Lori Carpenter is retiring after 1,155 children under her care and 33 years as director of Portage Ukrainian Nursery School, a role she describes as nothing short of "joyful." What began as a summer relief position at Portage Daycare in 1979 evolved into a lifelong passion for early childhood education.
"I went to university for commerce, it did not work out. I was not fitted for that," Carpenter recalls. "I went back to Portage Daycare and loved my time there enough that I decided to pursue my diploma in early childhood education."
After raising her children, Carpenter joined the nursery school in 1992 when it operated just two days weekly. Today, the program serves 81 children across four full days, with Carpenter praising the dedicated staff and supportive families that made her tenure memorable.
A legacy of community
The school's 2013 relocation from the Ukrainian Catholic Church to Trinity United stands out as a pivotal moment. Carpenter vividly remembers the moving day when community members arrived with grain trucks and trailers to transport the entire school in one evening.
"The parking lot was full of people, and we had that whole place cleared and moved that evening," she says. "It was just heartwarming to see all the people that came and moved the things that their children love to play with."
The new location brought significant upgrades including proper insulation, air conditioning, and access to an auditorium for winter activities. Carpenter notes the congregation's unanimous vote to welcome the school demonstrated overwhelming community support.
Passing the baton
As Carpenter prepares to retire, she expresses confidence in her successor Cory Moar, a 17-year staff member with childcare administration training. While stepping back from daily operations, Carpenter plans to remain involved with special programs like the Seeds of Empathy initiative and annual art shows.
"I'm pretty sure they'll say I can come and help out," she adds. "There are certain things in the program that I really strongly believe in."
Reflecting on her career, Carpenter treasures being called "Panee/Pany" (Ukrainian for Mrs.) by generations of students. She maintains that working with young children renewed her faith in humanity through their unfiltered honesty and capacity for joy.
The school's legacy continues through an endowment fund established with the Portage Community Foundation, ensuring future generations can experience the program Carpenter helped build. True to form, her parting words echo her career's theme: "It's been a joyful experience."
During the move from the Ukrainian Orthodox Church location to the Trinity United Church, volunteers who helped move he new location signed a framed paper with workers who did painting and other reno efforts, likewise signed in the blue inner sections, with names of some children who helped their dads
A farewell party is being held by the school at Prairie Fusion Arts and Entertainment on Thursday, June 26, between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. You are welcome to attend.
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