Walking into the room feels more like looking into a kaleidoscope.
As children run along in light-up shoes, munch on their sweet snacks and excitedly talk about their weekend plans—not a single kid is left out from the fun. Right by their side, watching over with wonder and warmth, are their high school caretakers. The kids haven’t a single care in the world, they make it look so easy.
“I think it prepares you for almost any job,” Early Learning teacher Lisa McCauley said. “If you can work with kids, you can work with anybody.”
The Cougar Den is a preschool service provided by Cy Creek High School’s Early Learning and Teacher Prep classes on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7:30 AM to 1:30 PM for local district children.
While Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) courses are available to eligible high school juniors and seniors, the children are as young as four years old.
“Oftentimes the misconception is that the kids are [the students’] kids, but they’re actually from the community and they pay to come here.” McCauley said.
The preschool is directed by Lisa McCauley and Christina Bramwell, and according to their website, a full year at the Cougar Den costs $910 in total, plus a $50 registration fee that pays for supplies and events throughout both semesters.
“The high schoolers get to run it and plan the events, [the kids] get to have a buddy, so it’s a lot of fun.”
Some FCCLA students, such as Junior Aylin Velazquez, go as far as to spend their free time during lunch with kids in the preschool.
“The best part about working with little kids is definitely that they make your whole day better just by being kids,” Velazquez said. “I’m able to see how they don’t take things as seriously as [high schoolers,] and it helps me look at life differently.”
According to McCauley, the preschool experience can leave a big impact on the children as well.
“My favorite memory is when one of my former preschoolers—because this is my 19th year— ended up taking my classes in high school. So it was really cool that she enjoyed it so much and wanted to do it as a high schooler,” McCauley said.
However, the job is not without its fair share of tantrums and troublemakers.
“The greatest challenge I’ve had to learn is to be patient with them,” Velazquez said. “They’re only three and four [and] they’re still learning to do a lot of things, so patience is definitely necessary,” she added.
In the Cougar Den, everyone is encouraged to be a part of the family and learn.
“It might seem hard and it might be like a lot of work, but it really does pay off and it makes so many memories,” Cy Creek FCCLA President Blue Wyatt said. “I knew [ever] since I was a kid that I would grow up and be a teacher.”
For more information about registration and contacting the directors, please visit the Cougar Den Preschool website.
