As day cares continue to struggle to find teachers, child care waitlists are getting even longer. The Eastern Monroe Career Center in Fairport is preparing the next generation of teachers hoping to fill that gap.

What You Need To Know

  • Teens & Tots is a child-centered early childhood program for children 3–5 years old located at the East Rochester Elementary School
  • High school students enrolled in the Early Childhood Education Program at the Eastern Monroe Career Center (EMCC) facilitate all aspects of the Teens & Tots Program under the close supervision of their teacher
  • The goal is to support child development in the areas of social, emotional, cognitive, physical, literacy and language development

Senior Laura Mufudzi can’t wait to welcome preschoolers to 'Teens & Tots' beginning next month at East Rochester Elementary School. It's a preschool that’s also a teaching classroom for Mufudzi and her fellow classmates at the EMCC's New Visions education. Mufudzi wants to be a teacher.

“I either want to be a kindergarten teacher or fifth-grade or special education,” said Mufudzi. “My brother has autism and he definitely made me want to be a teacher.” 

Melissa Kipferal also wants to be a teacher.

“I saw this program and I thought, ‘well, I'll learn the good side of teaching.’ I know I want to work with kids. I just really want to get out and experience it so I can see if it’s really for me,” said Kipferl.

Childcare professions teacher, Paula Mitchell, can’t say enough about this real-life experience for her students and that 'Teens & Tots' is an operating preschool. There is still room to register your toddler for this affordable, three-day-a-week program that operates October to May.

“I know there are a lot of waitlists at some child care centers and we currently do not have a waitlist," said Mitchell. "Our students are ready to roll, and share what they’re learning in the classroom and implement it hands-on with the little ones in our community.”

Families can read more information about Teens & Tots and register toddlers online for preschool. Class size is limited to eight children per session. There is a morning and afternoon session.