Big love from little ones. Barb Newton never will forget.
“All their hugs is what I will miss the most,” Newton said, freely reminiscing in her office at First Presbyterian Preschool at 512 Seventh St. in Columbus. “And I will miss all the funny things they say.”
That includes a little girl who asked Newton the other day if she knew much “about that Jesus dude.” The longtime educator and hugger is still chuckling over that one.
Newton will retire from 27 years as the 150-student facility’s director on June 30, but her last day with the children is Tuesday. That time span represents nearly half of the 67-year-old school’s history. From 5 to 7 p.m. Monday at Mill Race Park, friends, coworkers, supporters and well-wishers will host a drive-through vehicle parade to celebrate Newton’s contributions to the preschool. The rain date is Tuesday at the same time, same location.
Newton, 64, acknowledged the event could be emotional.
“How can it NOT be?” she asked, seated behind a desk adorned with enough student artwork to decorate refrigerators from here to Hope.
“But I simply feel it’s time for new ideas and a new direction,” Newton said. “Little people keep you young. And so it’s sometimes hard to think you’re getting older.”
Two years ago, during the institution’s 65th anniversary, Newton acknowledged that her role included everything from casting a broad vision for the place to clearing clogged toilets — a plunger sat near her office door — and wiping runny noses.
“This is my first love right here,” the leader said of inspiring youngsters ages 2 to 5. “And it’s hard saying goodbye. So I’m not doing that. I’m just saying I’ll see you later.”
She means that literally. Come August, she will return the first two weeks of preschool as a comforter of the youngest, new students, heartbroken and frightened away from parents for the first time ever.
“There are other things that I eventually want to do in retirement,” she said. “But cleaning house is not one of them.”
Being a doting grandmother is, though, along with relaxing and bird watching at her family’s cabin on 170 acres in Vevay.
Anna Denoyer, chair of the preschool’s board of directors, praised Newton’s leadership on several fronts.
“I would say Barb’s biggest contribution has been her drive to ensure as many children as possible have access to early childhood education,” Denoyer said.
Next comes Newton’s “endless fundraising efforts to create scholarships for kids who otherwise may not have the opportunity to attend preschool, to being involved with countless education boards and organizations in the state to advocate for better access to early childhood education for ALL,” as Denoyer put it.
And then there is her partnering this school year with Fresh Start Recovery, a new effort in which children of mothers in addiction recovery are enjoying access to early childhood education at First Presbyterian Preschool. Newton mentions that effort more than once while reviewing her time at the school.
“That is such a blessing,” the director said.
Preschool assistant director April Hemmerlein, who will become the new director when Newton leaves, has worked alongside her boss for seven years preparing for the transition.
“Barb has great vision,” Hemmerlein said. “It’s one of her greatest strengths. It’s about being able to see how things can be. And she has zero fear about jumping into a vision. She has never said things like, ‘Well, we can’t do that because of this or that.’
“She jumps in, and we all follow.”
Hemmerlein cracked that Newton’s departure leaves “very, very big shoes to fill — and I’m only a size 7.”
Newton feels certain that nostalgia linked to her longtime post will seep in before the fall.
“I know it probably will be hard for me,” she said, “when the school supplies come out in the stores.”
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To support the future work of First Presbyterian Preschool in honor of the retiring Barb Newton, leaders are encouraging parents and others to consider a gift to the First Presbyterian Preschool Scholarship Fund at The Heritage Fund — the Community Foundation of Bartholomew County.
People can go to heritagefundbc.org and click the giving button.
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From 5 to 7 p.m. Monday at Mill Race Park, friends, coworkers, supporters and well-wishers will host a drive-through vehicle parade to celebrate Newton’s contributions to the preschool. The rain date is Tuesday at the same time, same location.
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