Inspiring Wonder

SEU Seeks to Usher in New Era for Early Childhood Education

PHOTOS BY JORDAN RANDALL | DEVELOPED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH SOUTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY

SARAH RODGERS, Director of the Robert and Sandra Graper Early Childhood Center at SEU

Just outside the gates of a university that continues to make significant contributions to the local community and abroad, through raising up students who are equipped to live out their God-given purpose, is a brand new space where the littlest hearts and minds will soon be able to begin that journey at a much earlier age.

The Robert and Sandra Graper Early Childhood Center at Southeastern University, slated to open its doors in January, is designed to serve children from eight weeks old through Pre-K, and the center arrives at a critical juncture. As families continue to relocate to Lakeland, often for careers in healthcare and higher education, the demand for high-quality childcare has reached a fever pitch. With waiting lists across the county often stretching into triple digits, the capacity of the RSG at SEU to serve approximately 140 students—including 50 spots specifically for infants under two—is a significant answer to a community-wide need.

However, to speak only of capacity is to miss the true heartbeat of a facility that is aiming to be unlike anything Lakelanders have seen before.

Leading the charge is Director Sarah Rodgers, a veteran educator whose career has been defined by a high-level blend of classroom rigor and ministerial compassion.

“When you go into education, you are going into the relationship business,” Rodgers says, reflecting on her guiding philosophy. She says that confidently, with more than a decade of experience in Polk County classrooms (where she was a three-time Teacher of the Year winner at the schools she served at) and a long tenure at Church for the ONE in several roles including children’s pastor and executive director of Academy for the ONE. Rodgers brings an approach rooted in the belief that each child is “uniquely made in the image of God by purpose, on purpose and for a purpose.” For her, the opportunity to develop a curriculum and hire a team of like-minded professionals is a calling. 

Her path to this role—marked by years of teaching, adjunct professorships, and leadership in church ministry—has been, in her own words, a series of doors opened by the Lord. She recalls a formative moment as a teenager, washing paintbrushes in an after-school art program run by her mom. A young boy, wearing shoes that didn’t fit, walked into the room, and it was crystal clear that he was navigating a challenging life and simply needed “love and attention.” At that moment, Rodgers knew she was called to serve. 

The center’s pedagogical approach is as intentional as its leadership. Rather than adhering to a single, rigid methodology, Rodgers and her team are curating a “best of” approach that is inspired by principles of classical education and include the rich, nature-focused strategies of 19th-century educator Charlotte Mason. 

“We want to inspire wonder,” Rodgers explains. “We want to thoughtfully curate the spaces that the kids will spend their days in a way that’s going to inspire curiosity, creativity, and most importantly, connection.”

Central to this philosophy is the “Wonder Lab,” a dedicated space that functions much like an art classroom in a traditional school, designed to spark hands-on discovery. Outside, the architecture itself creates a child-friendly courtyard, complete with an imaginative playground and ample space for nature-based exploration. It is a curriculum of tactile experiences, where the goal is to cultivate a genuine love of learning before a child ever steps into a kindergarten classroom.

The center will also include “The Museum,” a large open space where events can be hosted for parents and where regular chapel services will take place. Leading the way with the curriculum and the formation of the chapel experience is Assistant Director Deborah Sullivan, who brings with her years of experience forming the chapel experience at Lakeland Christian School.

The RSG at SEU will be seamlessly integrated with Southeastern University’s College of Education. This is not merely an on-campus school; it is a learning laboratory. SEU education majors will gain real-world experience here, working under the mentorship of seasoned, tenured educators.

“Theory is critical and important, but it really comes to light when theory is in action,” says Dr. Lisa Coscia, Dean of the College of Education at SEU. 

The center will facilitate a mentorship model where experienced teachers model best practices while mentoring college students. It is a symbiotic relationship: the veterans bring depth and classroom management expertise, while the students bring fresh, innovative ideas. “We are shepherding students in their formative years of life through mentoring college students,” Rodgers adds.

As the center prepares to open in January 2027, a shared vision for serving children and families is becoming a reality. It is possible thanks to a significant investment from the State of Florida, as well as the generosity of the Graper family, Regent Bank, Regal Automotive, the George W. Jenkins Fund within GiveWell Community Foundation and anonymous donors.

As SEU President Dr. Kent Ingle remarked during the groundbreaking, “This center is more than a building — it’s a direct expression of our mission, meeting a vital educational need in our community and an investment in the future of our children”.

As Dr. Coscia notes, this is the first step in exploring how SEU’s systems and philosophy of education can build life-changing educational experiences for all ages, and who knows where this journey might lead the 91-year-old university. 

“Maybe one day we’ll call their name at graduation and say that they started with us when they were eight weeks old and they’re finished with their doctorate,” she says with a grin.