The program now focuses on teaching children to recognize and control their emotions.

“While teaching ABCs and 123s is important, our prime concern is making sure we are getting the preschoolers socially, emotionally and developmentally ready for kindergarten,” she said.

To achieve this, they have a number of books that help students identify emotions. One of Proudfit’s favorites is “The Color Monster” by Anna Llenas.

“It’s a story about emotions that teaches them how to recognize how they are feeling and how to control their emotions when they have them,” she explained.

NORTH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL preschool co-teacher Lauren Czerwan makes playdough and allows the kids to feel the results. From right are Brock Percolosi, Katie Richey, Harper McElhinny and Leo Lambert. (Marguerite Lanthier/Daily News photo)

“We use yoga and breathing exercises. We added our reading tub this year to help children self-regulate their behaviors. Being able to stretch, push and pull and use pressure helps calm the child and keep them safe from harming themselves or others,” she said.

The class also has a number of sensory items, including a sensory wall, squish balls and fidget toys.

“That keeps their hands busy and calms them down, especially the kids that have trouble focusing. You have to keep their hands busy. They control their behavior better,” she said.

Proudfit said she does see results. “Absolutely, we see a big change from the beginning of the year, even until Christmas.”

Keeping 20 preschoolers occupied and happy from 8:15 to 11:15 a.m. each weekday can be a challenge. She and co-teacher Lauren Czerwan work hard to create a safe and creative environment for their students.

They focus on a different theme or subject each week. Sometimes it’s a holiday, other times it coincides with an activity in the community, such as the weekend ski jumping tournament at Pine Mountain. They talked about the jumps and local jumpers, and watched a movie. The kids went to the gym to practice their jumping technique. Then each student created a picture using a cutout photo of themselves pretending to ski jump.

Some past themes include community helpers week, ocean or beach week, space week and superheroes week, which was very popular with the kids, Proudfit said. They learned about germs, and Super Tooth came in to talk about dental care. A Dr. Seuss week is coming up soon.

They make sure each weekly theme has a math component, a science component, a language arts component and an art component.

“We use the Creative Curriculum, which focuses on learning through play, but we are also beginning to implement the Pyramid Model,” she said.

Proudfit has only been director and lead teacher for about the past three years, when she received her child development associate credential.

After two decades as a photographer and writer at The Daily News, she decided she needed a change.

“I could only go so far with that career and I had no plans to leave this area. I wanted to do something more meaningful,” Proudfit said. “I feel like I make a difference. Every day I’m doing something fulfilling and I love my littles.”

Czerwan has been with community schools since October 2018.

“Working in the preschool environment gives me a chance to tap into my creative mind, and teaching fills my heart with joy,” she said.

Since Proudfit has taken over, they have had new flooring installed in the classroom and the walls painted with bright colors. A lot of old, non-relevant material was removed. There are new cubbies and a new bookcase. They also started painting ceiling tiles.

And Proudfit does get to use her photography skills. She frequently posts photos of their activities on the class Facebook site.

Sometimes it’s the first time parents have been away from their child, she noted.

“We try to put everything up that we do so parents can see what the kids are doing all day. They’re nervous about leaving their child in someone else’s care, but when they can go online and see them playing, smiling and having fun, they really appreciate that,” Proudfit said.

The program is administered under the Iron Mountain-Kingsford Community Schools, which also operates a program in Kingsford.

It has a day care program from 11:15 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and a before-school program from 6:30 to 8 a.m. for elementary school children.

Before and after school childcare has eight additional employees: Kristen Van Gasse, Susan Lucas, Kathy Peterson, Lisa Gregg, Carly Shoquist, Samantha Webber, Anna Pacheco and Alyssa Mendini.

The summer child care program starts at the end of the school year and ends one week before the new school year begins.

Telephone registration for the Iron Mountain preschool program will take place Wednesday, April 10, beginning at 8:30 a.m. Proudfit said the program fills up fast.