Our Services
High Quality Learning Center
Welcome to Iron Range Tykes Learning Center! We are a brand new facility as of August 2018. We offer 5 classrooms, 2 playgrounds, and a gym, with daily curriculum.
Our philosophy at Iron Range Tykes is that children here are encouraged to be children; we do not believe they are small adults. The individual progress, growth, and development of every child are important to us. The environment at the Center promotes learning while having fun during the process. Through a mixture of hands-on experiences, group activities, and individual play, our children develop the intellectual, social, emotional, and physical skills necessary for all aspects of life and growth.
We provide care Monday–Friday between the hours of 6am and 6pm. We are closed the following holidays: New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day.
Infant Room
(6wks–15mos) capacity 12
Toddler Room
(16mos–25mos) capacity 14
Toddler Transition
(26mos–35mos) capacity 14
Pre-School Room
(36mos–Kindergarten) capacity 20
School Age
(K–12yrs) capacity 30
About Us
About our Learning Center
Our 8,500 square feet facility has 5 classrooms, a gym, commercial kitchen, and 2 outside playgrounds. Each playground offers cement, sand, and grass surfaces. We also extend classroom learning by incorporating music on both playgrounds.
Infrastructure
Structured Curriculum
Small Class Size
Infant Care
Safety First
Activities
Our Mission
Iron Range Tykes will provide a safe environment to nurture children’s emotional, social, and physical well-being to assist in child development. Each child will learn through engagement in play in all aspects, including outside play. Close personal attention by experienced personnel and smaller class size will provide a quality experience for all children, so parents and caregivers will seek to enroll their children in our care.
- Hiring experienced staff
- Ongoing, effective trainings
- Background checks on all staff
- Parent Aware Rated center
- Consistent providers
- Having routine classroom schedules
- Cognitive development equipment
- Dramatic Play equipment
- Large muscle equipment
- Manipulative equipment
- Sensory stimulation equipment
- Weekly art
- Cooking food on site in our commercial kitchen
- Food safety license
Program Curriculum
Iron Range Tykes Learning Center staff will strive to provide the Highest Quality Childcare and Educational Service that promotes and enhances each child’s development; while assuring our parent’s peace of mind in the care and service we render. We provide a wide range of age-appropriate learning opportunities for children from 6 weeks thru 12 years of age to develop and grow intellectually, socially, and emotionally, while in a child friendly environment.
Iron Range Tykes aims to offer safe and nurturing childcare at all times. Our goal is to provide learning through play in all aspects, including outside play. Close personal attention with smaller class sizes is essential to providing a quality experience for all children; therefore, adequate and experienced personnel will be hired to ensure each child has the proper supervision while in our care.
Each month there will be an enrichment activity such as:
- Pacer Puppets
- Fire safety
- Magic show
- Zoo mobile
- Singers
- Dental importance
We are a proud participant of Parent Aware. We are currently striving to achieve our 4 star rating. Ratings guide families to quality care and early education programs. To learn more about Parent Aware please check out: parentaware.org
We offer structured activities throughout the day and incorporate the same curriculum as Mt Iron–Buhl school, HighScope curriculum, to prepare your child for school. HighScope focuses on early childhood education. For more information please check out highscope.org
Enrollment
To enroll your child or to be put on the waiting list, please fill out the child application form and return it with all necessary forms and registration fee to our office. Please call ahead of time so we can set up a time to tour the facility and answer any questions you may have at the same time.
Before each child can start we must have on file:
- Completed application
- Health Care Summary signed by Physician or Nurse
- Immunizations up to date filled out on our sheet
- Any additional forms your child may need:
- Physician Directive for Alternative Infant Sleep Position
- Parental Consent for Swaddling an Infant
- Special Diet Statement
- Individual Child Care Program Plan
- We also would like you to bring your child's belongings prior to starting:
Infant: Formula or breast milk, bottle, pacifier, diapers, wipes, diaper rash cream, 2 sets of extra clothes, and daily routine schedule.
Toddler: Diapers/pull ups, wipes, diaper rash cream, 1 set of extra clothes, and nap blanket.
Preschooler: Diapers/pull ups, wipes, 1 set of extra clothes and nap blanket if naps.
School Age: Extra clothes (labeled gallon bag with socks, underwear, shirt and pants).
This handbook helps parents understand who we are and our expectations and policies. All parents are expected to read this handbook and agree to follow the policies herein.
Click Here To Download The Handbook
Brightwheel is a powerful and easy to use software in early education. It provides daily updates, photos, teacher communication, digital sign in/out, and paperless invoices.
Watch an overview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5iKitGJeAZ4
Our Team
Shawntel Gruba
CEOMy name is Shawntel Gruba and I am the Chief Executive Officer at Iron Range Tykes. I have worked as a provider in child care centers for 20 years before deciding I was ready to run my own center. I am thrilled to be able to offer my community this greatly needed service. I grew up in Ely and graduated with my Associate's Degree and Business Diploma from Vermillion Community College in 2004. I live in Britt with my husband and our son Brant. My husband and I enjoy being involved with our community by being a part of the Virginia Rotary, NorthRidge Community Credit Union Board, and KCPRO-East youth snowmobile racing.
Katie Mitrovich
DirectorMy name is Katie Mitrovich and I live in Virginia, MN. I graduated from Tower-Soudan high school and completed my Associate’s Degree from Itasca Community College. I am married with two amazing children, a 3 year old girl and a 4 month old boy. I love to spend all of my free time with them, and my desire to be the best mom I can be plays a major role in caring for children. For the past 10 years, I was employed as an infant room teacher at another Learning Center and thoroughly enjoyed my job. Throughout my life, I have dedicated a lot of time to caring for children of all ages. Having the opportunity to watch children learn and grow is truly a gratifying and rewarding experience.
Liz Stanaway
Assistant DirectorMy name is Liz Stanaway and I’m the Assistant Director at Iron Range Tykes. I grew up in an in-home daycare so I’ve been around childcare since just days after I was born. I grew up in Eveleth, MN and got my Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the College of St. Scholastica in 2022. I’m so proud to be a part of IRT and helping raise the future!
Tuition
- Infants (6wks–15mos) $250
- Toddlers (16mos–35mos) $240
- Preschoolers (36mos–5yrs) $220
- School Age (5yrs–12yrs) $200
- School Agers in School (5yrs–12yrs) $55
- Toddlers (16mos–35mos) $200
- Preschoolers (36mos–5yrs) $195
- School Age (5yrs–12yrs) $165
- School Agers in School (5yrs–12yrs) $50
- School Agers (5yrs–12yrs) $135
- School Agers in School (5yrs–12yrs) $45
- Infants (6wks–15mos) $60
- Toddlers (16mos–35mos) $55
- Preschoolers (36mos–5yrs) $55
- School Age (5yrs–12yrs) $50
- School Agers in School (5yrs–12yrs) $25
Iron Range Tykes charges by the day, not by hours. We believe children and staff benefit from routine and consistency. Having your child attend more gives them stability, routine, friendships, instructional play, socialization and more.
We do accept county assistance programs. You can apply on Minnesota Child Care Assistance Program Application (DHS-3550).
* Note: St Louis County rates do not fully cover Iron Range Tykes rates or fees.
Contact Us
Employment
Iron Range Tykes is always accepting resumes and hiring ambitious providers! Please review our Aide, Assistant Teacher, and Teacher descriptions below. If you are highly motivated, outgoing, silly, empathetic, patient, loving, willing to obtain First Aid/CPR training, and can pass a background check, please email us your resume.
