In 1964, Main Street Methodist Preschool was founded on the principle of the “Golden Rule,” “I’ll treat you the way I would like you to treat me.”  At that time there was no public kindergarten.  So, filling the need, Dot Stone, Doris Simpson, and Grace Moss started a program for four and five-year old children.  The following year Mary Mullinax joined the team.

In the early years of the program, it was a common practice for parents to work as “helpers” in the Preschool in exchange for their children’s tuition.  The Preschool was fortunate to have such helpers as Jane Sporleder, Janet Lilley, and Brenda Shifflette.  In 1972, Brenda Shifflette joined the staff with the addition of the three-year old program.  Encouraged by the United Methodist Women, a Parent’s Morning Out Program was begun as a means of community outreach.  This was a once-a-week drop-in program for children under three years of age.

From 1968 - 1988, Mary Mullinax taught and directed the Preschool.  Louise Sapp patiently assisted Mary with clerical duties and W.J. O’Brien handled the school’s finances.  In 1988 the program had grown so much that a new full-time director, Peggy Day, was hired.  This allowed “Miss Mary” to devote more time to her children. As the enrollment in the Parent’s Morning Out Program soared, the Preschool expanded once again with classes for two-year old children.  Diane Nantz was our first teacher of two-year olds. Debbie Crowder served as director from 1994 – 1996, Patty Shepard 1996-2001, JoAnn Clifton served from Spring 2001- 2017 and Ruth Beeson from 2017 to 2022. Kellie Vinay was hired in August 2022 and is currently the Director. She attended Main Street UMC Preschool as a child and her mom was the first two-year old teacher here at the preschool. 

As always, our goal has been to foster social, emotional, physical, spiritual, and intellectual development in children through their own activity and discovery.  Activities involve creative play, music, art, stories, cooking, visits from community helpers and hands-on learning experiences involving beginning concepts in numbers, letters, shapes, and colors appropriate to the child’s age and development.

Main Street’s Preschool music program is second to none.  We can build spiritual awareness and self-esteem when singing songs such as “Jesus Loves Me,” “I Have Decided to Follow Jesus,” and “I’m Someone Special.”  Children learn about the world around them when singing “Caterpillar Crawling Round” and “There Was a Little Turtle.”  First lessons in history are learned singing about George Washington and Abraham Lincoln.  We have always felt that if we can sing about it, we can learn it.

As Kernersville has grown, the Preschool has expanded.  We currently have 11 classes for children from Infants through Pre-Kindergarten.  A Lunch Program for 4/5 PreK children is also offered on Monday’s.  Starting in August 2024 we will offer a 9 to 1 PreK Class. 

Main Street UMC Preschool is very proud to have been awarded the W.I.S.E. (Wonderfully in Search of Excellence) Award from the Western North Carolina Conference of the United Methodist Church.  We will always strive to serve God by providing a nurturing and loving environment where children are made to feel that they are truly “someone special.”