Cooperation Station hires new director, reopening

Cooperation Station has hired a new director and is tentatively scheduled to re-open on July 29. The childcare facility initially closed in August 2024 after the lead teacher moved away. The daycare also closed for less than a month in 2023.

The prolonged closure allowed Cooperation Station to remodel its building. The third floor was renovated into a potential living space to attract employees who needed housing in Cook County.

“Previously, the space was used as kind of a catch-all room, massive storage room. Everybody was afraid to go up there,” Board Chair Adrianna Brisson told WTIP. “Now the intent for that space is to be used as a housing option for employees, even looking at internship opportunities for the college students that are in early childhood programs, so that they would have a space to stay if they chose to do an internship with Cooperation Station.”

The new director, Klevisa Smith, didn’t need living space as they were already local to Cook County after moving to the U.S from Albania. Smith has a background in psychology and medical sciences. While this is her first time as a care provider, she has experience working with children.

“This just turned out to be a really great opportunity for her to put some of those psychology skills and her love for teaching, and create a nature-based program,” Brisson said.

There is still a lot of work needed to reopen the daycare. Cooperation Station is still searching for a part-time Assistant Teacher and expects to schedule interviews for the position in August. There are also volunteer opportunities for community members interested in helping.

Cooperation Station has been operating in Cook County since 1999, addressing an acute need for child care. Last August, a Department of Health and Human Services representative estimated the county needed an additional 75-100 spots for child care.

Cooperation Station has started filling their roster and is accepting waitlist requests. Due to state requirements, there will be fewer spots than the facility previously offered, and the board plans to start slow and small with the new director.

The facility’s open house, planned for August, will allow people to meet the new director and tour the newly renovated space.

“We really wanted to create a space where the employees want to come to work, they want to be there,” Brission said. “Just know that we are doing everything we can to create a solid program for this community and not let cooperation station fall to the wayside.”

WTIP spoke to Adrianna Brisson about Cooperation Station’s new director, re-opening, and what the board learned during the closure. The audio of that conversation can be found below.

Josh Hinke July 14, 2025