Parents and administrators are on the same page at Clarkston Co-op Preschool. In fact, they’re one and the same.
“Parents are the boss,” said Mary Haight, parent and school board president. “For parents who really want to be involved, the co-op is a wonderful option.”
For students ages 2-4 to enroll, parents first become members of the co-op, operating and mainaining the center as owners.
“Every parent at the school has a job,” Haight said. “They handle administration, pay bills, run the business, and maintain equipment. A cool benefit is they can come in and interect with the children, see learning environment, see how students respond,” she said.
“Parents form lifelong friendships,” Haight said. “They share experience at challenging time with teaching professionals and other parents. They’re all facing the same challenges.”
Parents also spend time in the classroom as teacher aides, allowing the school to maintain a 1:4 ratio of adults to children.
“I love the co-op philosophy,” said parent and teacher aide Holley Brose. “I love the teachers. They’re incredible. I love working in the classroom, talk to the kids, helping them talk to each other.”
“I love being involved with children at this age ? it goes by so fast,” said Amy Emert, first vice president.
One parent mom makes playdough, and others make building blocks for students to use, she said.
“When there’s a job, parents fill it,” she said. “It’s because of the parents that this school exists.”
For Dana Campbell, whose son Cole is a student, her contribution included setting up the school’s web site, www.clarkstoncooppreschool.com.
“I think it’s a great opportunity to be part of your children’s education,” Campbell said. “It’s a great fit for us. Cole can’t wait for his sister to be in the program.”
“I like parents’ involvement in decisions,” said Kim Elliott, board treasurer. “We don’t just drop off our children.”
Teachers Karen Girard and Marilyn French both sent their children to the school.
“My son went here,” said Girard, in her fourth year teaching at the school. “It’s a lot of fun. I really like the parent-child interactions.”
Students learn through play, with lots of hands-on math and science activities and socialization, she said.
“We really believe in active learning environment,” said French, teacher for 14 years. “They learn by doing.”
The school offers a secular education, but is located in Clarkston United Methodist Church, 6060 Waldon Road. The church helps out by providing classroom space and advertising it, and the school helps introduce parents to the church, French said.
“We’re mutually supportive,” she said.
For more information, call 248-625-2368.