News & Resources

Rebekah Andrews drives nearly an hour every morning to get her youngest daughter, ZaMarii, to school. The commute is long, but she said it’s worth it for the quality education ZaMarii receives. With the support of First Steps 4K, ZaMarii attends free, full-day preschool at Small Impressions, an A-rated early learning center in Greenville County. 

Where 4-year-old Kyson Tanner once got flustered trying to identify letters, he now excitedly shouts, “Look Mom, it’s a K!” whenever he spots the letter on license plates, billboards, or signs at stores and plazas. At first, letter practice at home was frustrating. To make learning more playful, she turned practice into simple games, an idea she got from Small Impressions, a First Steps 4K center in Greenville County. 

Chandler Wendel lives in Columbia, South Carolina, with her husband of five years and their two children, 2-year-old Jordan and 9-month-old Walker. After earning her master’s degree from the University of South Carolina and beginning her career, Chandler believed she could handle anything. But parenthood, she admits, was the hardest challenge she’d ever faced. 

Few people know the First Steps 4K program like April Hayes. She’s led it, taught it, and even trusted it with her own child. After serving as a 4K center director, April returned to the classroom as a First Steps 4K teacher at Rehoboth Baptist Child Development Center in Richland County. As both an educator and a parent, she understands early learning from every angle. 

At first, Hanna Vasquez thought her son, Jase, was just shy. When he began refusing to get out of the car for preschool drop-off, she realized something more serious was happening. Jase’s separation anxiety made mornings stressful for both of them. Looking for help, Hanna turned to Lexington County First Steps to help Jase enter school ready to learn.

Dionne Makie always knew she wanted to teach. Originally, Dionne planned to earn a degree in Primary Education with a focus on Special Education. But life took a different path when she became a mother. Seeing her son’s growth inspired Dionne to return to school and pursue a new dream which lead her to become a First Steps 4K teacher.

When 25-year-old mom Catherine Stewart struggled with loneliness and anxiety, even simple things like playdates felt overwhelming. After sharing her feelings with her DSS social worker, she was introduced to Parents as Teachers. Backed by decades of research, Parents as Teachers helps parents strengthen their skills and create a safe, stable home for their children.

Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond President Tom Barkin joined state leaders to discuss how early childhood supports school readiness, workforce participation, and long-term economic growth in South Carolina.

At Cadence Academy Preschool in Surfside Beach, Horry County, every day is busy, unpredictable, and full of learning moments. Together, teachers Michelle Perkinson and Maria Spradlin bring both structure and heart to the classroom, creating a predictable routine that helps children feel secure while adapting to each child’s unique needs. This balance has led to some of the most meaningful transformations they’ve witnessed.