Dr. Jandrucko said she is in
her element when she is able
to read to children.
and learn through interacting with students.”
The facility will have 16 unique learning
experiences, typically called classrooms, which
are structured into pods of learning: navigation,
investigation, exploration and interaction. In
each pod, children will be immersed in learning
about different topics, such as space, the zoo,
the ocean and community.
Mansfield ISD Reinventing Early Childhood Education:
The Dr. Sarah Jandrucko Academy for Early Learners
ABOUT THE NAMESAKE was still able to build a great pre-kindergarten program.”
S Nineteen years after her initial vision for a central pre-K
facility, she received the news she will never forget.
he is known for pioneering Mansfield ISD’s early
literacy initiative, but Dr. Sarah Jandrucko had no
desire of becoming a teacher.
Her mother always wanted her to go into the education
field. Dr. Jandrucko, on the other hand, was more
interested in public relations. Her plans suddenly
changed after her mother passed away and she went to
observe a classroom of children during her senior year
of college.
“I was absolutely amazed at what 3- and 4-year-olds can
do,” she recalled. “That’s when I realized that we should
be asking more from kids through play.”
“Superintendent Dr. Jim Vaszauskas said that the school
board approved for him to look for land for a pre-K center,
and I couldn’t have been happier,” said Dr. Jandrucko.
“When I later found out I was going to be the namesake,
all I could do was cry and say thank you.”
Dr. Sarah Jandrucko looks forward to volunteering at the
pre-K center. She has already donated books and plans to
read to the children and sponsor grants for the school.
The academy, located at 7810 S. Collins St. in
Arlington, is aligned with the district’s Vision
2020 guiding statement that indicates students
will read on level or higher by the beginning
of the third grade and will remain on level or
higher as an MISD student.
For more information about the Dr. Sarah
Jandrucko Academy for Early Learners, visit
www.mansfieldisd.org/earlylearners.
THE INNOVATIVE FACILITY
The now-retired educator started her 34-year career at
Mansfield ISD as a fourth-grade teacher at Alice Ponder
Elementary School. She later became the principal of
J.L. Boren Elementary School and then Glenn Harmon
Elementary School before moving into administrative
district roles. T
All the while, she was advocating for a pre-kindergarten
(pre-K) center and a focus on the district’s youngest
learners. The facility, estimated to open in January 2019, will be an
innovative school for 3- and 4-year olds to take learning
beyond the four walls of a classroom.
“We were on the verge of tremendous growth, so that
wasn’t the focus at the time,” she continued. “The district “It’s basically structured in what early childhood research
says is best for how students learn,” said Kristi Cobb,
director of early literacy. “Young students can come attend
and learn through play, learn through unique experiences
12 Mansfield School & Family
Each morning and afternoon session will
consist of approximately 18 students, a teacher
and an instructional aide. About 504 students
who meet the state’s pre-K eligibility standards
will be able to enroll each year. The school will
also host field trips and other activities so that
all Mansfield ISD students have the opportunity
to benefit from the facility.
he Dr. Sarah Jandrucko Academy for Early Learners
will change the way young students learn. The focus
of the learning center will be to promote literacy and
numeracy development at an early age in an exploratory
and engaging environment.
Mansfield School & Family 13