ESU Center for Early Childhood Education gearing up for another year

Camille Cooper, Preschool Teacher at the ESU Center for Early Childhood Education, works with students Maegan Vincent and Isaiah Pardo.

If you have driven by the Butcher Education Center at 15th and Merchant Street you may have seen children out playing or soaking up some sunshine in the wading pools. These are students enrolled at the Emporia State University Center for Early Childhood Education.

“The CECE, now located in the Butcher Education Center at 15th and Merchant, strives to provide a high quality early childhood environment for children of ESU students, faculty, and the Emporia community,” said Keely Persinger, Director of the ESU Center for Early Childhood Education.

Enrollment for the upcoming year is August 2 – 3. Priority enrollment is given to ESU students and/or faculty needing child care.

The Toddler, Preschool I and Preschool II Classrooms offer full day schedules only. The AM Preschool Classroom offers a morning preschool experience 8:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. for 3 and 4 year olds. The full day classrooms begin August 16 and AM Preschool begins September 5.

 “The CECE operates on a slightly different calendar than the University. We offer our toddler and preschool programs during the summer as well as our Summer School Age Program. Our school is open from 7:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday,” Persinger said.

All classes have qualified, experienced teachers that have bachelor degrees and certification in Early Childhood Education. “Our teachers strive to present child-centered, hands-on learning experiences that are interesting and relevant to each child in the classroom,” Persinger said.

In addition, CECE serves as a practicum and observation site for ESU students training to be early childhood and early childhood special education teachers. These students also participate in the classrooms.

“Parents have the comfort in knowing their child is in an educational and safe place,” said Camille Cooper, a fifth year Preschool Teacher at the CECE. “We provide a child-friendly environment that encourages the development of problem-solving skills, create and expand cognitive, language, and motor skills, and help each child to better understand himself/herself and the world in which he/she lives.”

"It is hard leaving my child in someone else's care for such a significant amount of time. One thing that has made me feel better is seeing Isaiah give and receive hugs almost every day, whether it be from his teacher, a staff member, or other children at the CECE,” said Jennifer Werly, parent of Isaiah Pardo, a student at the CECE.

Cooper said they also do a lot of group activities and focus on teaching children how to get along with their peers and parents.

“Our students participate in kindergarten preparation activities,” Cooper said. “Some activities include counting, socialization skills, group work, learning shapes, colors and days of the week.” 

The CECE is licensed by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment to provide child care for children 12 months (and walking) through school age. CECE has a long history of providing quality early childhood education and child care. The CECE is also licensed to serve as an SRS provider.

“We maintain a low staff to student ratio,” Persinger said. “Because our school serves as a practicum and observation site for ESU students, we often have student teachers and observation students in our classrooms. This helps us to maintain an even lower adult child ratio.”

For more information about any of the Center’s programs, enrollment and fee information contact Keely Persinger, Director, at 620-341-5290.

Last Updated July 2, 2007>