A main attraction to prospective students of the Early Childhood Education pathway, the C4 Preschool is operated by high school students who gain experience in teaching, planning, and execution in education careers.
“The Early Childhood Education Pathway helps to prepare high school students for careers in childcare and teaching,” Vanderbur said. “The high school students spend the first semester learning about how young children grow and develop, as well as how to write developmentally appropriate curriculum and provide guidance within an early childhood classroom.”
Applying this knowledge to the real world, the C4 Preschool exists alongside other C4 enterprises, including the Courtyard Restaurant and cosmetology salon.
“Our program offers a preschool class to the community for children ages three to five years old,” Vanderbur said. “This year the preschool students will attend every Tuesday and Thursday between Feb. 3, 2026 and April 21, 2026.”
The ECE pathway and other C4 classes offer a supplementary education to regular classes, helping students develop a specific passion or future career direction.
“The hands-on experience offered throughout the pathway allows high school students to gain a better personal understanding of if early childhood education is an appropriate career for their future,” Vanderbur said. “If high school students fulfill all the requirements while in the pathway, they have the opportunity to earn their CPR certification, potentially earn dual credit through Ivy Tech, and pursue their Child Development Associate Credential (CDA).”
Senior Kaitlyn Olivio has worked with kids in multiple preschool classrooms, as well as in the pathway.
“The pathway has definitely taught me the different teaching approaches we can use for different kids,” Olivio said. “We learn this because every kid learns and understands differently.”
Olivio details a rewarding experience from her time in the classroom.
“One experience I remember was with one of our shyer students. She was one of our Spanish-speaking students. She understood English, but would respond more if you spoke in Spanish,” Olivio said. “Now personally, I know beginner-level Spanish, so when I had gotten the courage to try to speak Spanish to her, she smiled so big and started to talk back.”
The preschool program has a formative effect on the kids, and teaches them many skills as they begin their schooling years.
“While enrolled in our program, young children learn about early literacy, numeracy, social skills, and self-control, as well as haveopportunities to grow in their curiosity, independence, and self-confidence,” Vanderbur said.
Olivio reflects on the impact the preschool has on the pathway students, not just the kids.
“Teaching kids always brightens your day because you realize these kids look up to you, and knowing that you can have that impact makes it all worth it,” Olivio said.
Similarly, Vanderbur discusses how her teaching efforts are reflected in the preschool.
“The highlight for me every year is watching the growth in my high school students,” Vanderbur said. “Watching them do this to invest in the lives of young children is remarkable.”
