Tipp City Enrichment Program: A pillar of the community

Tipp City Enrichment Program is the coveted before and after-school and preschool childcare center located within Broadway Elementary. The center has been a community pillar since its beginning in 2007. The conveniently embedded location of TCEP has made it one of the most coveted childcare programs in Tipp City. 

However, it’s no secret that Broadway Elementary is soon to be no longer. So, after being a reliable source of childcare for nearly 20 years, over 113 children and their parents, grandparents, guardians, and respective villages are wondering. What’s going to happen to TCEP?

There has been no clear answer to the question that has been plaguing those who don't just rely on TCEP for childcare, but for safety, and an enriching environment that isn't replicated in other centers. Teresa Litton, the executive Director of Tipp City Enrichment Program, says, “The future of TCEP is something I worry about constantly—often daily, if not hourly.”

Tipp City Enrichment Program is utilized by an astounding number of parents and has a continual waitlist. The program began as a partnership with Tipp City Schools, and now, as buildings are coming down, questions are arising. Teresa isn’t the only one worried, and she’s doing everything she can to continue the relationship TCEP has with Tipp City families.

Teresa has always carried a passion for her career. The current director always dreamed of becoming a teacher. However, college wasn't an immediate option after graduating high school, so Litton took the business route. She worked her way into the corporate world through finance and real estate closings, eventually marrying a special ed teacher and becoming a stay-at-home mom.

Litton reignited her love for children through volunteering at her church’s nursery, eventually working her way up to the Children’s Ministry Director and Enrichment Director. Teresa feels that those experiences fueled her desire not only to educate others but also to further her own education. She then earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education from The University of Cincinnati.

Teresa joined TCEP in 2015. She began as a preschool teacher and enrichment coordinator, eventually making her way to executive director in 2019. She says, “One of the things I’ve always taken great pride in is that TCEP is not just a childcare center. The childcare industry can be incredibly challenging—for children, for families, and for the professionals who work hard every day to make a difference. That’s why, at TCEP, we are committed to offering much more than basic care. We intentionally design our programs to be rich in both activity and education.”

Throughout her previous placements, Teresa has witnessed the strengths and shortcomings of early childhood education programs. She wanted to be in a position to advocate for improvements that would benefit children and their families, something she now does every day at TCEP.

Tipp City Enrichment Program focuses on curating a safe and exciting before and after-school center for every child enrolled. Teresa also values the preschool program, in which children are not just taken care of, but are also prepared for what the years ahead in elementary school will look like. TCEP children enter kindergarten feeling confident and excited to learn and succeed. Teresa believes, “In a time when children are expected to know more than ever before they even step into a kindergarten classroom, Early Childhood Education is not a luxury—it’s a necessity.”

TCEP is not the only childcare option in Tipp City; however, it is the only option that doesn’t rely on a partnership with a church or corporation. Instead, Tipp City Enrichment Program has been operating under a partnership with Tipp City Schools. TCEP has been providing affordable, reliable, enriching childcare and education for the Tippecanoe community since 2007. Now, as demolition is in action and uncertainties arise, the community is left wondering where their children will go, and how they can continue to receive the unmatched quality care found at Tipp City Enrichment Program.