For just the third time in past nearly 50 years, the Tifton First United Methodist Church Preschool program has a new director. Billie Jo Abney was recently tapped to replace Lauren Fresh as the program’s director. Lauren resigned after seven years at the helm of the Preschool. Lauren had previously replaced Diane Bargeron, who created and developed the long-standing school.
Billie Jo, who has been on staff at the Tifton First preschool for several years, brings a great deal of experience to the position. A graduate of Georgia Southern University in Statesboro with a degree in Early Childhood Education, the Ocilla native has ten years of public-school experience.
“After I graduated I taught for three years in Macon in the Bibb County School System,” Billie Jo said. “I really learned a lot about discipline and how to communicate with parents.”
Following her marriage to Mark, the two relocated to North Carolina when Mark took a position with North Carolina State University in Raleigh.
“I taught for ten years outside of Franklin (NC),” said Billie Jo, who added that during that time she also earned her Gifted Endorsement.
“In North Carolina, in order to teach gifted kids, you had to have the gifted certification.”
“Billie Jo brings not only a wealth of experience, but specific knowledge that will help our kids as they develop through this time and become better prepared for school,” said Tifton First Senior Pastor Chip Grantham.
Billie Jo’s relationship with the Tifton First Preschool program was somewhat serendipitous.
Billie Jo and Mark have two children, Ella and Bailey. After returning to Tifton with then two-year old Ella, Billie Jo became pregnant with Bailey, but was put on bedrest.
“I didn’t know what to do with a two-year-old and on bedrest,” Billie Jo admitted. “Some friends contacted Diane Bargeron and they allowed Ella to start in the pre-k program.”
Following the birth of her son Bailey, Billie Jo joined the staff as a substitute teacher and then became a full-time teacher the next year.
“In addition, Billie Jo spent a year as the assistant director of the Preschool,” Chip added. “She is well-situation to take the reins of the Preschool.”
As the new director, Billie Jo has some goals for the upcoming school year.
“We currently have 110 students registered for this year. We’d like to eventually add one more three-year-old class,” she said.
She also has plans to involve the members of Tifton First in the education of the preschool students, specifically in the area of reading.
“We know of the studies that show how much students benefit from reading,” Billie Jo said.
“We’d like to develop a program where our members volunteer time to read with the children.”
“We also plan to collaborate with the children’s program at Tifton First and do some activities together.”
The first day of class for the Tifton First United Methodist Preschool is August 14.
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