History Of the Early Learning Center

Proverbs 22:6

Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.

 

Members of the First Methodist Church wanted to create an environment for children to learn and grow in a Christian atmosphere.  After much prayer and discussion, the Early Learning Center preschool was established in 1991.  Missy Hagen was the director, and they started with two classes: one 3 year old class and one 4 year old class.  The classes met on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from the hours of 9am to 12pm.

In 1992, the 2 year old class was added, and they met on Tuesday and Thursday.  The same teacher would teach the 2 year old class on Tuesday and Thursday and then the 3 year old class on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.  At this time, the 4 year olds were  given the option of attending for 3 days or for attending 5 days.

In 2008, there was a great need for the ELC to extended their hours to accommodate working mothers.  So, the ELC changed their hours to 6am until 5:45pm.  They also added a 1 year old class.

In 2019, our church saw a great need for the care of infants, so the baby room was established.  The community was in an even greater need of more infant care, and our church ELC was at full capacity.  So in 2021, Amory First expanded their preschool.  They moved the infant classes and 1 year old classes into the old parsonage, which is now known as ELC Building 2.   The 2 and 3 year old classes remain meeting in ELC Building 1. 

In 2021, Amory First ELC was honored to receive the prestigious award of Best Preschool/Daycare by Monroe County Reader’s Choice Award.  


Directors:

 

Missy Hagen

Nan Moon

Beth Fullerton

Lisa Thompson

Debbie Criddle

Rachel Sargent

Shayne Hall- Present

Layne Carroll-Present

 

 

 

Charter Infant Class 2019

Back Row: Abi McDuffy, Nicole Ball

Front Row: John Brennan Pepper, Luke Tipton, Mare Dale Lackey, Lyla Peeler, Will Perry Carroll, Levi Allred

Charter Two Year Old Class 1992

Back Row: Missy Hagen, Brock Trautman, John Blake Riddle, Bethany Summerford, Jamie Randle, Edward Chaney, Dot Dunn

Front Row:  Keri Horne, Austin Bonds, Mary Elizabeth Myatt, Jane Sherman, Mary Margaret Miles

Charter Three Year Old Class 1991

Back Row:  Missy Hagen, James Ross Wilkerson, Josh Pickle, Patrick Chaney, John Thomas Elmore, Natalie Gilreath, Will Fowlkes

Front Row:  Lane Maxcy, Lily Curtis, Christa Finley. Josh Randle

Charter Four year Old Class 1991

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