Open Arms Christian Learning Center

Our Teachers

Shelly Pugsley- Director

Shelly studied early childhood education at Grossmont college in San Diego, Ca and began teaching preschool in 1989. Shelly was instrumental in helping her center in San Diego achieve the NAEYC accreditation before moving to Mississippi where she began directing Open Arms Christian Learning Center when it opened in 2013. She holds a Mississippi Directors Credential and sat on the MSDH Child Care Advisory Council where she helped set policies for the state of Mississippi childcare facilities. Her favorite part of her job as a director is, developing relationships with the children and watching them learn and grow in a warm, nurturing environment. In addition to her directing duties, she enjoys passing on her wealth of knowledge to not only the teachers that work in her center, but also to other directors from local childcare facilities. Her goal has and will always be to make sure that Open Arms CLC is a high-quality preschool and daycare center.

Philosophy

Open Arms Christian Learning Center is a ministry that is committed to providing a Christian environment designed around the developmental needs and interest of children while nurturing their spiritual, intellectual, physical, emotional, and social growth. Our educational program incorporates many components necessary for effective learning: exploration, socialization, creativity, and independence. We support the developmental stages and individual learning styles while helping all children engage in meaningful learning.

Location

We are located in Caledonia, MS. Approximately one mile from Caledonia Elementary School and approximately 7 miles from Columbus Air Force Base.

About our program

At Open Arms Christian Learning Center in Columbus, our devoted team provides a warm and supportive atmosphere for young learners to flourish. With a hands-on approach, children engage in experiential learning, fostering their social and emotional growth. Our focus on early childhood education ensures a nurturing and enriching environment for each child to thrive.