Interview with Tanyssa Behnke

Partial Transcript: My name is Tanyssa Behnke and I guess I'm originally from
Brillion Wisconsin.

Segment Synopsis: Interviewee introduces herself, including her name, where she is originally from, and where she now lives.

Keywords: Brillion; Wisconsin

Partial Transcript: Can you tell me a little bit about your family or how you grew
up?

Segment Synopsis: Behnke talks about her childhood experiences growing up in Brillion. Her grandparents were instrumental in raising her while her parents were working. She also discusses how her initial education was fostered by playing with her brother, and how this was similar to the Montessori school experience. Additionally, she talks about how being raised in a farm setting made her appreciate both animals and hard work.

Keywords: Childhood; Family; Grandparents; Siblings

Partial Transcript: Do you have a favorite memory from any time during your
schoolings?

Segment Synopsis: Behnke says that she went to a combination of both public and private schools as a part of her educational experience. She shares memories of her deep interest in the arts and how this was encouraged by her art teacher. Behnke attended St. Norbert College in Depere, where she studied Graphic Design and started the education route.

Keywords: Education; Graphic Design; St. Norbert College; The Arts

Partial Transcript: What are you currently doing now that you've graduated?

Segment Synopsis: Behnke is currently the director of St. Mark's childcare. Prior to her this job, she spent her summers during college working at a childcare similar to the one she is working at now. She says that this experience strongly influenced her desire to take on her current role.

Keywords: Childcare; Curriculum; Education; Montessori

Partial Transcript: So I guess you said you kind of teach in this kind of Montessori
way of learning that you had never really realized that you were personally
learning in as a child.

Segment Synopsis: Behnke talks about the influence that Montessori schools have had on her own teaching style, as well as the limitations they have. She also discusses charter schools and the benefits/drawbacks that she sees in them. She feels that charter schools have the potential for kids to excel, but are limited by the fact that only privileged families can afford to send their children to these types of schools.

Keywords: Charter Schools; Childcare; Montessori; Teaching Influences

Partial Transcript: So kind of how like this private versus public schooling system
you said that you work at a private early childhood program.

Segment Synopsis: Behnke talks about why she feels she has more freedom as a private entity to direct her childcare center than she would if she were publicly funded. She thinks that it is good that she must generally adhere to state rules as much as possible, but doesn't have to follow them exactly. Behnke also talks about how her teachers impact the quality of her childcare.

Keywords: Childcare; Funding; Private School; Public School; Teachers

Partial Transcript: Do you see that you have a high turnover rate for teachers?

Segment Synopsis: Behnke talks about the reasons for the high turnover rate at her childcare. She also discusses the difficulties of running her facility, the greatest of which is finding enough staff for both her childcare as well as the state-run facility.

Keywords: Childcare; Salary; Staffing; Teachers; Turnover Rate

Partial Transcript: Do you think that state licensure would be something that would
benefit your childcare or would it make impact in ways that wouldn't be
beneficial to the children?

Segment Synopsis: Behnke addresses how a state license would impact her childcare. She believes that a license would essentially close the facility because of a lack of space to abide by state rules. She also states that a license might actually be detrimental to the children at her childcare, since they would have to follow the strict state guidelines. Additionally, teachers would be worried about meeting state educational standards. She also talks about future plans to combine childcare facilities and how this will impact teachers who do not already have a state license. Behnke mentions that her next job will be as an administrator, where she will assist in the classroom as well as standardize curriculum and lessons.

Keywords: Childcare; Curriculum; Education Standards; State License

Partial Transcript: You also said that your programs right now are currently filled
and obviously this isn't due to the fact that you can't fill your classrooms,
but the fact that you can't necessarily staff them.

Segment Synopsis: Behnke talks more about the decision to merge the two childcare facilities. She says they are choosing to merge the facilities at a time when all the children will be able to transfer into the other facility and not get kicked out of the program without childcare.

Keywords: Childcare; Consolidation; Facilities; Teachers; Transportation

Partial Transcript: So as this administrator role comes back to you, you said that
you had to kind of continue your education by taking a couple of courses and
things like that.

Segment Synopsis: Behnke discusses how her new role as an administrator influenced her decision to take online courses, which are required for the position. As an administrator, she says that her goal is to constantly be learning about new technology such as school security. She also says she is ready to take on the task of getting teachers more involved in contemporary technology use in the classroom. Another topic she touches on is her interest in working with community and police forces to learn how recent gun violence events are going to affect the childcare programs as a church and state licensed facility.

Keywords: Administration; Education; School Security; Technology

Partial Transcript: It definitely seems like you kind of have this higher goal, I
would say, of kind of just like overall education.

Segment Synopsis: At the end of the interview, Behnke reflects on education as a whole and her conviction that teachers should always be willing to learn more, rather than be happy with what they already know. She also acknowledges that if any changes are to take place in the educational system, there needs to be someone who is willing to step forward and start that work.

Keywords: Childcare; Education; Education Reform; Issues in Education