Stephanie Cage knew the importance of early childhood education at a young age.
As one of the oldest cousins in her family, she recalls she was always around young children.
“When I was graduating high school, that was one of the things that kind of stuck out with me was being a teacher,” she said. “I was one of the oldest of all my cousins so I kind of tended to be around the littles all the time, and I really enjoyed that.”
Cage, who began her college career at Jefferson College in 1996, said, “I had a couple different classes for early childhood, and I knew that I was going to need to do some observations and lab hours that were required. I was already considering trying to find a job in a (childhood) center.”
In one of those classes, she learned there was an early childhood center on campus.
“On my way out of class that day, I stopped into the program, and the rest is history,” she said.
Cage worked part-time in the center in 1997, and two years later, she was working full-time.
By 2016, she was promoted to director of the early childhood center which ultimately took her out of the classroom environment she loved. She said it has taken her awhile to adjust to this role.
“I miss being in the classroom,” she said.
With 30 years in the field, Cage said her time spent in the classroom has helped her prepare for the role of being a director.
“Now being able to bring a different perspective to the teachers, I think is helpful because I can look at our program as a whole,” she said.
Jefferson College’s early childhood care facility is open to students, employees and the community.
“We give priority to the Jefferson College students first, because that is part of the reason why we’re here,” Cage said.
“It’s for the students, so that they have a place for their children to go while they’re taking classes, as well as the early childhood students to have a place to utilize the lab for their practicums.”
Recently, the program achieved exhibiting high-quality designation from the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s Quality Achievement Rate system. The program is also state-licensed and accredited.
Cage’s connections in education extend beyond Jefferson College; she serves on the Hillsboro R-3 School Board, and she has helped the district establish its own early childhood program.
“It was part of their CSIP (Comprehensive School Improvement Plan) and their efforts to initiate an early childhood program,” she said. “Whenever they formed the committee to start looking at curriculum, funding sources, spaces and communication …I was on the programming and curriculum committee.
“I was there to offer suggestions and ask questions.”
The 2025-26 school year is the first year the school district offered the program, which is located in the primary school building; it accepts children ages 3-5 and is free to those within the Hillsboro R-3 district.
Cage said she has always had a passion for working in early childhood education.
“I want to be the advocate for children, stand up for what I know is what’s best for them in the way that they learn and educate the community and the families,” she said.
One of the most fulfilling parts of the job for her is to see the lightbulb go off when a child picks up a skill.
“It’s a lot of work, but it’s probably the most rewarding work that you’ll do, because you’re setting the foundation for lifelong learning for children,” Cage said. “This is where they start… so to give (children) a fun, safe and quality space to learn in… It’s (the) lasting impact that you make on a child really sets the tone for (their) future schooling.”
As a Hillsboro school board member, she said, she has witnessed it first-hand.
Last year, she handed three of her former preschool students their high school diplomas when they graduated.
“It was kind of a cool full-circle moment,” she said. “I handed them their preschool diploma, so to speak, and then I got to hand them their high school diploma.”
Cage said there is a possibility she may get to hand diplomas to former students this year as well.
“I think I have like, two (to) four years left of students (where) I was their teacher, before I run out of kids,” she said.
Along with serving on the board, Cage has found ways to stay connected to her roots.
One way she stays in the classroom is through volunteering at her church in the children’s ministry.
“I’ll be in the threes and fours room; I’ll cover the classroom, do the lesson with the children, and get to hang out and do all the things that I did in my classroom,” Cage said.
Jefferson College President Dena McCaffrey speaks at the Early Childhood Center playground resurfacing ribbon cutting.
On April 8, the college unveiled the resurfacing of the Early Childhood Center playground.
This project was paid for by a $20,400 grant from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.
The playground resurfacing used 8,625 pounds of recycled Missouri tires to renovate the area.
“The replacement with solid surface recycled materials provides a safe area for our children and gives us an opportunity to educate them about environmental issues, care of the earth and the process of recycling,” said Stephanie Cage, director of the early childhood center.