On Sunday, April 27, from 2–4 p.m., the Sewanee Children’s Center (SCC) will be celebrating its 75th anniversary and honoring the 38-year legacy of Carrie Mauzy. Mauzy’s tenure at SCC is the longest in the school’s history, and her influence and commitment have played a critical role in shaping SCC. The festivities will take place in Kennerly Hall and on the SCC playground, and the community is invited to join in the fun. There will be games, face painting, a cookie walk, and other activities, along with food and an SCC birthday cake.

The Sewanee Children’s Center has a long and storied history, counting many members of the community among its alumni. In preparing a history of the Center, long-time board member and treasurer, Sandy Baird, estimated that the school has served 3,600 students in its 75 years of operation. It first opened its doors as the Sewanee Nursery and Kindergarten on Oct. 14, 1949, after an agreement was made with Otey Parish for the use of the basement of the parish hall, and it occupies this same space today.

Until 1967, the school’s attendees were primarily the children of University families, and it functioned as a play/nursery program. In 1966, Martha Lowe moved from her position on the school’s board to become the director; during her tenure, the first formal parent handbook was written, and a focus was placed on the demonstrable benefits of formal preschool and kindergarten education. At the time, the local public school did not include kindergarten, and the Sewanee Nursery and Kindergarten filled the need for such a program. This emphasis on a structured kindergarten education led to the start of a Headstart program and galvanized attempts to diversify attendance through scholarship programs funded largely by the Cartinour-Woods Foundation of Chattanooga.

In 1977, the school transitioned from a morning-only to an all-day program, with the mornings oriented towards kindergarten education and the afternoons as a daycare. This transition followed several unsuccessful community attempts to start an all-day daycare as more women joined the workforce and needed formal care for their young children. At this time, 41% percent of students received scholarships. The Sewanee Community Chest, Otey Parish (St. Mark and St. Paul), and the Cartinour-Woods Foundation have been key supporters of the Center, along with many generous private donors.

In 1983, the name was changed to the Sewanee Children’s Center, and in the years following, SCC was used as a model in Tennessee for nursery and preschool programs. Now, the Center follows the constructivist theory of education, where students are active participants in a relevant and engaging curriculum that encourages critical thinking and problem solving.

The Center owes its success to the unfailing dedication and hard work of all its directors and teachers, past and present, and the many community members who have volunteered time and support over the years to this treasured institution.