Ruth Buckmire didn’t plan on opening a preschool—her journey into early childhood education began with a deeply personal need. Over two decades ago, her teenage daughter became pregnant at just 16 years old. As Ruth recalled, “We looked for childcare, but it just wasn’t adequate for us.” Ruth was worried about the perception of teen moms, and the thought of her daughter having to deal with that kind of judgment didn’t sit right.
That’s when Ruth decided to open her own childcare facility. She left her job in the corporate world, went back to school, earned her degree in early childhood education, and embraced teaching as a lifelong passion— one she had already been living through homeschooling her own children.
Today, Ruth is the owner and operator of HIS Preschool Learning Center in Fountain Inn, a preschool she moved into in 2018. At HIS Preschool Learning Center, learning is more than ABC, 123s, and knowing your shapes and colors. Ruth and her dedicated staff use the First Steps 4K curriculum. “It touches on everything- the social, emotional, physical, and cognitive development of the child,” she explained. “It teaches them how to think for themselves, how to calm themselves, how to grow.”
But the program isn’t just for the kids. “For us teachers, it benefits us as well. It teaches us how to control our emotions and be mindful in the way we handle things,” because children are always watching, always listening, and they learn from the behaviors of adults around them and their interactions with others.
That’s why Ruth and her team prioritize hands-on, exploratory preschool. There are nature walks, cooking activities, gardening projects, and field trips that let kids explore the world around them.
When children are immersed in nurturing preschool environments, they gain the confidence to take risks, try new things, and grow into courageous learners. “They have something—a foundation—that they started with here,” she said.
Parental involvement is at the heart of HIS’s mission. Families are welcomed into the classroom to read stories, sing songs, and join in on arts and crafts. Ruth believes this helps parents implement the same learning practices at home. “We work closely with parents,” she said. “And we give them the resources to help their child thrive.”
That same foundation supports parents, too. Through open communication with educators, opportunities to volunteer, and access to resources, parents feel more empowered and involved in their child’s journey to kindergarten.
But like many early learning centers across the state, HIS Preschool Learning Center faces an uncertain future. “Funding is the thing,” Ruth admitted. “We get resources, but we could use a lot more funding just to keep the doors open. A lot of centers are closing because they don’t have the funds—or the employees.”
To keep centers like HIS thriving, Ruth urges the community to see first-hand how childcare centers impact children and families. “When you start a child on the right path, they'll continue down the right path, the path of success.”
How can you support First Steps 4K centers like HIS Preschool Learning Center?
Consider donating to SC First Steps partnerships in your county or contacting your state representative to advocate for kindergarten readiness programs.
SC First Steps partners with more than 270 licensed childcare centers and private schools across the state, making it easy for families to find a high-quality program that meets their needs. To see if your child qualifies for First Steps 4K, a free, full-day four-year-old kindergarten for children in South Carolina, learn more about eligibility.
Topics:
First Steps 4K, Early Care and Education
