Growing in Community

I moved with my family to Abingdon, VA two years ago for my husband to teach at the local university. In all of our years of marriage, we had not set down roots anywhere before. A career in the sciences provides lots of situations that are wonderful but temporary but we knew that we wanted this move to be permanent. He felt settled in his new position and I was ready to plant myself as well. So, I set to scouring the internet for a job for myself. As soon as I read the description for Miss Amy’s Childcare, I knew that was where I wanted to be. I sent in an application and waited. And waited a little bit more. I interviewed finally at the end of July and was so excited to take in the magical environment of the school- gardens growing in the back, a giant sandbox, several child-built structures for imaginary play, and so much beautiful artwork lining all of the walls. There was literally nowhere else I could dream of spending the rest of my career in this town we had chosen to call home. However, there was not a classroom space for my then two-year-old son and I could not start work without somewhere for him to receive care. So, still, we waited. We waited for months- but I knew in my heart this was where we belonged so I held out hope that we would end up where we needed to be.

In November, I finally got the call. Miss Amy’s was in need of a classroom aide and there was a spot available for my child as well. I raced to fill out all of our paperwork so that we could begin! It had been years since I’d worked as an aide but it was worth every second to me just to be in the building. The emphasis on child-directed, play based learning was so important to me and is unlike anything else in our region. Eventually a teaching position in a three-year-old classroom opened up and I was back to deep learning with my small friends every day. An absolute joy. I could spend every day in a preschool classroom forever. My whole family had begun to get to know the other families involved at Miss Amy’s. We found not only friends for our children, but ourselves. We felt we were finally experiencing what we had not before- true community and a space to really enrich the roots we had so cautiously put down upon our move to town.

However, in March of this year, I found out that Miss Amy’s would be closing at the end of May. We were devastated. The community we had been building and nurturing seemed like it was coming to an end. I went home to speak with my husband and we decided that we would do whatever it took to keep this beautiful space full of learning and growth and promise alive.

So the dream of The Bradley Street Playschool was born! Being active participants in our community is so important to us. And while the idea of stepping into such large shoes is somewhat daunting, this is the dream we never knew we had. The opportunity to continue growing alongside these little people who are so full of wonder and joy is such an abundant blessing. We hope to continue supporting them as they learn to be and to support their parents, siblings, friends, and neighbors as well.

Our vision is not only one of a preschool but also of a connection to the people and place around us. We can’t wait to have you join us in this amazing adventure!