Enrollment in Valley Points YMCA’s Explorers program at the West Vandergrift Early Learning Center in Vandergrift has dropped by about 33% since rumors about the fate of the program and its teacher began swirling on social media and in the community last week.

Administrators of the preschool are dispelling rumors that longtime educator and YMCA employee Andrea Bennett was fired and that the program is being dismantled.

Bennett has been employed at the YMCA for 35 years and is the director and creator of the Explorer Educational Programs.

Kellie McIntyre, CEO of Valley Points YMCA, said the program continues in Bennett’s absence and classes have not been disrupted.

McIntyre said Sunday that Bennett has not communicated with the YMCA since clearing out her classroom on Sept. 26.

YMCA officials said Bennett emptied the contents of her room over several days but that she is still employed full time with the YMCA.

But some parents with children enrolled in the Explorers program say otherwise and have pulled their children from the program in the wake of the drama.

Bennett’s daughter, Billy Joanne Bennett, confirmed Sunday that her mother’s classroom remains dismantled and her mother is using paid vacation days.

Courtesy of Billy Joanne Bennett The Explorer’s program classroom at the West Vandergrift Early Learning Center as photographed Sept. 26.  

It remains unclear when, or if, Andrea Bennett will return to her teaching post.

“She will return after meeting with her lawyer and provided she has a more appropriate setting than the childcare room for the Explorers programs, a professional teacher’s aide and a safe and nontoxic work environment,” Billy Bennett said.

Andrea Bennett has hired an attorney, Vincent J. Quatrini Jr., of Greensburg.

“Andrea Bennett is a journeywoman for this employer and for the kids of this school,” Quatrini said Monday. “She loves her job. She’s been recognized by others for her job and has obtained grants for the children and programs that she’s involved with. She’s a special lady, and we hope that this matter will be worked out to her advantage.”

McIntyre said Sunday she couldn’t provide any updates on a timeline for Bennett’s return.

“I don’t have any comment on Andrea returning because I don’t know anything,” McIntyre said.

The Explorers program includes three programs: Wee Explorers for age 2, Kinderclub for age 3 and Kindergarten Explorers for ages 4 and 5.

The philosophy of the Explorers program encompasses a hands-on learning approach that includes art, science, music, outdoor experiences and exploration.

McIntyre said the classes continue to operate under the same name and no changes have been made to the classes.

McIntyre confirmed Saturday that nine students have dropped out of the program.

“Right now, we have 18 enrolled for October,” she said.

“It’s sad but we will rebuild. I’m not concerned about the fate of the program because of the quality of the programming provided by the Y,” McIntyre said.

The program’s assistant teacher is leading all of the Explorers classes during Bennett’s leave.

The first day of classes for Explorers was Sept. 5.

The West Vandergrift Early Learning Center is in the process of obtaining required state licensing, according to McIntyre, who began her role as CEO on Aug. 1.

“The fast forward is to get the program licensed,” she said.

The Pennsylvania Department of Health Services will conduct an inspection at an unannounced time, McIntyre said.

Brianne Sofaly, 26, of Allegheny Township is one of Bennett’s former students and currently has her son enrolled in the Kindergarten Explorers program.

Sofaly said she visited the New Kensington and West Vandergrift branches of the Y last week seeking answers about the future of the Explorers program.

Unsatisfied by the response she received from YMCA officials, she pulled her son from the program. She re-enrolled him Monday, she said, in the hopes that Bennett had returned to work.

“A lot of us (parents) were concerned or confused,” Sofaly said.

Sofaly dropped her son off Monday but discovered Bennett was not on campus.

“She was not there and nobody spoke of where she was. We are waiting for Bennett to tell us where she will go. We, as parents, are waiting patiently.” Sofaly said.

“I’d like to see Andrea continue her program, whether it be here or elsewhere. I will support her no matter what as my kids have done excellent in her programs. She has the most experience around. If she goes to another facility, I will enroll my son there,” Sofaly said.

Parent Emily Saxion of Kiski Township, a public school English teacher, said she withdrew her 3-year-old daughter from Wee Explorers last week.

“If Andrea wasn’t teaching the program, I didn’t want her enrolled. ”

Saxion said she’ll take a wait-and-see approach before enrolling her daughter in another preschool program.

“My daughter’s not going anywhere until I see what Andrea does — whether she comes back or reopens at another location,” Saxion. “She’s the only reason my child was enrolled there.”

Saxion said in an effort to get answers, she twice emailed McIntyre about the situation but said she has not heard back from anyone at the YMCA.

“It’s disappointing and frustrating because this is my child’s education. As a teacher myself, her education is the most important thing to me,” Saxion said.

In an email Thursday to Explorers parents, Bennett wrote she was advised not to make any statements by legal council and McIntyre.

“It was never my intention or desire to have such a scene created. This has been a nightmare and I am absolutely heartbroken and devastated,” Bennett wrote.

In the email, Bennett said she was informed Sept. 16 by officials at the Y that changes were being made to meet childcare requirements, but the Explorers programs would remain intact.

“As days progressed, it became clear that child care would be pushing into my classroom,” Bennett wrote. “Materials and space would be shared.”

In her email, Bennett further alleges that on Sept. 26, she was denied access to her students by two YMCA employees and was eventually locked out of the building.

McIntyre denied allegations that Bennett was locked out, explaining that the building is always locked and individuals must be buzzed in by an employee.

“We believe that all children have the right to a quality early-childhood education, so we are in the process of meeting the state’s requirements to ensure that we’re providing that,” McIntyre said last week in an interview with the Tribune-Review. “If we don’t go through the licensing process, the state will shut us down and we don’t want that.”

McIntyre said last week that rumors of Bennett being fired are false.

“The teacher didn’t take the changes that we have to make very well, but she was not dismissed from her job,” McIntyre said last week.

Tuition rates per student for Explorers range from $115 to $320 per month, depending on the type of program and YMCA membership status.

Students attend class anywhere from 1½ to 6 hours per class, depending on the program.

During Bennett’s absence, some parents have volunteered classroom supplies and their time, painting and helping out over the weekend to refurbish and resupply the vacant room.

“They are all volunteering to get the room preschool ready,” McIntyre said.

---

Copyright ©2025— Trib Total Media, LLC (TribLIVE.com)

---