by Judi Jackson
Welcome home, Amy Yerby!
When word got out in the spring that the First Baptist Daycare might need to shut its doors, a group of concerned church members gathered to formulate a plan to keep the program alive. The first matter of business was finding a qualified director who would bring experience, education, and passion to the job.
Winn Parish native Amy Yerby was at the top of the list. Yerby’s love for children, experience in the classroom, and credentials for leadership combined to make her the most desirable candidate.
“I do love working with children,” Yerby commented. “We all have gifts and talents – and mine are that I love children . . . and their parents as well.”
In her new role as Director of First School (the formal name of the daycare program at First Baptist Winnfield), Yerby is excited to build on the legacy of the school’s reputation. “It’s hard to believe but I went to daycare here when I was a child,” she said, adding that Linda Bamburg was her teacher. She pointed out a lot of people her age that grew up in Winnfield also attended the daycare at First Baptist and remember what a wonderful program it was.
Yerby and the daycare staff will continue implementing the age-appropriate Frog Street Curriculum with a strong emphasis on incorporating daily prayer, Bible stories, and scripture memory. She noted that the weekly chapel service for the children will be a cornerstone of their spiritual development.
“Planting biblical seeds in these children’s lives is needed now more than ever,” she explained.
Yerby is passionate about providing a safe environment for the students of First School, focusing on development of a staff comprised of Christian women who also desire to bring a quality of care that will nurture children in their faith. She harkens back to training in previous positions where she learned the value of affirming words. “We want them to feel loved, and to know we’re happy and thankful that they’re here,” she said, “just like I would have wanted someone to do for my kids when they were young.”
Eager to connect with parents of children ages 1-4, Yerby may be reached at amy.yerby@fbcwinn.org or 318-628-6996.