ASSOCIATE SUPERINTENDENT HONORED FOR ROLE IN DESIGNING PRE-K LEARNING CENTER
Mansfield ISD ’ s Associate Superintendent of Facilities and Bond Programs Jeffrey Brogden , recently received the Pinnacle Award from the Association of School Business Officials International for his pivotal role in bringing the Dr . Sarah Jandrucko Early Learners Academy to fruition . The Pinnacle Awards celebrate the work of outstanding districts whose innovative solutions maximize resources and enhance student achievement .
As Brogden tells the story , the concept came from a visit to an experiential learning concept area at a regional service center . After that trip , Brogden sketched his vision for the initial Jandrucko design on a paper napkin .
“ The campus is definitely one of my favorite projects ,” Brogden said . “ Each time I visit the facility , I am just as excited as I was the day we opened the doors to our youngest learners . I am very proud to have been a part of the first pre-K of its kind in the state of Texas — and quite possibly the nation .”
In the five years since it opened , Mansfield ISD ’ s Early Learners Academy has garnered significant attention and praise from the broader educational community . The campus , designed to positively impact student outcomes through experiential learning , now has years of data supporting its overwhelming success .
“ What happens at our Early Learners Academy is lifechanging for our students ,” said Superintendent Dr . Kimberley Cantu . “ What we have seen is that the pre-K kids who begin their educational career there consistently surpass their peers at other elementary schools in the district .”
At the Early Learners Academy , children explore topics such as oceans , greenhouses , jungles , animals , and space . The experiential learning concept extends the student experience beyond the four walls of a classroom and encourages hands-on learning .
“ Everything in the school is strategically and purposefully placed to teach children how to master different educational and social-emotional skills ,” said MISD Executive Director of Elementary Education Kristi Cobb . “ The academy is centered around active , exploratory learning , and that is how students that age learn best .”
Mansfield ISD is expanding opportunities for pre-K students by building a second Early Learners Academy set to open in August 2026 . Over the years , Mansfield ISD has hosted hundreds of school districts and organizations from across the country that want to build their own early learning campus modeled after the Mansfield ISD concept .
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