More than 1,000 children have passed through its doors in 40 years.
In fact, some of the children playing and learning today at the Burrier Child Development Center on the Eastern Kentucky University campus are the offspring of Center “alumni.”
So fond memories are sure to be rekindled when the Center hosts a 40th anniversary celebration on Thursday, April 14. The event, held in conjunction with the Week of the Young Child, an annual celebration sponsored by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), will begin at 6:30 p.m. in the Burrier Family Living Center in the Burrier Building. Refreshments will be served.
The event is open to former students and families, former directors and teachers, current families and students, and EKU faculty and staff, and any interested others. Former and current administrators will be recognized, as well as program accomplishments and changes, said Center Director Dr. Lisa Gannoe. “It will be a time to reflect, share and remember.”
The Center, which provides half-day pre-school programming for 3-year-olds, was accredited by the NAEYC during 1987-88 and has maintained accreditation throughout its history. It was one of the first programs in Kentucky to earn the distinction as well as one of the first to achieve a Kentucky four-star quality child care rating.
The learning opportunities at the Center are designed to emphasize the development of the whole child: socially, emotionally, physically, intellectually, linguistically and creatively. “Our mission is to provide high-quality programming for young children that is intellectually stimulating and an educational foundation that fosters development in all areas through a play-based emergent curriculum.”
Besides providing quality care for the children, the Center provides students from a variety of programs, including Child and Family Studies, Special Education, Psychology, Occupational Therapy, Communication Disorders, an opportunity to observe young children and gain hands-on experience. “Parents enjoy being able to observe their children engaging in the learning process through the observation booth and through the family involvement activities,” Gannoe said. “Knowing that it’s a safe and quality program provides them with peace of mind.”
The community, in turn, gains “quality teachers who have child development knowledge and a passion for how children grown and learn,” Gannoe continued.
The two full-time teachers are master’s-level teachers with many years of experience, training and knowledge in working with typically developing children and children with special needs.
For more information about the Burrier Child Development Center, visit fcs.eku.edu/welcome-burrier-child-development-center.