The thing Nancy Arnold looks forward to most when she opens the doors to the Jack and Jill House every morning are the stories from her arriving preschoolers.
They’re always excited to tell their teacher about something special or fun that happened to them since she saw them last, whether it was going to a movie over the weekend or eating ice cream after dinner the night before.
And after more than four decades of working with youngsters, she’s heard lots of stories.
“I had a little boy come in, and he mooned me,” Arnold said. “He had fallen and was showing me his owie on his butt.”
But when this school year comes to end, so will Arnold’s time at the preschool. She’s retiring after nearly 44 years at the Hazel Dell preschool.
And she’s not the only retirement at the Jack and Jill House this year. She’s not even the longest-tenured employee retiring. Last month, Anna Wingate retired after 50 years — nearly to the day — with the Children’s Day Care Centers, which includes the Jack and Jill House and Gingerbread House day care and preschools.
“Nancy and Anna have made this school what it is today,” said Rosalee Johnson, owner of the centers.
Unintentional career
Johnson’s mother, Eve Mitchell, started the Children’s Day Care Centers in 1948 at what is now Gingerbread House. In 1964, Eve and her husband, Edgar, established the Jack and Jill House. Wingate came on board a few years later.
Wingate was born and raised in Arkansas. She moved to Vancouver when she got married in 1956. When her daughter started kindergarten — she also had a son in second grade — Wingate decided to try to find a part-time job to keep her busy while her kids were in school. At the time, she taught Sunday school, and a friend told her the Jack and Jill House was looking for a cook.
Wingate, then 31 years old, met with Eve Mitchell and was offered the position. Her first day was Jan. 25, 1967. For the first year, Wingate worked from 9 a.m. to noon. Each year after, Mitchell added more hours and duties to Wingate’s position.
In 1974, Mitchell asked Wingate to become the director of the two preschools. She remained in the position until she retired Jan. 27.
“I never believed I’d be here 50 years,” said Wingate, 81.
Wingate took some college courses after she started working at the preschool, but she never intended to make a career out teaching children.
The same was true for Arnold.
Arnold grew up in Connecticut and earned a degree in chemistry. She worked for several years as a chemist before moving to Vancouver when her husband, who was in the U.S. Coast Guard, was relocated to the Northwest.
She took a job caring for the 2-year-olds at the Jack and Jill House in September 1973. She stayed in that position for about 10 years. The bulk of her career, more than 30 years, has been spent as a preschool teacher.
“I never intended a career in school,” said Arnold, 78.
But one thing kept both Wingate and Arnold in the field — and at the Vancouver schools: the kids.
“I can’t even begin to imagine how many kids have come through these buildings,” Wingate said.
Changing world
Over the years, much has changed. Preschools now must meet more rigorous state standards. Teachers are required to undergo ongoing training. Technology is replacing the old-school paper record methods.
“The whole day care system is changing,” Arnold said.
But the core of what Arnold and Wingate do — caring for and teaching children — hasn’t changed.
“The kids are still wonderful,” Arnold said. “It’s just different.”
Arnold and Wingate still emphasize the importance of manners — saying “please” and “thank you,” listening when you’re being spoken to, not interrupting when others are talking — following directions, obeying rules and being respectful.
“We encourage the children to treat people the way they want to be treated,” Wingate said. “A lot of our philosophies have stayed the same.”
But now they’re competing with technology. Kids watch TV. They play computer games. They have cellphones.
“Society’s just different than it was 50 years ago,” Wingate said. “As generations change, parents change.”
The changes have led to more street-smart and tech-savvy kids, they said. Arnold’s granddaughter, for example, could operate a tablet when she was just 3 years old. But it’s come at the expense of social skills, Arnold said.
“I’m working on getting kids to interact,” Arnold said. “Say ‘hello,’ talk to people.”
Despite that, kids today are smarter in a lot of ways, Wingate said.
“They’re like little sponges,” she said. “They’re ready to learn.”
And Wingate and Arnold have taken pride in preparing their kids for kindergarten. The most rewarding thing, Arnold said, has been “just seeing the kids accomplish things.”
‘A good run’
After 50 years of seeing kids off to school, Wingate was ready to step away.
“It’s been a good run,” she said. “I’ve made some wonderful friends.”
In retirement, Wingate hopes to spend more time with her children and grandchildren.
“They’re all very eager for me to spend more time with them,” she said. “I probably haven’t taken more than a week off in years.”
“I want to have that time before it’s too late,” she added.
Arnold also hopes to spend more time with family and friends in retirement, as well as to enjoy slower days.
“Getting through a day with kids doesn’t get any easier (as you age),” she said. “I want to leave while I still enjoy it.”
People sometimes ask Arnold how she stayed so long — both in the child care field and at Jack and Jill House. For Arnold, the years never seemed long.
“I was happy,” she said, “and all of a sudden, another year has gone by.”
