About The Children's Enrichment Center
First-Centenary Children's Enrichment Center is a non-profit full day program for children ten weeks to five years old. The Children's Enrichment Center was established by the church to serve its members and the community at large. It is licensed by the Tennessee Department of Human Services. The Children's Enrichment Center, through its trained experienced educators, offers an educationally sound and creatively exciting place for children to grow and develop. By meeting or exceeding the adult to child ratio set by the state, each child is assured of close supervision and attention. They will be given the opportunity to progress at their own rate, gaining a positive self concept and a healthy Christian outlook on their ever expanding world.
The Children's Enrichment Center follows a Reggio Inspired Emergent Curriculum which is a non-traditional style of teaching that presents children with the gift of discovering the world around them by encouraging them to explore life through their own interests and passions. It is "child lead" or "child based" learning as opposed to "teacher directed" learning.
Inside the bright, cheerful classrooms, the equipment is scaled to fit the child's needs. Outdoors, the playground fosters growth, development and creativity. The relaxed inviting atmosphere of the Center helps in maximizing the child's potential as well as making the child's transition from home to /child care an easier one. The basic policies and administrative responsibilities of the Center are under the direct control of a governing committee comprised of First-Centenary United Methodist Church members and the Center's director.
The Children's Enrichment Center follows a Reggio Inspired Emergent Curriculum which is a non-traditional style of teaching that presents children with the gift of discovering the world around them by encouraging them to explore life through their own interests and passions. It is "child lead" or "child based" learning as opposed to "teacher directed" learning.
Inside the bright, cheerful classrooms, the equipment is scaled to fit the child's needs. Outdoors, the playground fosters growth, development and creativity. The relaxed inviting atmosphere of the Center helps in maximizing the child's potential as well as making the child's transition from home to /child care an easier one. The basic policies and administrative responsibilities of the Center are under the direct control of a governing committee comprised of First-Centenary United Methodist Church members and the Center's director.
Enrollment
Please click on the file icon to fill out the enrollment application and email it to cecdirector@fcumc.org
Tonia Taylor
Director
Erica Huggins
Assistant Director
Tonia Taylor
Director
Tonia received an associate's degree in Applied Science for Early Childhood Education from Chattanooga State in 1994. She is also a 2008 Graduate of the Early Childhood Leadership Academy. Tonia has been at the C.E.C. for 31 years. She started working in the classroom in 1993, and for 14 years she was the Assistant Director/Curriculum Coordinator. Tonia became the Director in May of 2016. She is excited to lead the center as they strive to enrich the lives of young children, build relationships with families, and watch their children grow physically, emotionally, and spiritually throughout their time at the Children's Enrichment Center.
Tonia lives in Hixson, and has a fur baby, named Solomon (miniature Schnauzer) that helps to keep her active. She is very active in church, and with the ladies Sunday morning life group. In her spare time, she enjoys walking, thrifting, antiquing and relaxing on the porch.
Tonia’s goal as a Director and educator is to encourage, support and inspire the children that come through the C.E.C. doors. She hopes to instill lifelong learners!
Tonia lives in Hixson, and has a fur baby, named Solomon (miniature Schnauzer) that helps to keep her active. She is very active in church, and with the ladies Sunday morning life group. In her spare time, she enjoys walking, thrifting, antiquing and relaxing on the porch.
Tonia’s goal as a Director and educator is to encourage, support and inspire the children that come through the C.E.C. doors. She hopes to instill lifelong learners!
ttaylor@firstcentenary.com
Erica Huggins
Assistant Director
While attending Chattanooga State for her associate’s degree in teaching, Erica came to the Children’s Enrichment Center to do field work. She was a nanny for four years for a family whose children attended the C.E.C., and she knew it was a wonderful program. Erica was welcomed to observe the preschool classroom and later offered a part-time job. As the children she cared for got older and she spent more time at C.E.C., she began to realize that early childhood education was her passion. Erica's plan had always been to teach elementary school, specifically second grade. But she learned over the last few years that God had a different plan for her all along.
That part time job turned out to be her calling and she is grateful for the opportunity to be part of such an amazing program dedicated to enriching the lives of young children. After teaching the preschool class for four years and implementing an emergent curriculum, Erica fell in love with the philosophy behind it.
As Assistant Director and Curriculum Coordinator, she works closely with the teachers at C.E.C. on implementing a developmentally appropriate curriculum from ages six weeks to five years, while instilling values, passion for learning, and a love and appreciation for God and the world around us.
That part time job turned out to be her calling and she is grateful for the opportunity to be part of such an amazing program dedicated to enriching the lives of young children. After teaching the preschool class for four years and implementing an emergent curriculum, Erica fell in love with the philosophy behind it.
As Assistant Director and Curriculum Coordinator, she works closely with the teachers at C.E.C. on implementing a developmentally appropriate curriculum from ages six weeks to five years, while instilling values, passion for learning, and a love and appreciation for God and the world around us.