Ohio Preschool Celebrates 25 Years, 2,000 Young Lives Shaped

Kindergarten teachers across Knox County, Ohio say they can spot the Esther Jetter Preschool graduates in their classrooms. It's not just the academic readiness, it's how these kids carry themselves, treat their classmates, and respond when something feels hard.

For 25 years, this small preschool on the Mount Vernon Nazarene University campus has been giving children their first taste of school. Nearly 2,000 kids have walked through its doors, learning to ask questions, make friends, and believe they can tackle whatever comes next.

Director Kelly Gumm says the magic happens in moments that look simple from the outside. One corner becomes a bakery where three-year-olds practice counting cupcakes. Another transforms into a post office where kids write their first letters. On the carpet, children gather for Bible stories and pray for classmates who are absent.

"Parents have shared the importance of their children having a positive first school experience," Gumm said. "EJP was a safe place where their children were supported and loved and encouraged to safely try new experiences."

The program serves ages three through six across three classes, each designed to meet children exactly where they are developmentally. Future teachers from the university work alongside experienced educators, bringing fresh energy while learning how to shape young minds.

That partnership creates smaller class sizes and more one-on-one attention. The college students teach lessons and play with purpose, gaining real classroom experience while preschoolers benefit from multiple teaching styles and extra hands.

Parents report watching their children blossom in ways that go beyond ABCs and 123s. One described seeing significant growth in "learning, communication, confidence and social skills." Another praised the "caring teachers and fun, playful academic environment."

The Ripple Effect

The impact reaches far beyond those early years. Former students have returned to help with summer camps, sharing warm memories of their first classroom. Some have come back as MVNU education students themselves, stepping into the same building where they once stacked blocks and pretended to run bakeries.

This full-circle journey reflects what happens when early education focuses on the whole child. Faith, academics, play, and social skills weave together into days that feel joyful while building foundations that last.

Summer camps now help ease nervous newcomers into school routines while giving rising kindergartners one last boost before the big transition. For children who've never attended school, it's a gentle first glimpse. For those heading to kindergarten, it's a sendoff that says: you've got this.

Twenty-five years means the preschool has now served multiple generations of some families, creating a community that extends well beyond classroom walls. What started as one program has become a trusted launchpad where curiosity takes root and confidence grows.