Today we’d like to introduce you to Sara Meek-Rogers.
Hi Sara, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Grace Chapel Early Learning Center began as a small, part-time preschool whose vision was to care for the youngest in our midst, treating them with love and dignity, while fostering their curiosity about the world around them. That vision has continued to expand as we have grown into an almost full-time preschool with vibrant classrooms filled with children of different backgrounds and cultures. We join our church in celebrating difference, embracing change, and belonging to one another each and every day.
At Grace Chapel Early Learning Center, a child’s faith formation is an unfolding of a child’s natural curiosity about the world around them. We embrace and seek to understand all of God’s creation through lessons that incorporate science, math, and literacy interwoven with creative play and exploration. Maybe most importantly, we tell, and further show, the children each day that they are children of God.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Growth is always a little bumpy. We started in a small, old building that presented us with many challenges. We are grateful to be in a new facility that allows us to care for even more children and presents us with fewer bumps in the road.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
My personal background is in education, with a focus on second-language learning. I have always been captivated by the Spanish language and the many cultures around the world that speak Spanish. I have traveled to several Central and South American countries, and I spent five summers in Madrid, Spain, completing my Masters degree in Spanish language and literature.
I taught Spanish for 12 years in the public school systems before making the choice to stay home with my young children. Preschool school and early childhood education were a natural progression for me. My youngest was ready to start preschool, and I was ready to get back into education. I spent several years in the 2s classroom before moving into the role of Family Ministries Director at Grace Chapel and then into the director position of the Early Learning Center. It has given me so much joy to work with the little ones!
Little did I know that I would use my specialization in languages to help children! All of our students, of course, are learning to speak in general, and many are coming to us from a variety of backgrounds and home languages. It has been a wonderful opportunity for me to use my skills and understanding of language development, especially in a second language, with our students.
At Grace Chapel, we love that all students have a wide diversity of culture, faith, thought, and background. Language is a small part of this. We belong to one another, all-the-while embracing what makes us unique and special children of God.
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
Truly, the teachers deserve all the credit! We have an amazing staff of educators who show up every day to care for and teach the children in love. They are what make this place special, and we are grateful for them! Just like the children, we remind the teachers that they, too, are children of God and blessings to all of the students and families they serve.
The pastoral staff of the church have also been a great support to the preschool. They are champions of the Early Learning Center in every way. Just yesterday, during an ice storm, they were at the church to help to make sure that the parking lot was safe for children to come to school. From showing up to help teach the children, to making sure we have heat in the classrooms, they have been an integral part of the success of the school.
And I couldn’t move on without mentioning my husband and family. My husband and two boys have spent countless hours at the school, putting together furniture, cleaning, preparing lessons, helping with the kids during camp, and even plunging toilets. Plus, my boys have gotten pretty good with the kid-sized basketball hoop!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://grace380.org/preschool
