Miller’s time as a student in the College
of Education included many hours doing
observations and working in the Early
Childhood Lab, operated by the IECE
program. The lab not only provides care
and education for young children, but
also serves as a teaching facility to train
the next generation of early childhood
professionals. It has existed at UK for
nearly 80 years.
“I sent Olivia to the lab school at the age
of 2 ½ to get the experience and topnotch education I knew it would provide
for her,” Miller said. “As a professional,
I have encouraged many of my families
to tour the lab as a possible place to send
their child for preschool.”
The lab is moving from the basement of
UK’s Erikson Hall to a freshly renovated
building designed specifically for the
needs of the program. The new space
opened in January and will allow the
lab to double in size, serving more than
100 children using best early childhood
practices. The 10,000-square-foot,
freestanding building is part of the former
Lexington Theological Seminary campus,
recently acquired by UK.
Miller’s involvement in the lab is starting
to come full circle. In addition to her time
spent there as a student and sending her
daughter there, her professional work will
soon be based in the lab. Her employer,
Visually Impaired Preschool Services, is
partnering with UK and will share the
new space.
“The new facility will not only be
accessible, but geared toward children
with visual impairments,” Miller said.
“This will also allow us to partner with
the vision program at UK and help
them provide hands-on experience with
visually-impaired children from birth to 5.
It will create an opportunity to help better
serve our children throughout the entire
state of Kentucky.” «
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Ground broken for
The University of Kentucky College of Education held
a ceremonial groundbreaking in April 2014 to mark the
beginning phase of renovation for the Early Childhood
Laboratory (ECL). The new facility, which opened in
January, allows the childcare center to double in size,
serving more than 100 children using best early childhood
practices.
The new location is a 10,000 square foot, freestanding
building next to the facilities of the former Lexington
Theological Seminary, recently acquired by UK.
“For nearly 80 years, UK has provided care for Central
Kentucky children at its Early Childhood Lab,” said Dr.
Mary John O’Hair, dean of the UK College of Education.
“The lab has the highest quality ratings of any early care
and education program in Kentucky and the nation. More
than 1,000 students per semester gain observation hours
and clinical experiences in the lab, which serves as a