Tusculum Preschool, at 116 N. Rufe Taylor Road, opened last month as the second preschool owned by Rochelle Faul, her daughter Kelly Marbry, and son-in-law Matt Marbry.

Together they also operate All About Kids, a local 3 STAR Preschool, at 1421 Tusculum Blvd.

The new 10,000-square-foot facility, across the street from Fatz Cafe, provides a spacious environment for children to learn and play.

"The teachers and children are excited about the new space," Faul said. "The classrooms are fresh and inviting."

The pre-school's program is developed to focus on the individual needs of every child to promote social, emotional, cognitive, motor and self-help skill development, as well as to develop confidence and a positive self-image, according to Faul.

The goal is for the teachers to prepare the children with skills they need for kindergarten, and for life, she said.

As an additional perk, the program also includes early Spanish for all ages and speech therapy for those in need.

All of the teachers come with years of experience, and most have degrees in Early Childhood Education.

"We only employ teachers that are serious about teaching and enriching the lives of children. We don't just hire babysitters," Faul said.

In addition, staff members are required to attend annual Childhood Education classes and keep active certifications in CPR, First Aid, and SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome.)

The teachers also receive background checks and undergo random drug testing, Faul said.

As an extra security measure, surveillance cameras are in all of the classrooms.

Tusculum Preschool accepts children 6 weeks through 5 years of age and provides financial assistance to those in need by accepting Families First and offering competitive rates.

Weekend care will be available soon. The telephone number is 423-525-4951 for more details.