Mock Classroom To Advance Early Childhood Education
Funding awarded by The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina will provide an innovative resource for early childhood education teacher training at Western Piedmont Community College.
CFWNC has granted a $16,750 Education focus area grant to the Western Piedmont Foundation for the installation of a mock early childhood classroom on the WPCC campus. The mock classroom will advance early childhood teacher preparation by serving as a fully equipped training lab, according to Kasey Gardner, coordinator of the early childhood education program at the college.
Faculty will be able to use the space to model best practices, students can engage in simulations of daily classroom routines and small groups can participate in guided practice, role-play and mini-teaching sessions. It will facilitate learning activities that closely align with the NC Foundations for Early Learning and Development, a state framework outlining goals and developmental indicators for children from birth to age 5.
“The mock early childhood classroom will significantly enhance hands-on learning for our students,” Gardner said. “While coursework provides foundational knowledge, this space will allow students to practice, observe and apply teaching strategies in a realistic environment before entering the workforce.”
The mock classroom will be built into an existing space in Carr Hall on the main campus. The project will include the purchase of furniture, materials and learning center equipment. Renovations are expected to be completed by the fall of 2026.
Once complete, early childhood education students will use the classroom in several ways:
- Hands-on practice and demonstrations: Students will observe and demonstrate teaching strategies in a controlled, faculty-guided setting.
- Course-embedded activities: The space will be integrated into observation, child development, curriculum and classroom management courses.
- Family engagement events: Students will plan, lead and reflect on events such as Family Literacy Nights, STEM activity nights and parent workshops.
- On-campus child care for college events: Under approved supervision, students will provide high-quality, short-term child care during campus events, gaining real-world experience while supporting the campus community. This component is in the planning stage.
Gardner is excited to see this classroom put to use in training future generations of early childhood educators.
“The mock early childhood classroom represents a significant step forward in preparing future teachers with the hands-on experience they need to enter the workforce with confidence,” she said. “It also deepens our commitment to the community by creating new opportunities for partnerships with local early childhood programs and by offering family engagement events that support young children’s development.”
Mackenzie Bostian Adams, executive director of the Western Piedmont Foundation, shared her appreciation to CFWNC for the grant award.
“We are incredibly grateful to The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina for awarding us a $16,750 grant to support the creation of a mock early childhood classroom,” Adams said. “This generous funding will allow us to enhance hands-on learning opportunities and better prepare educators to support young learners. We truly appreciate the Foundation’s commitment to strengthening our community through education and their continued investment in early childhood development.”
The Community Foundation is a nonprofit serving 18 counties in western North Carolina. The Foundation is a permanent regional resource that facilitated $69 million in charitable giving last year. CFWNC inspires philanthropy and mobilizes resources to enrich lives and communities in western North Carolina. To learn more, visit cfwnc.org.
Published: 01/8/2026