Back To Pre-School A Dream Come True

When she was a toddler, Sue Buckingham wouldn't have been able to tell you that pre-school was one of the most enjoyable times of her life. But, now that she's 50, she'll tell you again and again.

That's because Sue is now director of the Calvary Church Preschool in Cedar Rapids in the same building she attended preschool almost a half-century ago. (See today's Ramblin' column in The Gazette.)

In the early 1960s, Cedar Rapids Preschool of the Kenwood Park Presbyterian Church was held in the same building at 35th Street and C Avenue NE where Calvary Chapel opened almost a year ago.

"I do this because I love the lord and I love the kids," Sue says. "I don't get a big paycheck.

The kids learn sign language, math, science, even baking bread and cooking. But, as important as anything, they learn social skills and how to get along with each other.

"These are the people who are going to be taking care of me when I'm old," she adds. "I want to make sure they know what they're doing."

After pre-school, Sue attended Garfield, Franklin and Washington High School in Cedar Rapids. As she was working, she also earned degrees at Kirkwood Community College and Mount Mercy College. She had worked at Headstart at Olivett Mission until the Flood of 2008 hit that building and took away all of her lesson plans.

Still, Sue persevered to make her dream come true. She wanted to lead a program. She wanted to stay in her hometown.

"I love Cedar Rapids," Sue says. "I've always felt comfortable here."