After seven years at the helm of the Tifton First United Methodist Church Preschool, Lauren Fresh is stepping down as the Director of the program. Billie Jo Abney has been named as her successor and will officially take over June 1.
A reception honoring Lauren will be held during the Sunday School hour this Sunday in the Tifton First parlor.
A career educator, Lauren began teaching English in Tifton at Eighth Street Middle School before her family moved to Houston County and where she taught for one year at Houston County High School.
Upon returning to Tifton, Lauren joined the staff as a preschool teacher at Tifton First. She then became the Director when long-time Director Diane Bargeron retired.
Lauren credits Diane for much of the success enjoyed at the Tifton First Preschool.
“Diane had created a really good mold,” said Lauren, “and we were just able to continue what she had started.”
“Lauren had the wisdom and foresight to lean on Diane when she took the job,” said Tifton First Senior Pastor Chip Grantham.
The preschool enrollment averages approximately 100 students each year. The staff takes care of infants and teaches children in two, three, and four-year old classes.
“The children here love to come to school,” Lauren said. “They are eager to learn and do what they are asked to do.
“It’s been a breath of fresh air.”
The position, however, has not been without its share of challenges. COVID required a different approach to teaching, even at the preschool level. Under Lauren’s guidance, teachers created unique ways of staying contact with parents and students, and developed safe methods of delivering activities for the families.
“Lauren was very proactive during COVID in trying to protect the teachers and the program,” Chip said. “She reached out to other programs to see what they were doing and began formulating plans that were right for us.”
As the COVID threat waned, Lauren and her staff began looking for ways to get teachers, students, and their families together.
“In 2021 we began having student art shows where we auctioned off the artwork created by the students,” she explained. “We were able to spread out, and it was a nice way to get people back together.”
With the health situation relatively back to normal, Lauren leaves Tifton First Preschool in good shape, with children and families glad to be enrolled.
“Every day the children are happy to be here,” said Lauren, adding that the happiness is contagious.
“It’s hard to be unhappy around a group of preschoolers.”
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