Garden dedicated to KC Early Childhood's former director
PREPARING THE GARDEN

Working in the garden with her back to the camera is Beth Garrett, Left to right: Lori Truman, Tim Truman, Noel Garrett, Virginia Booker.

The Kilgore College Early Childhood Center dedicated a "sensory garden" in honor of the center's first director, Mary Ann Kraemer, on April 18. The event was held in conjunction with Week of the Young Child, April 13-19. Week of the Young Child is an annual event sponsored by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), the world's largest early childhood education association, with nearly 100,000 members and a network of over 300 local, state and regional affiliates.

According to the NAEYC Web site (www.naeyc.org), "the purpose of the Week of the Young Child is to focus public attention on the needs of young children and their families and to recognize the early childhood programs and services that meet those needs."

Kraemer, director of the ECC from 1987-1993, was honored at the annual ECC Family Picnic at the garden located in front of the ECC building on the Kilgore College campus.

The garden, landscaped by Richard Holloway of New Orleans Gardens, has been made possible by Kraemer's family in honor of her retirement from education.