Beginning with the End in Mind
HEB ISD ’ s first ever CK Pre-K class reunites after 13 years
Thirteen years ago , the very first class of HEB ISD Core Knowledge Pre-K students entered the halls of Hurst Hills Elementary to take the first step in their educational journey . Today , those same students are celebrating their recent graduation and preparing to take the next step toward college and their careers .
This April , the district brought the inaugural CK Pre-K class back together for a special reunion lunch , and an opportunity to reflect on their voyage through HEB ISD . Their CK Pre-K teachers , Mrs . Childs and Mrs . King , even showed up as a surprise . The response was emotional , inspiring , and a lot of fun .
The students bonded and laughed at old photos , shared stories , and expressed genuine appreciation for the unique and memorable educational experience that impacted each of them at just four years old .
Where it All Began :
Back in the early 2000 ’ s , the then Superintendent Dr . Gene Buinger had a vision for a full-day , tuitionbased Pre-K program that would implement the early childhood component of the Core Knowledge
Members of the first CK Pre-K class posed with their teacher , Mrs ’ Childs ( far left ) and teacher ’ s aide , Mrs . King ( far right )
curriculum as well as additional after-school activities . Dr . Buinger wanted to offer the HEB ISD community a level of early childhood education that was more advanced than a typical daycare setting for four year old children . With the support of the HEB ISD Board of Trustees and many others , his dream became a reality at Hurst Hills Elementary School in 2002 .
Since its inception , the program has grown from 20 students to 100 . The original structure offered spots on a first come , first served basis , but due to the growth in popularity , it has now evolved into a twotiered lottery system .
“ Since launching the program in 2002 , we have truly remained on the cutting edge for tuitionbased Pre-K in North Texas ,” said CK Pre-K Coordinator Shea Stanfield-McGarrah . “ We have served as a model for many other local school districts who have researched their own tuition-based Pre-K programs .”
A Match Made in Heaven :
Joey Lazo , Sutton Stanfield , and Jordyn Keegan dressed up to learn about nursery rhymes .
The support from district leadership was the key to getting the CK Pre-K program off the ground , but once the plan was set in motion , it was up to the teachers to meet the high expectations , and that is exactly what happened . Traci ( Lusinger )
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