Julia Garrison
News Editor
Drawings and colorful signs line the walls of Westminster Church House leading to the door of The College of Wooster Preschool. Formerly known as The College of Wooster Nursery School, the operation had remained closed for a little over a year since its abrupt closure in fall 2023.
Now, the preschool has just wrapped up its first week of class, welcoming its first group of children from the Wayne County community coming together on Wooster’s campus to learn for the first time in over a year.
The preschool had previously ceased operation “due to operational and building challenges that [the College] could not resolve,” which was outlined on both the preschool’s Facebook and in an email to faculty from President Anne McCall. Although the concerns of compliance were never fully explained to the local community, protests ensued following the temporary closure, including one outside of a closed meeting of the board of trustees.
Protesters feared that the indefinite closure of the school would worsen Wooster’s ties with their community, including statements from community members to the Voice after the protest occurred. These town-gown ties might be saved after all — and Tessa Hammond is ready to take on the challenge.
Hammond, the school’s new director, hopes that she can continue the legacy that the directors have laid out before her and see many of her goals reach fruition. With Hammond poised to be the director for the academic year that never was, she spent the past school year as the director working with a reopening committee for the school. She cited the marketing department, education department and the provost as three key players in boosting the reopening efforts.
A graduate of the University of Dayton, Hammond comes to the preschool with experience at the Teton County School District in Wyoming and Wooster City Schools.
“I was exploring job opportunities that maintain my philosophy of education and the importance of nature and children being connected,” she said about her decision to take on the role of director.
Hammond wants the preschool to be both a welcoming place for youngsters to get a head start with hands-on learning opportunities and a place where college students feel welcomed and supported in beginning their experiential learning journeys.
“Whenever college students come here, I want to make sure that I’m providing a strong learning environment for them to grow and gain professional experience for their future,” she said. Hammond confirmed that the preschool will once again be working with departments in the College to give students experiential learning opportunities in teaching positions. Students may also volunteer to assist in preschool operations.
The name of the preschool was changed to better align with their mission, Hammond said.
“My main priority as the director and taking over this program that’s been so loved and cherished by the community for 76 years is really working to maintain the integrity of what made it so special,” explained Hammond, who is looking forward to a great year with new experiences for all, including the preschool’s faculty and staff. “The quality of teachers here — I have to say I haven’t seen it anywhere else. Their love, their passion, their devotion, their knowledge of and willingness to learn about their children.”
The preschool’s class hours are from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on Monday through Friday. They provide an hour of “before care” before the school day and an hour of “lunch care” following the school day. Tuition for the preschool is on a sliding scale and can range anywhere from $1,680 to $4,200. Students and parents are welcome to visit or volunteer at any time during the preschool’s operating hours.
