Weakley County Schools Announce New Family Resource Center For Early Childhood Learning

WEAKLEY COUNTY (September 13) - Officials at Weakley County Schools announce the opening of the Early Childhood Family Resource Center (ECRC), located inside the Personal Development Center in Dresden. The ECRC marks a significant step in supporting parents and caregivers during their child’s earliest years. It is designed to provide valuable resources and guidance for families with children from birth to age five—a critical phase for shaping future academic success.

Terri Stephenson, Supervisor of Elementary Instruction for Weakley County Schools, shared her excitement about the center's opening.

 “This addition has been a goal for some time now, and we’re so happy to finally launch the Family Resource Center,” said Stephenson. “Early childhood development lays the groundwork for everything that follows in a child’s education. This center will play a vital role in helping parents give their children the strongest possible start.”

The ECRC serves as a central hub for early childhood education resources, offering personalized consultations and access to learning tools that help family members actively engage in their child’s development. Karen Fowler, the District’s Pre-K Family School Consultant, will lead the initiative, working closely with parents and guardians as a guide and source of support through the early learning process.

Karen Fowler, Pre-K Family School Consultant for Weakley County Schools, plays a key role in educating parents about the importance of early childhood development. 

“When you walk into a Pre-K classroom, you might see children crawling, playing, or interacting with one another, and it may not look like traditional learning. But those moments are vital,” Fowler explained. “It’s literally a 'crawl before you walk' situation. For example, crawling is a gross motor exercise that helps children develop the core strength and coordination needed to sit at a desk and focus on learning letters and numbers. Think of it as laying one of the first crucial bricks in the foundation of a building,” Fowler said.

Fowler works with parents to help them recognize the importance of developing fine motor skills, problem-solving abilities, and even early mathematical concepts, all of which are built through play and interaction. “A child’s job at four years old is simply to be a four-year-old,” she said. “We often want to rush this process, but it’s vital to allow children to grow at their own pace. Just like a seed has to sprout before becoming a tree, development has stages that can’t be skipped.”

The ECRC is more than just a support center; it’s a partnership between families and the school district. The center will offer guidance on key aspects of early childhood development, from language and vocabulary building to gross motor skills and social-emotional learning. The center can also help address modern challenges such as screen time, noting that children benefit most from face-to-face interactions with adults. 

Fowler emphasized the importance of “serve and return,” a term used to describe the back-and-forth exchanges between small infants and adults, which is critical to building language, social skills, and brain development.

“Whether it’s a smile, a coo, or a babble, those early conversations between adults and infants are how language skills begin to develop,” Fowler explained. “It’s about creating connections, and these interactions don’t cost anything. From handing them a sponge to squeeze, to outside play, to reading a story with a child - the resources we suggest are simple, effective, and accessible.”

Director of Schools Jeff Cupples emphasized the district’s commitment to educating and supporting students from their earliest years. 

“We know that preparing children for school begins long before they step into a kindergarten classroom. Our district is committed to educating and supporting the whole child—from birth to graduation and beyond,” Cupples said. “The Family Resource Center is a crucial step in ensuring our youngest students have the skills they need to succeed, and we’re proud to offer this as a service.”

The creation of the ECRC is also a part of the broader strategy to further address learning loss caused by the pandemic. Since 2020, a focus on early childhood learning and various early intervention methods has aimed to close learning gaps. This proactive approach has proven effective, with Weakley County Schools earning national recognition, twice featured in The New York Times in 2024. The coverage highlighted data from the Education Recovery Scorecard, a nationwide study   by Harvard and Stanford Universities, that pointed to the district’s exceptional efforts in overcoming pandemic-related setbacks. In addition, the district was recently ranked 6th in the state for education by the Tennessee Commission of Children and Youth. With these achievements affirming the right direction, the launch of the ECRC further reinforces the district’s commitment for setting up students for long-term success.

In the future, Fowler envisions expanding the center’s services to offer parent education sessions, providing both informal training and access to information on early childhood development. The ECRC will also serve as a resource hub, identifying and connecting families to needed services.

“Supporting families during these formative years is crucial,” added Stephenson. “By partnering with parents from the start, we’re not just preparing children for school; we’re laying the groundwork for their long-term success and well-being.” 

The Family Resource Center is open by appointment from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. Call (731) 364-3580 to schedule a consultation. In addition to personal guidance, the center offers hands-on demonstrations of learning tools, which Fowler uses to help parents/guardians better understand how to encourage their child’s development through simple, everyday activities.

For more on Weakley County Schools, visit weakleycountyschools.com.