Manchester Co-Op Preschool
Building bright futures since 1964
Manchester Co-Op Preschool History
Manchester Cooperative Preschool began in the summer of 1963 when a few mothers in the area expressed a need for a preschool program for their children. There were many such nursery schools in Ann Arbor and surrounding towns but distance always made the idea seem too remote. These mothers, along with assistance from the Huron Valley Council of Cooperative Nurseries and friends, began working toward the beginning of a cooperative nursery in Manchester.
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During the summer, a possible classroom was investigated and we began our search for a teacher. After much thought about the Rowes Corner School and finding too many repairs needed for our budget at the time, we finally settled on the nursery rooms of Emanuel and chose our teacher, Wolff. Both steps were very happy ones! Our first session was held January 9, 1964 with five children in attendance meeting every Tuesday and Thursday. The preschool was moved to the Ackerson Building in 2007, where we stayed for 10 years. Then the preschool took 1-year hiatus looking for the next perfect location for us. We are now back and ready to continue adding to the history of preschool at Klager Elementary.
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The Preschool has been privileged to have many fine teachers in our long history. The following is a list of former Manchester Cooperative Preschool teachers.
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Kelly Ball Barb Boehler Amy Chandler Susan Cole Shar Dufresne Linda Emersole Sherri Finkbeiner Carol Greenway Diane Hawker Diane Hughes Eloise Kemner Simendea Kissman Arlene Klosiewicz-Walz Judy Mann Karen Meyer Jennifer Nesbitt-Brewer Marilyn Schultz Sue Sharai Danielle VanBogelen Jan Wizgird Delores Wolff Katie Marsh Liz Merry Shelby Chartrand Anneke Marshall Kim Francies Brandi Bennett
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Our present teachers are Stephanie Little and Stephanie Cunningham
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A special Thank-You to those first five families who spent so much of their time and energy to get our preschool started: Mr. & Mrs. Dick Kuntz, Mr. & Mrs. Roger Marrison, Mr. & Mrs. Russell Wolff, Mr. & Mrs. Titus Schneider and Mr. & Mrs. James Scott.