GET TO KNOW US
Hip-Hip-Hooray!
We are so thankful …
Crystal Lake Cooperative Preschool is the proud recipient of grant awards from 100+ Women Who Care Benzie County and Benzie County Community Chest. These grants fund our students, the classroom, and our play-based curriculum, as well as new STEM and fine arts enrichment programs for our current and future students. Thanks to generous community support, we are able to grow and serve more Benzie County students and families!
Three cheers for 100+ Women, BCCC, and the dedicated teachers and families at Crystal Lake Cooperative Preschool!
Our Cooperative Preschool
Community is the heart of our cooperative.
Crystal Lake Cooperative Preschool (CLCP) is a parent-supported nonprofit 501c3 preschool that seeks to provide high-quality progressive early childhood education in a nurturing atmosphere. Founded in 1965, the school was envisioned as an alternative to parents who sought an enhanced level of involvement in the education of their young children and who believed a cooperative community would provide an ideal setting for early childhood education.
Our Cooperative Community
Executive Board
The Crystal Lake Cooperative Preschool is governed by an Executive Board, which is composed of CLCP parents who are elected by the previous year’s membership.
The Board works closely with the teacher and parents to ensure the smooth management of the school. The Board meetings are held once a month and all parents are encouraged to attend and participate.
Parent Commitment
Parents play a central role in the operations of our school and the education of our students. Parents help enrich the curriculum, assist in the classroom, and staff essential leadership roles on our Executive Board.
Every day a parent attends school as the Parent of the Day (POD) to:
assist the teacher with educational activities,
provide and serve healthy snacks,
and participate and play alongside students.
Families can expect to spend approximately one to two days per month as POD. In the event of scheduling conflicts, parents can swap POD days with another parent.
Being POD is a wonderful opportunity to engage with your child, their classmates, and their teacher during the day.
Our Teacher:
Bianca McLaren
This is Bianca’s 20th year of teaching at The Crystal Lake Cooperative Preschool!
Bianca was born and raised in Michigan, and she loves living in a place that changes seasonally, like Michigan does. Bianca is a true Michigan girl, and Benzie County, with its beautiful lakes, hiking trails and campgrounds, has captured her heart! She feels fortunate to share her home with her wonderful husband of almost 25 years, Brandon, and their son Connor, who attends the University of Michigan.
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The McLarens are a dog family, and their two labs Miles and Poppy go everywhere with them. They are attention seeking, water loving, and constantly shedding—and Bianca wouldn’t have it any other way! Some of the McLarens' best days as a family are spent hiking or boating with their dogs in tow. In addition to her family, Bianca also loves hikes and walks with family and friends, golf, University of Michigan basketball, all things peanut butter, and bonfires year round.
Before teaching full time, Bianca was a parent educator who offered home visits, play groups, and parent support to families with children from birth to five years of age. Teaching preschool, however, is Bianca’s greatest love. Bianca explains, “Spending time with both students and their parents each day is a gift. Being a teacher in a cooperative preschool allows me the opportunity to get to know the whole family and help support their connection as well as foster early learning skills in a play-based environment. I’d say it is a win-win situation!”
The 2022-2023 school year marks Bianca’s 20th year of teaching at The Crystal Lake Cooperative Preschool! Bianca feels blessed by her experiences with the CLCP, and the CLCP community is truly thankful for her enduring commitment to its students and families, and the knowledge, compassion and joy that she brings to the classroom each day.
