25 Years of Learning: Esther Jetter Preschool celebrates milestone

In one corner of the classroom, a child pretends to run a bakery. Across the room, another carefully stacks blocks into a tower. Nearby, a group gathers on the carpet to listen to a story.

For 25 years, moments like these have shaped the early learning experience at Esther Jetter Preschool. Located on the campus of Mount Vernon Nazarene, the preschool has quietly become a trusted starting place for children beginning their educational journeys.

The program welcomes children ages 3 through 6 into a learning environment designed to build confidence, curiosity, and school-readiness. Esther Jetter Preschool offers three classes — a Three-Year-Old Preschool, a Four-Year-Old Preschool, and a Pre-Kindergarten class — each tailored to meet children where they are developmentally while preparing them for kindergarten and beyond.

Over the past quarter century, the program has served nearly 2,000 children across Knox County. According to director Kelly Gumm, the strength of the program today is rooted in the foundation established years ago.

“The foundation upon which EJP was built was very strong,” Gumm said. “Many pieces of the program have remained consistent over the past 25 years, including following best practice, teaching Ohio Early Learning and Development Standards, and challenging students where they are on their preschool journey.”

That philosophy comes to life in the classroom. One of the most popular features is a rotating dramatic play center that transforms the room into places children recognize from everyday life — a bakery, grocery store, pumpkin patch, or post office.

“The dramatic play center is designed to help build math, literacy, writing, science, and social skills,” Gumm explained.

The preschool has also expanded opportunities for families to stay connected through private class Facebook groups that share daily photos and updates, allowing parents to catch a glimpse of their children’s day in real time.

One of the newer additions to the program is a series of summer camps designed to ease children into school routines. Morning sessions offer hands-on, themed learning experiences for current and incoming students. Afternoon sessions help rising kindergartners practice the skills they’ll need come fall.

For children who’ve never been to school before, it’s a first glimpse. For those who are about to leave EJP for good, it’s a send-off — sitting a little longer, listening a little closer, and believing a little more firmly that they can do this.

Partnership With MVNU

A key factor in the preschool’s success is its partnership with MVNU’s education program. As a laboratory school for the university’s Education Department, the preschool regularly hosts teacher candidates who gain hands-on classroom experience under the guidance of experienced educators.

“The MVNU early childhood education teacher candidates bring energy, new ideas, and lower teacher/child ratios,” Gumm said. “Not only do MVNU students have the opportunity to learn in our classroom, but they also teach lessons. They offer preschool students various teaching styles and many one-on-one experiences while learning through play with a purpose.”

That collaborative environment benefits both groups — young learners and future teachers alike.

Area kindergarten and elementary teachers have noticed. More than once, Gumm has heard from educators who said they could identify the EJP students in their classrooms — not just by academic readiness, but by how they carry themselves, how they treat other children, and how they approach something that feels difficult.

Faith in the Classroom

Christian faith also plays a meaningful role in the preschool’s daily rhythm. It is woven naturally into everyday routines.

“Each day we read from the Beginner’s Bible and pray for the students who are absent as well as the needs of our class and their families,” Gumm said. “As the children become more comfortable and confident, they are eager to share prayer requests and sometimes offer to pray.”

“EJP is more than just a preschool — it’s a special community,” Gumm added. “Families know their children will have a variety of hands-on learning opportunities, including Christian education.”

A Community for Families

Beyond academics and faith formation, the preschool has become something more for many families — a close-knit community that often spans generations.

Ask parents what makes the preschool special, and many point first to the teachers. One parent described the program as offering “caring teachers and a fun, playful academic environment,” while another noted their child experienced significant growth in “learning, communication, confidence and social skills” during their time there.

Gumm says those comments reflect the program’s larger mission.

“Parents have shared the importance of their children having a positive first school experience,” she said. “They’ve said EJP was a safe place where their children were supported and loved and encouraged to safely try new experiences. This laid a good foundation upon which to start their academic journey.”

That sense of belonging is evident in the stories that return to campus. Former preschool students have come back years later to help with summer camps, sharing fond memories of their time in the classroom. Some have even returned as MVNU students — several studying education themselves.

As Esther Jetter Preschool celebrates its 25th anniversary, the milestone reflects more than longevity. It represents a generation of children who first learned to ask questions, make friends, and discover the joy of learning.