In the early 80’s, Shaler Area High School created a preschool program run by Mrs. Susan Fisher where high school students would be the teachers with Fisher as a supervisor. Fisher came up with the idea after realizing students who took the Childhood Development course needed to put their knowledge into action. During her graduate work at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Fisher had seen the model work with a Laboratory Preschool program. She convinced Shaler Area administration it could work on the high school level. 

Within a few years, the program flourished in popularity. Parents would wait in line for hours to register their children for the program. Many families would continue to support the program by enrolling siblings. The preschool program had two semesters of preschoolers with two classes each day: a morning and afternoon class. There had to be two different sets of preschoolers each semester due to the demand of the program which was very popular despite many stay-at-home mothers. 

“The knowledge gained through this program can be used for a lifetime,”  Fisher said.

The preschool program is a great opportunity for high school students to experience working with children. Taking the course helps many students decide if childcare or teaching is a career they want to pursue. Many current teachers and students attended the preschool program when they were younger.

“Knowing that many of the high school students completed a career in education makes me feel I accomplished my goal, especially when I find out some of the high school students and even the preschoolers are now teachers at Shaler Area,” Fisher said. 

Current Physical Education teacher Mrs. Heather Verbanic attended the program in the late 80s. Verbanic remembers enjoying hanging out with the high school students, trying unique foods like kiwis and doing activities together.

 “I really enjoyed being with the high school students and feeling like they were all our teachers. I remember liking how that felt and knew I maybe wanted to teach in the future as I continued to get older,” Verbanic said. 

Senior Shelby Lunn attended the preschool program from 2008-2010. Lunn remembers meeting new people and doing crafts. She also remembers the Halloween parade and dressing up. She was impressed with the patience that the high school students had with young preschoolers. 

“Tthey were very patient and taught me important life lessons on how to behave and use my manners, “ Lunn said. 

Mrs. Tara Wells continued the legacy of the program after Mrs. Laura Garman retired in the 2018-19 school year. As well as teaching one foods class, Wells took on the preschool program and the childhood development classes.

“I absolutely love this program and being able to teach both younger children as well as high school students. It really is the best of both worlds! My hope is that the value and interest of this program stays as is and continues for many more years to come,” Wells said.