Summer Tour of Jena's Kindergartens

Following last year’s successful debut, Johannes Schleußner, Director of Education, Youth, Culture, and Sports, is continuing his tour of Jena’s kindergartens. This year’s itinerary includes visits to 13 privately operated kindergartens. While last year’s focus was on the institutions and their new department head getting to know one another, this year’s tour will center on an exchange of ideas regarding their respective conceptual and pedagogical approaches. The goal is to explore opportunities for synergies and stronger collaboration between the institutions and the city administration. At the same time, the tour offers staff the opportunity to voice their concerns, wishes, and suggestions.

“For me and my work as head of the Education Department, dialogue with educators is particularly valuable when it takes place directly on-site, giving me a clear insight into daily work life with all its strengths and challenges. I’m looking forward to meeting the people and hearing the ideas that await me at each facility,” 

said Schleußner. Of course, there will also be time for a soccer match or a storytime session with the children.

The first visit is scheduled for Friday, July 3, 2026, at the Kunitz Preschool. The preschool tour will conclude on August 13, 2026, with a visit to the BILLY Preschool.

In addition to the kindergartens, Department Head Johannes Schleußner will also visit facilities that offer summer activities for children and teens, just in time for the start of summer vacation. Visits are planned for July 16, July 22 and 23, 2026, at the Winzerla Recreation Center, the Kubus and Westside (both in Lobeda), the Jungen Gemeinde, the Hugo in Winzerla, the Adventure Playground, the Polaris in Jena-Nord, and the skate park (a summer program offered by Eastside)."