By Mike Hutchens, UC Schools Communications Director
Union City, Tenn.–They’re starting them young at Union City Schools.
Tiny Tornado Academy – a daycare service for UC School System personnel families — is set for opening next week on the elementary school campus.
The brainchild of Director of Schools Wes Kennedy, TTA will be a significant perk for UCSS faculty and staff with young children. Infants as young as six weeks old are eligible to attend, and there also will be classes for children 18-36 months and another setting for those 3-4 years old.
Longtime educators Rene Flood, the Director of Teaching and Learning for Union City Schools, and Laney Rogers, the system’s Director of Special Populations, will serve as co-directors of Tiny Tornado Academy. Jamie Hodges, a certified teacher at UCES, will serve as the on-site coordinator.
Kennedy said he simply recognized a need for members of his staff and elected to provide the service to lessen the burden of those parents who needed quality daycare for their children.
“Family is important to us,” the top UC Schools administrator said. “And we believe that giving our work family at Union City Schools a safe and top-quality daycare with caring, qualified personnel will be an asset to their home families.
“We’ve had tremendous response initially. We have the perfect spot (for the daycare) at our elementary school, and we have top-flight people in position to oversee the program. It is my hope that we can make the children of many of our employees ‘Tornadoes for life.’”
TTA will follow the Revised Tennessee Early Learning Developmental Standards and will be operated by UCSS in accordance with the requirements and guidelines from the Tennessee Department of Education.
In its mission statement, the daycare says it is committed to creating a safe, warm, loving environment for children where they can learn and grow physically, emotionally, creatively, intellectually, and socially at their own pace.
USDA-approved meals and snacks will be served.
Workers have spent a good deal of the summer break readying rooms for the academy’s initial class. All codes and standards have been met and there has been extensive training of personnel with specific guidelines put in place. Teachers and educational assistants will fully staff TTA.
“No question, it’s a tremendous perk for anyone with preschool aged children to take a job in our system,” Rogers said. “It keeps the parents of our children on their same school schedule, and they will receive supervision and direction from qualified personnel.
“It’s very affordable, and actually a great deal financially with the rising cost of daycare everywhere. Above everything else, it gives parents a sense of relief and comfortability that their child is well taken care in a developmental setting.”
Flood echoes those thoughts while praising the vision of her boss.
“Mr. Kennedy continues to put the best interest of our staff and their families at the forefront of his thinking and actions,” she said. “As a parent myself and now a grandparent, I know the relief and satisfaction of knowing my family members are under great care and guidance in a safe and welcoming environment.
“From my relationships with faculty members who’ll have children involved immediately, I can safely say those mothers and fathers are grateful for such a place for their kids.”
Hours of operation for TTA will be 7 a.m.-4 p.m. every day when teachers are required to report to school.
Official ‘Opening Day’ will be Tuesday, Aug. 3.
