Guess Who Turns 60 This Year…
Nope, it isn't me! (I turned 50 this year.) But this fall, our beloved preschool program turns 60. Our capable and dedicated Director, Alycia Truett, put together some fun facts for us as we celebrate!
Did you know…
It started as Happy Hours Kindergarten
Before Knox county had kindergarten, Margaret Schantz, Bobbie Boring, Polly Kelly and Willda Johnson launched a kindergarten in a home in Grove Park. It then moved into FCUMC and became the FCUMC Preschool. This move was instigated by then Associate Pastor David Hazelwood, who saw it as part of an initiative to expand opportunities for ministry to children and families.
We Started With Sixty-Two
The Preschool started with sixty-two children ages 4 & 5. These students occupied the upstairs classes in the old part of the church. By the winter of 1966, the new education building was completed, and the preschool moved to its current location.
Over 100 Families
The preschool now serves over 100 families from the Fountain City community and beyond, with classes for children 6 months to 5 years old. We have a staff of twenty teachers, and an operating budget of $465,000.
Excellence and Collaboration
The preschool took a leap forward in 2000 when, under the leadership of Director Susan Todd, we became nationally accredited through the National Association for the Education of Young Children. Accreditation requires an intensive process of self-reflection, several days of on-site evaluations, and a commitment to continuous improvement. As one of the few accredited programs in the Knoxville area, we are a fieldwork site for college students pursuing degrees in Early Childhood Education. For the first time, this year we are partnering with Tennessee Wesleyan University to serve as a fieldwork site for their Occupational Therapy graduate students. These students gain valuable experience working directly with children, and our teachers and families benefit from their input on assessments and activities to improve fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, balance, sensory regulation and more.
Grants
In the past five years, the preschool has been the recipient of several federal and state grants which have allowed us not only to improve our classroom equipment, but also recruit and retain highly educated and experienced early childhood teachers. These funds have helped position the preschool to meet the challenges ahead.
I am very thankful for the wisdom, faithfulness, and decisions of previous generations who helped us be in ministry in such a unique way. May we continue to allow the needs of our community and the giftedness of our church to converge in such a way that we can boldly make disciples and change lives for another sixty years!
In Deep Appreciation Of The Preschool Staff, Past and Current,
Pastor Don
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