We want your child’s experience with us to be pleasant and positive. We strive to make the atmosphere at Fort Hill healthy, happy, safe, and nurturing.
A child’s laugh could simply be one of the most beautiful sounds in the world.
MORE THAN CHILD CARE
What we offer
Creative Curriculum
The philosophy of The Creative Curriculum® is that young children learn best by doing. The Creative Curriculum® is built on theories of development in young children, that all children learn through active exploration of their environment and therefore the environment plays a critical role in learning. With The Creative Curriculum®, children are immersed in learning through purposeful play-based experiences on topics they’re familiar with from their everyday lives. Children find opportunities for rigorous skill development like counting, measurement, and language comprehension while also developing positive relationships, gross-motor skills, and problem solving abilities.
Facilities
Fort Hill Child Development Center is licensed for 189 children ranging in ages 6 weeks to 11 years old. We have ten classrooms designed specifically for each age group. We have the ability to move children from one classroom to the next based on age and developmental rediness. We have four playgrounds, each designed for a specific age group. We have an infant/toddler playground, a 2-3 year old playground, a 4-5 year old playground, and a 4-11 year old playground. Fort Hill has three 15 passenger vans used for transporting after school age children from five area schools. We have two resident cats that enjoy greeting the children from a distance. Their names are Luna and Mena.
Safety
Fort Hill is located in a quiet, residential neighborhood just minutes away from downtown Charleston. Fort Hill offers online viewing of your child’s classroom. We have twenty-five cameras positioned inside and outside of the center covering all classrooms, hallways, entrances, and outside grounds. All doors are locked and can only be accessed by using an issued key fob. We follow CDC guidelines regarding the health and safety of our community.
What other parents say
We appreciate the individualized care and attention given to our two children. The administrative staff are extremely supportive and always available to answer questions.
― John and Sarah Ratliff, parents of 2 children
Fort Hill is amazing. I know that when I drop off my children they are in a safe and loving environment.
― Sarah Mitchell, parent of 2 children
Our Story
Fort Hill Child Development Center was established in 1989 by owner and director, Jean Hawks. Jean was a single mom at the time, raising three teenagers. She decided to use her knowledge and talents to create a family oriented childcare center that supported her community. Her passion for young children, and determination to provide for her family, helped her create one of the best, and most recognized childcare centers in the area. The child development center was originally Fort Hill Elementary school which Jean attended when she was a child. Jean’s daughter, and Co-Director, Jamie Gaeger, has worked beside her mother for over 25 years, as a teacher, summer camp director, NAEYC accreditation administrator, Director, and business manager.
Jean was a WV STARS trainer for over 20 years, taught young teachers and Directors in the ACDS class, has served on the WV Committee for Prevention of Child Abuse, the Chamber Education Committee, Charleston Women’s Forum, is currently on the board for the Appalachian Children’s Choir, and was the Presidential appointed delegate to the White House conference on Small Business in 1995.
Jean and her staff constantly strive to improve the learning environment for the children, as well as provide a happy, healthy, safe, and nurturing home away from home.
Call today to request information and schedule a visit. We look forward to speaking with you. Click on the link below to view our Parent Handbook.
Current clients can stay up to date on changes, emergency information, health information, forms, closings, etc. by requesting access to join our Facebook page at Fort Hill Child Development Center.
Hours of Operation
Monday-Friday
6:30am-6:00pm
2025 Closings
- January 1
- January 20
- February 17
- March 21
- April 18
- May 26
- July 4
- September 1
- October 24
- November 27 and 28
- December 24, 25, and 26
Contact Information
info@forthillcdc.net
304-344-2439 (phone)
304-344-9906 (fax)
810 Wilkie Drive
Charleston, WV
25314
Owner/Director: Jean Hawks
Director/Business Manager: Jamie Gaeger
Assistant to the Directors: Brenda Lester
Curriculum Coordinator: Melissa Hodges
Fort Hill is committed to ensuring nondiscrimination based on race, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, age (40 or above), blindness, or disability.
Employment Information Below
Fort Hill Child Development Center 