MARION -- Wyatt James Robinson was one of about 30 graduates to complete a session at Marion High School's Kiddie City on Feb. 28.
Wyatt, who will soon celebrate his third birthday, had a rewarding experience during Session II of Marion High School's Kiddie City, according to his mom, Lindsay Robinson.
Robinson said the decision to send Wyatt to the celebrated program was easy.
"It's a great program and it's right here in my building," she said. Robinson teaches science at MHS.
"The kids are great," she said, speaking of the MHS students who act as teachers in the program. "I've had most of them in class."
Robinson also had firsthand experience with the success of the program. Her daughter, Madalynn, is a Kiddie City graduate.
Kiddie City will celebrate its 50th year next year and 44 of those have been under the supervision of the Walker family.
Rani Walker-Gross, who attended Kiddie City as a student and a student teacher, has been in charge of the program for the past eight years. Before that, her mother, Linda Walker, ran it for 36 years.
The program, which offers dual credit in Early Childhood Education (ECE) with John A. Logan College, is designed to help prepare high school students for a career in early childhood education or a variety of other areas working with children such as pediatrics, social work, and speech and language development specialists.
"Wyatt had some speech issues going in," said Robinson. "He was also very shy."
She is thrilled with the progress he made.
"His speech has improved and his shyness is better," she said. "He sings all the songs, can say the pledge, he counts, and says his alphabet."
She credits part of Wyatt's success with the increased social interaction the program provides.
Walker-Gross said the program includes several aspects of school readiness including art, science, games, and a daily snack.
"That allows our students to learn about proper nutrition for children," she said.
"We have a new state-of-the-art facility," she said. That includes security, an observation vestibule for parents, and a kitchen.
The program is nonprofit. Parents pay a $40 fee that goes back to the school district. The district then provides snacks and supplies.
The program has three sessions each year, divided by age group.
The current session, for 4-5 year olds, is bilingual, teaching both English and Spanish.
"We have students in our master level Spanish III and Spanish IV classes as well as a native speaker," said Walker-Gross. "We teach Spanish every day."
The Kiddie City program this year features 39 MHS students enrolled in Child Care I and Child Care II. Along with the dual credit opportunity, those students also earn an Illinois Early Childhood Education Level I teaching certification.
"That license also enables them to apply for a scholarship," said Walker-Gross. "It can take them through their Master's degree."
She said the scholarship pays for 15 credit hours each semester at any Illinois junior college or university.
Walker-Gross went back to school and earned a gateway educator certification that allows her students to compete for the scholarship. She is now working to complete a Master's degree in Educational Leadership.
Like the Robinsons and Walker-Gross' own family, the program has several students who are generational.
Junior Abbi Mayfield is one of those students.
"Her mom is a teacher at Washington (school)," said Walker-Gross. "She went through the program."
Abbi was also a Kiddie City graduate and is now in her first year as a student teacher. Her little brother is currently attending Session III.
Walker-Gross is proud to continue the tradition. Although her upcoming Master's degree will open other doors in the educational community, she has no plans to leave.
"I can't imagine being anywhere else."
