Ohio Preschool Celebrates 25 Years, Nearly 2,000 Kids Served

For 25 years, a small preschool on a college campus has been giving young children their first taste of school—and it's working so well that kindergarten teachers can spot its graduates by how confidently they walk into class.

Esther Jetter Preschool at Mount Vernon Nazarene University just celebrated serving nearly 2,000 Knox County children since opening in 2001. The program welcomes kids ages 3 through 6 into classrooms where bakery corners and block towers turn into lessons about math, literacy, and social skills.

Director Kelly Gumm says the secret has been meeting children exactly where they are developmentally. "Many pieces of the program have remained consistent over the past 25 years, including following best practice and challenging students where they are on their preschool journey," she explains.

One standout feature is a dramatic play center that transforms throughout the year into familiar places like grocery stores, pumpkin patches, and post offices. Children learn by pretending, building real-world skills while having fun.

The preschool doubles as a training ground for college students studying early childhood education. Future teachers bring fresh energy to classrooms while gaining hands-on experience under veteran educators, creating smaller teacher-to-child ratios that benefit everyone.

Parents say they notice the difference when their kids move on to kindergarten. Area elementary teachers have told Gumm they can identify EJP graduates not just by academic readiness, but by how they treat classmates and tackle challenges.

The Ripple Effect

The impact extends beyond individual families. Former preschoolers have returned years later to volunteer at summer camps, sharing memories of their earliest school days. Some have even enrolled at MVNU as education majors themselves, coming full circle.

The program recently added summer camps to help ease children into school routines before fall. Morning sessions offer themed learning experiences, while afternoon sessions prepare rising kindergartners with skills they'll need.

Faith plays a natural role in daily life at EJP, with Bible stories and prayer woven into routines. "As the children become more comfortable and confident, they are eager to share prayer requests and sometimes offer to pray," Gumm says.

Parents describe a caring community where children grow in confidence, communication, and social skills. One parent called it "a safe place where their children were supported and loved and encouraged to safely try new experiences."

Twenty-five years in, this little preschool has become proof that a strong foundation in those earliest years can shape how children approach learning for life.