Feature A Teacher - April 2011

When you enter the big corner room at Wichita State University’s Child Development Center you’ll find a room where laughter, learning and love are always present.

You’ll find more than a dozen preschoolers reading books, having circle time, painting, playing in flour, exploring the ever-changing themes in the loft and crashing at rest time on their cots.

You’ll find Carol Lewis, a teacher who sees every activity, every day with her class of kiddos with a fresh, childlike curiosity.

Carol is a teacher who looks forward to being greeted each morning by the smiles and laughter and hugs of the kids and she is equally as eager to pass on her excitement for learning while having fun playing and being creative.

 What makes Carol stand out to parents, fellow teachers and her bosses, though is that she brings all the enthusiasm and genuine passion of a first-year teacher but she is far from a beginner in her field.

 “Carol Lewis was actually with the (Child Development Center) when it first opened in the 70s as a response to a strong women’s movement on campus,” said Laurie Spence, the Center’s director. “Student mother’s needed a place to leave their children while they attended classes. Carol was just a fresh new teacher back than and oh how the center has evolved! We run a year-round, full-time preschool and Carol is still here, making a difference in the lives of these future Shockers!”

Carol earned her early childhood degree at Wichita State University and after graduation in 1975, began teaching at the newly-opened Child Development Center on campus. With the exception of a 7-year break when Carol stayed home with her three children, Carol has been with the Center ever since.

“If you’re in it for the right reasons, it doesn’t get old,” said Carol. “If (the kids) can make the gray skies blue when you walk into the classroom then you know you’re in the right profession.”

Carol is referred to as the ultimate master of rolling with the punches and her, “controlled chaos,” fun and “it is what it is,” motto make her classroom a popular place to be amongst children and teaching assistants.

 Each semester, students at Wichita State University work at the Child Development Center as teaching assistants under the direction of teachers like Carol who, in addition to directing the eager little preschoolers, impart their knowledge on these future teachers.

Being able to form not only the little preschool sponges that she teaches, but also work lead students who will go on to direct many students of their own gives Carol a feeling of accomplishment.

 “The gratification is watching these children grow, helping parents when they need someone to look to,” said Carol. “The best part of walking into this place is the great family we have here, the great time we all have with these kids and with each other.”