate Credential (CDA) Infant/Toddler -2012

  • CPR/First Aid Trainer Certified - 2023 

 

Training:

  • Infant/Toddler Education:

    • Infant Toddler Seminar 2011

    • Infant Toddler Seminar 2016

    • Infant Toddler Seminar 2018

    • Program for Infant Toddler Care (PITC) Module 1: Social-Emotional Growth and Socialization

    • Program for Infant Toddler Care (PITC) Module 2: Group Care

    • Program for Infant Toddler Care (PITC) Module 3 – Lesson 2: Discoveries in Infancy

    • Program for Infant Toddler Care (PITC) Module 3 – Lesson 3: Brain Development in Infancy

    • Program for Infant Toddler Care (PITC) Module 3 – Lesson 4: Special Needs

    • Program for Infant Toddler Care (PITC) Module 3 – Lesson 5: Language Development, Communication, and Culture

    • Program for Infant Toddler Care (PITC) Module 4: Culture, Family, and Providers

    • Toddlers in Child Care

  • Preschool Age Education:

    • Early Childhood Environment Rating Scale (ECERS)

    • Nurturing Healthy Sexual Development

    • Many Ways to Learn for Toddlers and Preschoolers

  • School Age Education

    • School Age Matters

    • School-age Care Environment Rating Scale (SACERS)

  • Behavior Management Education:

    • Finding Yes in Difficult and Challenging Behaviors

    • Positive Behavior Intervention and Support (PBIS) Preschool

    • Positive Behavior Intervention and Supports (PBIS) – Family Child Care

    • Positive Behavior Intervention and Supports (PBIS) – Infant/Toddler

    • What is Program Wide Early Childhood Positive Behavior and Intervention Supports?

    • Connecting with Children at their Level: How to Build Stronger Relationships with Children

    • Every Moment Matters

    • Connections Matter

  • Curriculum/Assessment Education:

    • Curriculum and Assessment: The GPS for Building Skills

    • Iowa Early Learning Standards (IELS)

    • Iowa Play Experience

    • Portfolio Play

    • Teaching Strategies GOLD Observation and Assessment

    • The Art of Visionary Leadership

    • Theme Thirty on Thursdays: Spring into Snacks

    • The Road to Reading 

    • Principles of Child Development and Learning 

    • Observing, Recording, and Assessing Children's Development 

    • 5 Simple Steps for Early Literacy: Connecting Early Education to Families

  • Classroom Management or Administrative Education:

    • ChildNet

    • Essentials Child Care Preservice Series

    • Keeping Parents Active and Involved

    • Medication Administration Class and Test Out

    • New Staff Orientation Director’s Training

    • Passport to ECE – Teacher and Staff Orientation

    • Passport to ECE for Program Administrators

    • Child Care Administration (Care Courses) 

    • Parents and Child Care

    • A Chance of Awesome: How Changing the Way You See Changes Everything

    • Tips and Tricks to Make Parent Surveys a Useful Quality Improvement Tool

    • Beyond Dreams: Building the Perfect Child Care

    • What's Happening with Child Care in Iowa

    • Happiness is Running Through the Streets to Find You Even During a Pandemic

    • Taking Family Engagement to the Next Level

    • The Environment as the 3rd Teacher: Reawakening the Creative Energy in your Classroom

    • Putting Down What You are Carrying and Preparing for the Task at Hand

    • Tips and Tricks for Directors

    • How Minding the Business of Child Care can Bolster Program Quality

    • Building Relationships with Teachers and Staff

  • Nutrition and Physical Activity Education:

    • CACFP Meaningful Mealtimes

    • CACFP Steps to Success Module 1: Intro to CACFP

    • CACFP Steps to Success Module 15: Feeding Infants in the CACFP Part 1 and 2

    • CACFP Steps to Success Module 2: Menu Planning for meals that meet the CACFP requirements

    • CACFP Steps to Success Module 3: Food Production Records

    • CACFP Steps to Success Module 5: Income Applications

    • CACFP Steps to Success Module 6: Meal counting and claiming

    • CACFP Steps to Success Module 7: Cost claim details

    • Color Me Healthy and Physical Activity

    • Don’t Watch It, Do it!

    • Food Safety in Child Care

    • Gathering the Good Stuff

    • NAP SACC-R

  • Child Care Business Education:

    • Budget Projections for an Effective Business Plan

    • Business & Financial Fundamentals Series for Child Care Centers

    • Business Basics for Home Providers Training Series

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