Local and state leaders visit FunTime Pre-School for National Week of the Young Child

Special to The Clinton Courier

Pictured (l to r) are FunTime Pre-School owner Lesia Daniel, Clinton Mayor-elect Will Purdie, Navdeep Kaur, Courtney Jones, Representative Stephanie Foster and Representative Clay Mansell.

Mississippi House of Representatives members Clay Mansell and Stephanie Foster, as well as Clinton Mayor-elect Will Purdie, recently visited with FunTime Pre-School owner Lesia Daniel and her staff to celebrate the National Week of the Young Child (WOYC).

WOYC is an annual event recognizing the importance of early childhood education and the dedicated professionals who support young learners. The visit highlighted the critical role that high-quality child care and early education play in shaping the future of Mississippi’s children and communities and sustaining the labor force participation of working families.

During the visit, Rep. Mansell, Rep. Foster and Mayor-elect Purdie toured the facility, engaged with children and educators, and discussed policies that support early learning. The event provided an opportunity to hear directly about the challenges and successes Funtime and other child care programs experience in fostering children’s development.

The National Week of the Young Child is hosted by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) and coordinated in Mississippi through a partnership of the Mississippi Early Learning Alliance, Excel by 5 and the Mississippi Early Childhood Association. It is celebrated annually in April to shine a spotlight on the needs of young children and their families.

“Good child care isn’t just about kids—it’s about making sure parents can work and our communities can thrive,” said Daniel. “When families can count on safe, affordable child care, they can keep their jobs, support their families and help Mississippi’s economy grow. Investing in early education is really about investing in all of us.”