By Amy Batista, Special Writer
CRANBURY – The Cranbury Presbyterian Church is hosting a gala Saturday to celebrate Dorothy Klotzbeacher, or “Mrs. K” as the children call her, and her more than 30 years of service.
The April 23 event will be held at the Cranbury Inn from 5 to 9 p.m. and will feature food and a silent auction to raise money for future playground improvements for the children of CPNS and the community in Mrs. K’s honor.
According to the Cranbury Presbyterian Nursery School Facebook Page, the plan at the gala is to present “Mrs. K” with a book filled with stories and pictures complied by all of the families that she has loved and laughed with through the years.
In 1983, Dorothy Klotzbeacher, a teacher at the Sunday school of the First Presbyterian Church of Cranbury, had an idea of filling empty seats during the week with nursery school children.
The school is on the church grounds at 22 South Main Street and provides enrichment programs during weekday mornings and afternoons to children 2, 3, and 4 years old.
“I presented my concept of a church-related preschool to the session as an elder in chair of the Christian Education Committee,” said Mrs. Klotzbeacher. “They requested that I form a task force to further study the possibility, formulate a plan, and report back.”
She said that after much discussion and consultation with the young congregation, families, a proposal was presented to establish a Monday through Friday enrichment program for 3- and 4-year-olds.
“The session approved and authorized the task force to select a board of directors to supervise the proposed school,” she said.
In September 1984, the Cranbury Presbyterian Nursery School (CPNS) opened with morning classes.
“I was the substitute teacher when needed during the year in 1984 and 1985,” said Mrs. Klotzbeacher.
In September 1985, she was hired as assistant teacher and in 1986 she became responsible for the musical portion of the class time.
“In 1991, I was commissioned to research, plan, and establish a class for two-and-a-half-year-olds,” she said. “The CPNS Board accepted my proposal, implemented the suggested room arrangements, furnishings, equipment and materials needed and I began teaching the two and a half year old program four mornings, Monday through Thursday, in September 1992.”
She said that she continued as an assistant teacher in the p.m. four-year-old classes and music teacher for the entire school.
“Our musical program extended into musical events that unified the children and their families in timely presentations each month,” she said.
In 2014, Mrs. Klotzbeacher turned the music classes over to Jenni Collins and has provided keyboard, musical support whenever needed since then.
“In 1997, our director, Darlene Cheronok, asked if I would be interested in a program for children who would like to have lunch with Mrs. K.” she said, adding that it began as two days a week.
The program was very popular as it extended the school day by one hour for the child and family. It also provides a bridge between regular classes and enrichment opportunities that we offer,” she said.
Before the nursery school, she was a kindergarten teacher’s assistant at the Cranbury School and also taught at the Monmouth Junction School in South Brunswick.
“Mrs. K was my kindergarten teacher at Cranbury School,” said Committeman James “Jay” Taylor. “Mrs. K has always been a wonderful person, and it was a privilege for my daughter, Grace, to have her at CPNS. I’ve been begging her since I knew my wife was pregnant with twins two-and-a-half years ago to stay at CPNS so my twin boys could have her as a teacher.”
He said that Mrs. Klotzbeacher reminds him of the George Bailey character in the film “It’s a Wonderful Life.”
“Mrs. K has taught so many Cranbury children and installed a sense of self worth and appreciation in each child that in so doing she has made Cranbury a special town,” said Mr. Taylor. “If she were to have decided not to teach in Cranbury, then I am sure like George Bailey saw, we’d all see a much different town and community.”
Mr. Taylor proposed – and the Township Committee supported his request – that April 23 be designated “Mrs. K Day” in Cranbury, which was approved at a March meeting.
“I can think of no better honor that naming the day after a person that helped so many children over the years,” said Mr. Taylor. “It is a small token of the committee’s appreciation and respect for someone so devoted to the children in our community.”
One of her students, Grace, 7, of Cranbury, said that Mrs. Klotzbeacher taught her that having fun is good. “That reading books can be funny,” she said.
Mrs. Klotzbeacher said that in 1998 the school received memorial gifts to build an elegant library shelf unit to house books.
“The CPNS library is now on computer and the staff is maintaining it at present,” she said, adding that the teachers’ resource books are available.
Grace said that she missed Mrs. K because she also taught students to love songs and music.
“She told all of us that we’re special and that she and others love us,” said Grace.
At the First Presbyterian Church of Cranbury Mrs. Klotzbeacher taught Sunday school, vacation bible school and served as chair of the church’s Education Committee.
When the program first began, there were two teachers and 17 students.
“Today, we offer five days with 10 teachers, split classrooms and average about 22 children each day,” she said.
Mrs. Klotzbeacher said that she now continues to teach the 2 1-2 year-old classes, including music.
As she reflected on her years, she said that she is notorious among staff as saving everything.
“The most precious things I have saved are the memories of CPNS through the years, the children’s smiles, hugs and all the love,” she said.
