Yancey County Schools is pleased to announce an exciting new chapter for its Pre-K program as one of the district’s Pre-K classrooms will transition from its current location at the high school campus to a newly constructed addition at Burnsville Elementary School. This move reflects the district’s continued commitment to providing high-quality early childhood experiences and creating a seamless pathway for student success.
The Yancey County NC Pre-K committee, along with district leadership recently approved the relocation as part of the district’s ongoing efforts to strengthen educational opportunities for young learners and better support students and families during the important transition into kindergarten.
By placing Pre-K students within an elementary school environment, children will have the opportunity to become familiar with the routines, expectations, and atmosphere of a school setting where they may continue their educational journey in kindergarten and beyond. District leaders believe this change will help foster confidence, reduce anxiety associated with transitions, and strengthen connections between students, staff, and families.
The new classroom addition will provide a welcoming and developmentally appropriate learning environment designed specifically to meet the needs of young children. The space will continue to support hands-on learning, play-based instruction, and strong family engagement while also allowing students greater access to school resources and opportunities for collaboration with elementary staff.
“This move represents an important investment in our youngest learners,” said Andrea Allen, YCS Pre-K Director. “We are excited to create an environment where our Pre-K students can begin building relationships and becoming comfortable within an elementary school community from the very start. We believe this will provide long-term academic, social, and emotional benefits for children and families alike.”
District leaders also emphasized the importance of recognizing the history and impact of the original Pre-K site located at Mountain Heritage High School. As the first NC Pre-K classroom within Yancey County Schools, the MHHS site played a significant role in expanding early childhood opportunities for local families while also creating valuable hands-on learning experiences for high school students enrolled in the Early Childhood Education program.
For many years, MHHS students have been able to observe, assist, and gain practical experience within the Pre-K classroom setting as part of their coursework and career preparation. Yancey County Schools is pleased to share that these opportunities will continue as students will still be able to observe and serve as interns at both the Burnsville Elementary School (BES) and Blue Ridge Elementary School (BRES) Pre-K sites.
To ensure continued access for students participating in these internship opportunities, transportation support will remain available. Students who are unable to drive will have the opportunity to ride the district’s Career and Technical Education (CTE) bus to and from internship placements.
Yancey County Schools extends sincere gratitude to the staff, students, families, and leadership at Mountain Heritage High School for their years of support, partnership, and dedication to the Pre-K program. The district is deeply appreciative of the many memories, relationships, and learning experiences created through this long-standing collaboration and looks forward to continuing strong connections between the district’s early childhood and high school programs in the years ahead.
Yancey County Schools remains dedicated to ensuring that every child receives a strong foundation for lifelong learning. The district looks forward to welcoming students and families into the new Pre-K classroom space and continuing its mission of preparing students for future success.
For additional information, please contact:
Andrea R. Allen NC Pre-K Director Yancey County Schools at arallen@yanceync.net / 682-6101 ext 109.