ECET program now utilizing new state-of-the-art facility
By: Melanie Crump

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 Other improvements in the 8,800-square-foot center include a state-of-the-art kitchen lab used to teach nutrition classes and in preparing meals for the children. There are two classrooms located in the new building; one of them a “smart classroom.” 

Children in the Child Enrichment Center play in the newly-built playhouse that was included in the construction of the program’s new facility. Pictured in the left window (l-r) is Lee Colley, Isaiah Ferguson, and Bella Hayes. In the left rocking chair is Braxton Daniel. Center is (l-r) Charlie Buchanan, Jayla Edwards, and Lee Ross. In the right window (l-r) is Audrey Strong, Adeline Slocum, and Rosemary Honeycutt. In the right rocking chair is Chloe Feeler. (Photo by S.A. Umberger)

Another new feature is the student resource room, which contains teaching activity books, files for preparing a teaching unit, and five computers for students’ use. 
There is a conference room for faculty and staff as well as a “safe room” built in the central area of the building that is easily accessible in the event of a tornado or other weather event.

The new facility also has a fenced-in playground with special material used on the playground that is designed to cushion any fall that may occur and lessen the chance of injury.
Another safety measure of the building is in its new procedures for picking up and dropping off children. Parents can now drive under a covered area to let their child out or pick up their child. When in the old building parents had to park in the Berry Building parking lot and walk their child next to a very busy and narrow street.

According to Camp, having the new building is “not only an asset to the students, it’s also an asset to the college community whose children attend our lab school.” 

Student teachers undergo fingerprinting and a background check with the Mississippi Department of Health before they begin practicum courses. This allows the parents of those children in the facility an added sense of security.

“I want my children in a safe learning environment, and the center is the best one around that I know of,” said Dr. Carol Cleveland, a Science instructor at Northwest as well as the parent of a child in the program.  “I can’t wait to have my third child attend there next year. My son loves the center. He has definitely learned how to interact with others, and he has more control over impulses and is getting closer to being ready for kindergarten.”

Sophomore Felicia Wilson, ECET major says she “has learned a lot coming here; learned how to better socialize with children.”

At the October meeting of the college’s Board of Trustees, action was approved to name the facility in honor of longtime instructor Marilyn Spears who retired in 2005. Spears had 26 years of service at the time of her retirement. Many of those years were spent as the lead instructor for the program, known then as Child Development Technology.

She is credited with helping populate the program through innovate teaching and implementation of classes through the college’s evening school program. These classes helped teacher assistants and Head Start workers meet new state requirements.

An official name for the facility will be determined at the November meeting of the Board of Trustees.         

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