Coastal Carolina University will open its new Early Childhood Development and Literacy Center on Monday. Not only will it be a preschool, it will serve as a training ground for future teachers.
“We see this as a place to not only serve the children who’ll be in our classrooms every day, but also to serve the students here on campus and our community at large,” said Dr. Angela Huggins, director of the center.
Once the center is running at full capacity, it will consist of four classrooms and 65 children between the ages of three and five. There will be two teachers assigned to a classroom, each of whom will be state-certified. Coastal students studying to become school teachers will be able to intern at the center, and get hands-on training through various education classes.
“Our students will be able to come here and interact with young children. We have observation windows there. We’ll have a video system in place where professors can schedule an opportunity for students to observe the children as they’re interacting with a teacher,” said Huggins.
Huggins, a former teacher and Pee Dee Elementary School principal, said experiential learning is critical for students before they enter their own classrooms.
“Being able to come to the center and put into practice the things you’re learning in your classrooms gives students here an advantage,” she said.
It’s also an advantage for Horry County Schools. According to the university, about 70% of approximately 130 graduates from the education program stay and teach in Horry and Georgetown counties.
“It’s a win-win situation for Horry County schools as well. Hoping that we can recruit those graduates to come work for us,” said Horry County Schools Lisa Bourcier.
Coastal Carolina University also offers incentives to graduates who work in Horry County Schools, such as 40% off tuition to pursue a graduate degree at the university.
“Recruitment is very competitive. We know that there is a teacher shortage across the nation and here in SC so it’s very important for us to grow our own teachers,” said Bourcier.
Admission to the Early Childhood Development and Literacy Center will be on a rolling basis during its first year. CCU faculty, staff, and students can enroll their children at discounted rates. Scholarships are also available to graduates of Horry County high schools who would like to enroll their children. For more information click here.
