Mindy Tipton, Director, Treasureland Preschool
Treasureland Preschool has provided a nurturing early childhood environment since 1956. Throughout its long history, the school has valued providing a high-quality early education that encourages a love of learning, supports social and emotional competence, encourages friendships among families, fosters critical thinking skills, and values relationships. Prioritizing relationship-building, the staff works to build community and provide a safe space for young children to learn, share, and grow. Enrollment for the 2021 year included 62 families and 75 children in the spring and 63 families and 70 children in the fall. Waitlists remain long, with enough waitlisted families to open additional classrooms. Waitlists are concentrated in our early preschool (toddler) and preschool (3’s) age groups.
The staff at Treasureland Preschool is exceptionally qualified and embraces best practices in early childhood education. Educationally sophisticated, they provide engaging and in-depth, relevant investigations to support critical thinking, problem-solving, independence, and social competence, regardless of the children's ages. They nurture curiosity, creativity, cooperation, and inclusion through strong relationships and by modeling the same skills.
Over the summer of 2021, the Treasureland administration pivoted from the capable and excellent leadership of Sally Roberts to Mindy Tipton. Sally’s tenure at Treasureland Preschool was marked by administrative excellence, appreciative leadership, and inviting teamwork. Throughout all of her work and interactions, Sally maintained a passionate focus on the relationships in her learning community – relationships with children, team members, Treasureland families, and the Christ Church community. There are long-reaching tendrils of influence that are a result of Sally’s advocacy for relationships and creating a safe community for children the families. Families within and beyond Treasureland Preschool have participated in Parenting Safe Children workshops because of Sally’s leadership. As a result, children have learned specific language to be aware advocates for their bodies and families have gained confidence in initiating conversations with other adults who have direct contact and interaction with their children. The culture of promoting safety and preventing child abuse and neglect at Treasureland Preschool and within the concentric circles of our influence is both strong and positive, and it’s because of Sally Roberts. Her enduring influence within our organization will be honored and celebrated with The Menk Family Award of Treasureland Preschool.
Sally graciously trained Mindy during her first weeks with the organization and continues to be available for consulting and partnering with Treasureland as a credentialed coach, subject matter expert, and substitute teacher. Though Sally leaves big shoes to fill, it is Mindy’s goal to continue in her footsteps with an emphasis on high-quality early childhood education, strong and positive relationships, safety, and promoting health and wellness as we continue to respond to COVID-19.
Throughout the spring and fall of 2021, the staff and teachers at Treasureland Preschool continued to teach with a focus on health and wellness amid the COVID-19 pandemic. There were no classroom exposures or closures during the spring of 2021 and only 2 exposures during the fall of 2021. The school is incredibly grateful to the preschool parents who diligently follow health and safety protocols with few complaints and many appreciative comments.
Treasureland Preschool continues its partnership with the Denver Preschool Program, whose mission is to increase access to high-quality preschool for all Denver City and County children in their last year of preschool before kindergarten and for qualifying 3-year-old children. As a partner, Treasureland is required to pursue and demonstrate a commitment to continuous quality improvement. Participating schools like Treasureland are provided access to grants, free and low-cost teacher training, coaching hours, and funds for classroom materials. Of prime importance to the families within the City and County of Denver is the tuition reimbursement DPP provides. This allows parents to pay less than the school's tuition, with DPP reimbursing Treasureland for the remaining amount. There are 18 families receiving tuition reimbursement from DPP.
Though our usual number of community-building activities were not planned due to COVID, Treasureland was able to host one-on-one meet and greets for the children and parents before school started, provide outdoor tours for prospective parents, and host Winter Fest outdoors. The preschool partnered with refugee families at Place Bridge Academy in the spring of 2021 to provide nonperishable food items.
Financial health and team member stability are an important cornerstone of preschool operations. Last year's tuition increase allowed for staff salary increases that have allowed us to recruit and retain talented staff. Though many early childhood programs in the Denver metro area are understaffed and have closed classrooms due to shortages, Treasureland remains fully staffed with exceptional teachers. We have a robust list of qualified substitute teachers who cover planned and unplanned teacher absences. Treasureland used some funds this year to update and paint administrative spaces and hallways.
Treasureland Preschool is extremely grateful to Christ Church for their partnership. Mindy, in particular, has felt welcomed, supported, and encouraged during the change in leadership. She anticipates how the future partnership with Christ Church will grow and deepen. Treasureland Preschool looks forward to a productive 2022, providing integrated, investigative, and child-driven learning opportunities for young children while supporting families in the most effective ways possible, given the current health and safety climate.
Sincerely, Mindy J. Tipton
Director, Treasureland Preschool