When working with children, it can be hard to predict what will happen throughout the day. There could be laughing, tears, smiling and pouting.
Those in the program offered by the Children’s Center at IU Southeast offer student parents help with their children.
Wanda Gregory, coordinator for the Children’s Center, attended IU Southeast to receive her master’s degree in elementary education with endorsements in early childhood and language arts.
While pursuing her graduate degree, Gregory worked as a teaching assistant at the Children’s Center.
After college, she worked for Bridgepointe Goodwill and Easter Seals in Clarksville as the lead teacher for the three-to-four-year-old classroom in their preschool program.
Gregory heard about the opening for coordinator at the Children’s Center, and it was the idea of continuing to work with children and getting to see them first thing in the morning that excited her.
“I like the first part of the day,” she said, “and when kids come in and want to tell me what happened … see that excitement.”
For someone who has worked with children for the past 11 years, one would think Gregory has seen and heard all there is to see and hear, but she said the children are often full of surprises.
“We had, one time, a little boy who was an elective mute,” she said. “It was just something he had chosen to do. One day, we were sitting at the table doing our activities. One little girl was dancing and realized she had to go to the bathroom. This little boy, he said, ‘Well, if you need to go to the restroom, all you need to do is squeeze.’ Then, he looked over at me and said, ‘You know what I’m saying.’”
The young boy had only been at the center for about three months and, the entire time, he chose to remain silent until that moment. However, he had finally decided to speak.
“Who would have known that moment would spark his conversation?” she said.
The Children’s Center currently follows the same schedule as IU Southeast, something Gregory said she hopes will one day change.
“If IU Southeast is closed, the Children’s Center is closed. It can leave parents hanging. That’s something the university is looking at — if we can operate on our own calendar.”
The center already operates as a state-certified program for child care, even though it is governed by IU Southeast.
Parents fill out the same registration forms and paperwork that state-licensed programs would require. This would allow the transition for all to go smoothly.
“We’re trying to be a little bit proactive,” Gregory said.
This way, she said, if the center ever had the opportunity to become licensed on their own, parents wouldn’t see any major changes in the way their children become enrolled.
Devin Hines, a psychology alumnae who graduated in December 2010, has worked at the Children’s Center for the past three years.
However, when she began at IU Southeast, she had no idea that a program existed, especially one that is beneficial to a campus with many non-traditional students.
“I think it’s convenient for students who have children,” she said.
Although Hines said she is uncertain of where a future job might take her, she said she has enjoyed her time working with Gregory.
“She’s a good boss,” Hines said, “and not just a boss but a friend.”
Gregory said she thinks the interaction between herself and the staff — as their boss — allows for a better relationship.
“A lot of my staff calls me ‘Momma,’” she said.
Payal Patel, elementary education and business senior, has worked with Gregory for the past four years.
Patel said working with children has been a great experience for her. She also said working with Gregory has been an added bonus to gaining work experience with children.
“[Wanda] has been there for us, helping us and guiding us,” Patel said.
By JENNIFER
SCHONSCHACK
Staff
jschonsc@ius.edu