At Herrin Unit 4, the future starts young— very young. And at the heart of it all is Chrissy Confer, the district’s Director of Pre-K Programming. If there’s one thing Chrissy is passionate about, it’s ensuring that every child in Herrin gets the best start possible, from birth to kindergarten. As she puts it, "If you don’t have that foundation from birth to five, your whole educational career is going to be behind." That’s why she’s dedicated her career to making sure the district’s youngest students are set up for success.

Chrissy has been working with children since she was 13, inspired by a long line of caregivers in her family. Growing up in a huge Southern Illinois family Chrissy was constantly surrounded by younger siblings, cousins, and neighbors’ children. "I think it was inevitable," she says with a laugh. "I knew from kindergarten that I was going to be a teacher."

But her career took her beyond the classroom. Before joining Herrin, Chrissy spent years running an in-home daycare, working in child care centers, and ultimately becoming a quality specialist for Southern Illinois, ensuring that child care centers met high standards. Her journey even led her to train teachers across the region. "I became the teacher of teachers," she recalls, proud of the impact she’s had on improving childcare quality across Southern Illinois.

Her skills didn’t go unnoticed. When Herrin found itself facing a government label of "childcare desert," Chrissy was the perfect fit to help the district address the need. "Herrin was losing family childcare options, and it was hard for working parents to find quality care for their kids," she explains. That’s when Valerie Clodi, a grant writer for the district, approached Chrissy about the role.

"It was all kind of aligning," Chrissy says. "I kept hearing how limited the childcare situation was in Herrin, and then they called me."

Since joining the district in November of last year, Chrissy has wasted no time making an impact. Under her leadership, the pre-K program is thriving, serving as the bedrock for the district’s long-term success. She says it again (so I know it must be important) "Birth to five is the most crucial time in life," Chrissy emphasizes. "That’s where we need to start if we want to see kids succeed in school and beyond."

One of the most exciting developments in Herrin’s pre-K programming is the expansion into a new facility, made possible through a partnership with the Herrin Education Foundation. Located in the former Vigiano’s Fitness Center, the space will allow the district to bring all of its pre-K students under one roof. "Right now, we’re spread out between North Side Primary Center and other locations," Chrissy explains. "But once we’re in the new building, we’ll have room to grow, and we plan to add more classrooms in the coming years."

But Chrissy’s passion for early childhood education isn’t just about physical space—it’s about giving kids the best possible start in life. "It’s all about those ‘aha’ moments," she says, her face lighting up. "When a child finally makes the connection between what they’re learning and how it works, that’s the magic. You get to see those moments every day in pre-K, and it’s why I love what I do."

Chrissy is quick to point out that she’s not doing it alone. "I have a great team," she says. "Our teachers are diverse in age, experience, and background, and it creates a really strong dynamic. We have seasoned teachers guiding the newer ones, and it’s amazing to see how much they learn from each other." That diversity extends to the students as well, and Chrissy is proud of how the program fosters empathy and understanding among the children. "We have kids from all different backgrounds, and it’s important to teach them compassion and acceptance from an early age."

As the program grows, Chrissy envisions even more ways to involve the community, including plans for cultural events where families can share their heritage through food, music, and clothing. "We’re always thinking of new ways to engage the families and celebrate the diversity of our students," she says.

When I ask her what makes Herrin special, Chrissy doesn’t hesitate. "It’s a close-knit community," she says. "Everyone rallies around each other, and every kid is ‘our’ kid. That’s something I’ve come to love about this place. The community really supports the schools and the kids, and it shows in everything we do."

Chrissy’s dedication to early childhood education goes beyond preparing kids for kindergarten—it’s about setting the foundation for their entire educational journey. "Just wait till my kids get to kindergarten," she says with a smile. "You’re going to see the difference that starting early makes. These kids are going to be ahead, and it’s going to benefit the whole district in the long run."

There’s a lot to be proud of here in Herrin, but on the short list, we’ve got to include this pre-K revolution. With Chrissy Confer leading the way, the district’s pre-K program is more than just a place for kids to learn—it’s the start of something big. And with a community that’s fully invested in its youngest learners, the future looks very bright indeed.