Beaver Creek School Celebrates New Preschool Complex

On Thursday, January 9^th, 2014 dozens of people from across Yavapai County gathered to celebrate the opening of the new W.O. Palmer Preschool Complex at Beaver Creek School. The new building, which contains two classrooms, will expand the Beaver Creek preschool so that every young child in the Rimrock community has the opportunity to participate in early childhood education. For Superintendent Karin Ward, this is a dream come true.

When Karin Ward began as Superintendent of Beaver Creek School in 2004, there was no preschool or child care center in the area. Ward believed passionately about early childhood education and its ability to give children a solid foundation for future success, so she dedicated herself to starting an early learning program in her school district.

Ward and her community began by opening a preschool for children with special needs. After that, Ward collaborated with Head Start to bring a Head Start program on the Beaver Creek School campus. Then, alongside the Head Start site, Ward opened an addition preschool program.

Preschool has had a powerful impact on entering kindergartens at Beaver Creek. “Our kindergarten teachers talk about the difference preschool has made,” said Ward. “When the children who have attended preschool enter kindergarten, they’re soaring.”

Ward didn’t stop there. She wanted to make sure that all young children in her school district had the opportunity to participate in early childhood education, so she began applying for grants to help the preschool expand.

In 2012, the school district was awarded a $100,000 grant from First Things First to help build a new preschool facility. Ward broke ground on the new building in January 2013, and the preschool opened its doors in late 2013. Now, between the Head Start and preschool, 64 children of the Rimrock community are enrolled in early childhood education.

 “It’s nice to see a community that understands the value of early childhood education,” said Yavapai Superintendent of Schools Tim Carter, speaking at the preschool complex opening event. “I’m looking forward to other communities in the county following Beaver Creek’s lead.”



Fallon, 4, attends Beaver Creek School

 

County Supervisor Tom Thurman also spoke at the event. Thurman, who recently adopted a 4-year old girl and enrolled her in child care, understands the invaluable benefits of early childhood education. “This works,” said Thurman, pointing at the new Beaver Creek preschool complex.



“Preschool will affect all aspects of my daughter’s future,” said Jennifer Ray, whose 4-year-old daughter Fallon attends the preschool. “Fallon is excited to go to school every day. She’s developing an eagerness to learn and to read. This program goes above and beyond.”

Superintendent Ward thanked the numerous collaborators that made the preschool possible, including First Things First, Head Start, and the Rimrock Community. “Getting to this point took layers and layers of time, conversations and collaboration,” said Ward. “We have done what we had set out to do, and the kids of Beaver Creek will benefit from this for years to come.”