Teacher Barbara Crack’s kindergarten students eagerly answer a question.

Standing hand in hand across the hallway, students from Charlene Delinski’s kindergarten class formed a human “ribbon” to herald the September 4 grand opening of Hawthorne Elementary School’s new Early Childhood Education Center.

Dividing into two groups, the students then stepped back to allow Baltimore County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Joe A. Hairston; Dr. Raymond P. Lorion, Dean of the Towson University College of Education; Baltimore County Board of Education members Ed Parker and Fran Harris; and other distinguished guests to tour the model center.

Filling an entire wing of the school, the center serves about 220 pre-kindergarten and kindergarten students and focuses on using best practices to instruct young learners. Through a partnership with Towson University, student interns from Towson assist in classrooms, and the university offers early childhood education courses on-site at Hawthorne Elementary. In addition, Hawthorne will offer a series of parent education workshops to address topics such as early literacy skills. Towson University student interns and other education students will work with school staff to develop and present these workshops.

“I talk a great deal about preparing all our students for success in college, careers, and

Students from Charlene Delinski’s kindergarten class formed a human “ribbon” to herald the September 4 grand opening of Hawthorne’s Early Childhood Education Center.

life,” said Superintendent Hairston as he visited the new center. “That preparation doesn’t begin in middle or high school. For our school system, it begins here, in the earliest grades. This is where children develop their love of learning and build the skills that will serve them well throughout their lives.”

 “Hawthorne’s Early Childhood Education Center,” he added, “benefits participating teachers, Hawthorne Elementary and Towson University students, and Hawthorne parents. The center will contribute to the development of early childhood education teachers.”

Superintendent Hairston noted that the creation of the center was a creative solution to ease overcrowding at Deep Creek Elementary School. The annexation of pre-kindergarten and kindergarten classes from Deep Creek Elementary to Hawthorne Elementary created a unique opportunity to establish an environment focused on some of the system’s youngest students. Demonstrating the partnership between the Deep Creek and Hawthorne communities, the grand opening event was attended by PTA presidents and other representatives from both schools along with Deep Creek Principal Darla Evans.

A cozy corner facilitates reading and other quiet activities.

“This new center enriches the school community,” says Hawthorne Principal Gerry DePetris, who is also a part-time member of the Towson College of Education faculty. “The student interns bring energy and ideas to our classrooms. Teachers will have expanded opportunities for professional development, and through special workshops, parents will discover more about how their children learn. Most of all, the entire school community gains as pre-kindergarten and kindergarten students are better prepared for later grades and as we work closely with Towson to develop a talented cadre of new early childhood education teachers.”

Like many Baltimore County schools, Hawthorne is a Professional Development School with Towson University. Through this model, education students are assigned to the school and remain with the school throughout their student intern teaching experiences, each year spending more time and assuming more responsibilities in the classroom.

<< more Spotlight items >>