Denton County Magazine • Mar 23 • Nonprofit Focus

“The school that love built” provides early intervention and education for Denton’s youngest learners.

Founded in 1970 as a collaboration between United Way of Denton County and several area churches, Denton Christian Preschool has served the Denton area for more than 50 years by providing early childhood education and intervention services to at-risk children. Although it is located inside First Presbyterian Church, the preschool is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) agency with no ties to any faith community.

Executive Director Alicia Blanca has a holistic understanding of the impact that early intervention services can have for a family. Blanca attended the school in her childhood and experienced firsthand how the support of Denton Christian Preschool served her family. When Blanca became a mother at the young age of 17, she enrolled her children at Denton Christian Preschool and took a staff position. She eventually worked in every role at the school, from the kitchen to the classroom, until she was promoted to executive director in 2012.

“I needed support as a mom, and I want to be that support for our students and families,” Blanca said. “We can’t do it all alone and sometimes people just need someone who has done it before to share how.”

Denton Christian Preschool helps parents fill in the gaps, whether that’s help learning how to budget or understanding childhood nutrition. The school hosts family nights to help provide parents support and fun for the whole family.

Denton Christian Preschool offers both a part-time and a full-time program for children ages 3 to 4. The school day incorporates learning games and theme-based curriculums to introduce vocabulary, literacy and social-emotional learning skills.

Blanca encourages interested parents to tour the school in person and wants them to trust that their children are safe in their care. “If parents want to call me five times on the first day, I will gladly take those calls,” Blana said.

While the mission of Denton Christian Preschool is to educate at-risk children in the community, the school serves families as a whole, coordinating care across many fronts. Families sometimes need help with budgeting or assistance in arranging medical care or diagnostic assessments for their children, Blanca said. “You don’t know what everybody’s struggles are. We want to build a relationship with the parents and help them with whatever they need,” Blanca said.

Denton Christian Preschool provides several resources to support busy families, such as bus service, lunches, snacks and transportation to medical and assessment screenings. Tuition operates on a sliding scale basis and ranges from $60 to $100 per week.

Accredited by the National Accreditation Commission for Early Childhood Education, Denton Christian Preschool adheres to a strict student-to-teacher ratio of no more than 15 students per teacher.

1114 W. University Drive in Denton (within First Presbyterian Church) 940-383-3332 DentonCPS.org