UC Schools Pre-K Program Already Has Rich History

By Mike Hutchens, UC Schools Communications Director
 
 
Union City, Tenn.–As their children prepare for graduation from Union City High School in the spring, most parents will reflect on the educational journey that began more than a dozen years ago.
 
And a pre-K pilot program that began at the start of the 2005-06 school year in the Union City System has served as the base level for a handful of 2019 graduates who’ve enjoyed immense classroom and extracurricular success.
 
Case in point: Wilson Harris.
 
The son of Amy (Kizer) Harris and the late James Harris, Wilson was member of that inaugural pre-K class and has thrived thereafter – even in the aftermath of the death of his father in September of that first “school” year.
 
His mother gave the program a glowing recommendation.
 
“Even though Wilson had attended a local preschool since he was a few months old, I felt the Union City Pre-K Program would provide a structured environment with more opportunities for learning and making it easier to transition to kindergarten,” she said.
 
“Little did I know at the time how important the program would be for not only Wilson, but our entire family.  With the loss of his father a few months into the program, Wilson was surrounded daily by love and kindness from his teachers and the staff at Union City Elementary.
 
“Kim Taylor and Paula Houston went above and beyond to make certain Wilson never stopped learning or having fun.  It was such a good feeling to know that behind all of the smiles, words of encouragement, and extra hugs were teachers wanting the best for my child.”
 
Statistics support Ms. Harris’ claim of the program, which has grown to three classes of 60 students this year and could add more of both in the future.
 
Of the 20 students in that first class still attending UC Schools, that group has a 100 percent graduation rate. Sixty-three percent of them will graduate with high honors.
 
Cumulatively, they have a 24.7 ACT score with a quarter of them scoring higher than 30 on the standardized college preparatory test.
 
Students in the program participate in art appreciation, enriched library and literacy, technology classes, speech/language intervention, music and movement through Kindermusic and physical education. They all receive free breakfast and lunch.
 
Stephanie Sisco, one of three Teachers of the Year in 2018-19 in the UC School System and the Kindergarten Department head, is convinced the program has been beneficial to both students and teachers as they transition to UC Elementary School.
“Kindergarten teachers feel that the students who have been a part of the pre-K program come equipped with the knowledge and skills they need to excel in kindergarten,” Sisco claimed.
“They are familiar with our school and easily make the transition ready to learn.”
All classrooms in the pre-K program are equipped with advanced technology. The six teachers in this year’s program have 80 years of classroom experience. After-school care is provided for students until 5:30 each day.
Camp ROCK – a summer enrichment/intervention program during the month of June – is also available to selected students completing pre-K as a bridge to kindergarten readiness.
Program coordinator Laney Rogers was both a visionary and reflective when talking about the pre-K success rate.
“We’re looking forward to the future of this program while also celebrating our first class,” she said. “Essentially, half of our kindergarten class enrollment this year has gone through the pre-K program.
“And it’s proven to have better prepared them for kindergarten.”
A parent of another 2019 UCHS senior, Tracey Kizer, also had glowing words for her son Pierce’s experience 13 years ago.
“I feel that the pre-K program helped to provide Pierce with intellectual, emotional, and social growth and a solid foundation for future academic success,” Mrs. Kizer claimed.
Registration for this fall’s pre-K and kindergarten classes will be March 21 from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m. in the UC Elementary School library.
For further information, call 885-1632.
Photo is of a young Wilson Harris during his in-home visit from UC Schools Pre-K teachers Kim Taylor and Paula Houston prior to the 2005-06 school year.