Miss Barbara – Barbara Long, Director
Barbara Long is the director at Front Street Playschool, a position she has held for the past 32 years. She received a BA in English from UNC-G, and prior to becoming involved in preschool education, taught English at Morehead High School in Eden, NC. In 1994 she completed the Early Childhood Leadership Development Program, a year long course of study co-sponsored by UNC-CH and the Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute, with a focus on early care and education.
In the program she directs, “Miss Barbara” has had the opportunity to see first-hand just how much young children learn through hands-on, concrete experiences and creative play. That has led her to be an advocate for incorporating that kind of active learning into kindergarten classrooms and beyond.
The goal of the Front Street Playschool program is to provide a safe, happy environment in which preschool children have the opportunity to develop socially, emotionally, academically and spiritually.
It is our philosophy that instilling a love of learning in a child is the most effective way to prepare him or her for further education.
We believe in hands-on learning. Preschoolers learn by doing. Touching, seeing, hearing, tasting and sometimes even smelling, all make learning more meaningful to them.
Relationships are very important to us at Front Street, our relationships with the children and families we serve, and the relationships the children develop with each other. Because we know that social skills are among the most important skills children will need for success in school and in life, we place a high value on teaching and encouraging those.
We appreciate that parents choose to be partners with us and we place a high value on parent involvement in our program. One representative from each classroom serves on our Parent Advisory Board, which also includes several at-large members and an executive board which includes representatives of the church. This advisory board meets every other month. There are many additional opportunities for all parents to be involved throughout the year.
Children who are members of Front Street United Methodist Church are given first priority in enrolling in our playschool, but we also serve many children in the larger community. We value diversity and admit children into our program without regard to race or country of origin. We have a scholarship program to help families who may not be able to afford the full cost of tuition.
Registration for the next year is typically held in February. Contact Barbara Long at playschoolfs@gmail.com or by phone at 336-227-6603 for more information.