FORT IRWIN, CA – The Fort Irwin Child and Youth Services (CYS) has earned the highest level of accreditation from the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). This achievement signals a complete cultural and systemic overhaul of a program that had previously been plagued by leadership instability.
The transformation began with the arrival of key leaders in the spring of 2025, including CDC Director Lyndi Ramos and CYS Coordinator Melissa Burney. Recognizing the need for a "total systemic rebuild," as Burney put it, the new leadership secured a crucial six-month extension from NAEYC to implement a comprehensive strategy for change.
Ramos, now a Program Operations Specialist, identified the "intensive process of staff training and relationship building" as the greatest challenge. "It was vital to help our team...truly internalize the 'why' and the 'how' behind our standards," Ramos said. A major breakthrough occurred when the leadership worked to demystify the accreditation process. "Once the team realized it wasn’t the 'monster' they had imagined, their perspective shifted," she explained.
This new perspective was central to elevating the staff from caregivers to professional educators who now "carry a deep sense of pride in knowing they achieved this milestone together," Ramos noted. The effort was bolstered by Supervisory Program Specialist Diamond Moody and Assistant Director April Phillips, who were instrumental in building team confidence and elevating classroom standards. The entire CYS team, from administrative staff to lead teachers, was mobilized to overhaul everything from safety protocols to classroom environments.
The result of this six-month sprint is a program that not only earned reaccreditation but achieved the most rigorous level offered by NAEYC. "Moving a failing, isolated program to the highest tier of excellence in such a short window is nearly unheard of," Burney stated. "It represents a total cultural shift."
Addressing the Fort Irwin community, Ramos acknowledged that the path to improvement involved difficult transitions but affirmed their core mission. "Our focus has remained steadfast: providing high-quality, accessible childcare that supports the mission of the Army and the Fort Irwin community."
Today, the Cactus Corner CDC stands as a model of excellence. "This wasn't just a successful inspection; it was the birth of a system built to be sustained for years to come," Burney concluded.
Steven L. Chadwick, the Fort Irwin Garrison Commander, commented, “Throughout my time in the Army, I have never observed a more astonishing organizational and cultural improvement in such a short period of time... In less than six months, our CDC transformed from a childcare facility to a highly functional education center.”
To that end, Ramos invites community involvement, stating, "We maintain an open-door policy and warmly invite you to join our Parent Advisory Board. Your voice is essential as we continue to evolve."
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