annual REPORT - Mi Escuelita Preschool

Mi Escuelita Preschool
4231 Maple Avenue
Dallas, Texas 75219
www.miescuelita.org
y
x
The PARENTS who participated in ESL classes
at Mi Escuelita improved their English language
scores by at least one level and 60% improved
their scores by three or more levels.
a
Mi Escuelita Preschool, Inc.
nnual REPORT
2009
The 2008-09 school year at Mi Escuelita was filled with
mountain top “highs” and a few visits to the valley. Our
children had an amazing year. Based on standardized
testing, they scored higher nationally than ever with our
children testing in the 63rd percentile nationally in English
language skills. They also scored in the 93rd percentile
in their pre-writing skills. Over 95% of the children
qualified for English language kindergarten classrooms.
These dramatic results were a combination of countless
hours from our dedicated teachers and educators,
incredible commitment by our parents and unyielding
support from our community and partners. We stood on
the mountaintop in terms of educational services to our
children.
But we visited a few valleys over the last year too. The
economic downturn has affected almost everyone and
Mi Escuelita is no exception. Donations are down but the
need for services has increased. Parents struggle with
tuition and that has an effect on enrollment. Maintaining
our extremely high quality of education isn’t cheap.
But I often wonder what makes us think that education
should be a low-budget item? We have struggled with
the economy but have managed to maintain and even
improve the quality of our program. And that is thanks to
you, our donors, patrons and friends. Yes, we have spent
more than a few days in the valley, staring up at the
mountain top asking ourselves “How are we going to do
this?”
The time spent in the valley this year has taught us a few
things. First, we just keep walking. We come to work
each day and give our children the very best we have
to offer. They deserve it. Secondly, we stay out of the
muck. We don’t get caught up in politics or controversy.
We just focus on providing our children with educational
experiences that will change their lives. Lastly, we keep
our eye on the mountaintop. We know the goal is to
provide our children with the skills they will need to climb
all of those mountains they will face in the future. We
kneel down, buckle their climbing boots and show them
the way.
c
Looking back, all of those challenges over the last year
seem rather small in light of the accomplishments. I like
the view from the valley, watching our children conquer
those mountains. And I’m thankful that you are standing
here beside us, sharing our perspective.
See you at the top,
Executive Director
Executive Director
Caryl Aberle
Ed Adams
Laura Adams
Colleen and Eric Affeldt
Iris Aguilar
Roheen Ahsan
Michael S. Anderson
Trey Angel
Anonymous
Kellie Armentrout
Jose Arroyo
Josue Ayala
Manuel Aybar
Abby and Brian R. Bachman
Leslie Baker
Melissa C. Balthrope
Amy U. Banks
Munish Bansal
Virginia N. Barajas
Terri Barnes
Elizabeth Barriga
Elizabeth A. Bassett
Richard Best
Carlos Betancourt
Janet Birkhoff
Mark A. Blinn
Katherine and Eddie Bock
Larry Boerder
Karen Borta
Christina Brandt
Gillian Breidenbach
Candy Brown
Forrest C. Brown, M.D.
Donna and Thomas R.
Burton
2008-2009 Individual Donors
Kimberly Elting
Gil Escajeda
Nancy Farina
Eneida Fiut
Kerrie Forbes
Happy Franklin
Alberto Galue
Kriss Gamez-Fernandez
Carmen Garcia
Debbie Garrett
Kathie Gautille
Joseph W. Geary
Pedro R. Gelabert
Phyllis Gilly
Lisa Godines
G. Golden
Amanda E. Goldstein
Cuiling Gong
Martha Gonzales
Dora Gonzalez
Gus Gonzalez
Jessica Gooch
Janak Goyani
Kim Griffith
Kristin Guckian
Mark Guckian
William Guckian
Virginia Gunn
Brenda Gutierrez
David J. Haemisegger
Laura E. Hall
James R. Hallam
Karen Halsell
Margaret A. Hancock
Stephanie Harmon
Sue Vaughn Harper
u
Jasper Butler
Christine Cahoon
Cynthia Camp
Catherine Carey
W. Plack Carr
Belinda Casillas
Carrie L. Chavez
Gretchen Z. Clegg
Jane Cockrell
Patricia A. Coggan
Judy and Bob Coleman
Carroll Connolly
C.W. Cooper
Rachel Cooper
Cherry and Ben Cox
W. Michael Cox
Katherine Crow
Shirley W. Crow
Sissy Cullum
Ana Curry
Claire Curtis
Rosemary and Dave Curtis
Pierre Cutler
Ann Dannis
Valerie Davisson
Angleica De Los Santos
Rachael Dedman
Mildred and James Dennis
Patricia K. Dorey
Joe Driver
Jay Duke
Eugene Durain
George Ellis
Molli and Gary Elliston
Diane Heimburger
Osmin Hernandez
Pilar T. Henry
Tracy Herrin
Jill Herz
Muriel A. Heusinger
Diana Hightower
Pat Himmel
Marcia and Noe Hinojosa
Daniel T. Hoang
Dr. Elizabeth Holekamp
Shannon and Merritt Holman
Jean Howe
Margot and Frank Hundley
Karen A. Hydock
Humberto Ibarra
Linda and Mike Imhoof
Mary Ann Jacob
Kanika Jain
Elaine and Bill Johnson
Michael Johnson
Ellwood R. Jones
Sivasankari Kadamban
Laura M. Kalesnik
Ellen M. Katz
Peggy Knight
Bob Kohler
Kathryn Koorenny
Martha Kornman
Monica Latin
Brenda Lazenby
Geary Laird
Robert Leal III
Hunter Lee
Wai Lee
Cindy Lefferts
Jessica Lennon
Adelina Lewis
Crystal Lockhart-Smith
Kay Lunceford
Christina Mancuso
Diana Marquis
Anthony Marshall
Hamilton Martha
Anita N. Martinez
Adan Lopez-Martinez
Lisa Martinez
Pamela P. Mattingly
John Mays
Alice McCurdy
Caroline McElroy
Jamie McKey
David D. McPhail
Donna Meriwether
Michelle Midyette
Maryann Mihalopoulos
Ann Minnis
Laurie Montoya
Malinda G. Moor
Glenn Moore
Deanna Morales
Phillip J. Morales
Kathryn and Larry Moser
Sue and George Mosier
Jennifer and Jon L. Mosle
Kevin Moss
June Moyer
Carolyn Mueller
Delaine and Daniel Mueller
Fernando Mujica
David Mulcath
Dave Munson
Gayle Nave
Maria A. Neal
Ray Neff
John Neill
Jan and Tom Newsome
W. Bruce Newsome
Steve O’Connor
Lanjay Oommen
Catherine B. Orsak
Yvette Ostolaza
Cameron Owen
Heather Paine
Oscar Palomino
Sarah Pantoja
Gillian Parrillo
Jennifer Payne
Elizabeth Pena
Joseph Pena
Carrie Phaneuf
Eleanor Piccagli
Roxanne and Patrick Pittman
Rex L. Poland
Foster M. Poole, Jr.
Glenys M. Quick
Heather Rattan
Jill Reed
Kay Reeves
Jessica Reich
Ruben Reyna
Mary Richarte
Augustina Rivera
Ann Roberts
Stacy J. Rodriguez
Shirley Rollins
Sherry W. Romano
Betty and Brent Rosenthal
Lenora Rougeou
Elizabeth R. Ryland
Ledee Sachs
Nicolas Salamina
Samuel R. Salazar
Vineeta Salvi
Isabella Sanchez
Rhonda Sanchez
Ramona Sandoval
Beth Savoldelli
Craig L. Schwimmer
Tomas Sclar
Lee Shaftoe
Julie H. Sheeder
Tricia Shimer
Lisa Silver
Lori Sirmen
Caroline C. Smiley
Cynthia Smiley
Dorothy Smith
Alison Solomon
Norma Sosa
George H. Spencer
Richard Squires
Sandra F. Stallings
Mark T. Story
Dawn Stout
Dr. David Streitmatter
Carolyn Strickland
Sybil Strickland
Nancy Sullivan
Jane Sung
Nita Mae and Samuel
Tannebaum
LuAnn and Ken Tarango
Barbara Taylor
Michelle Tencleve
Lydia Test
Madhan Thirukonda
Graham & Carrie Thomas
Martha L. Thompson
Sherri Thurman
Patricia Tolotta
Elizabeth F. Toudouze
Kathryn Townsend
Emily Tramuto
Lori Trent
Trude Van Horn and Will
Davis
Josie B. Vasquez
Carol D. Vesey
Marcelo Viquez
Dr. Manik Vora
Suzanne Wada
Michelle and Tom Walker
John Wangermann
Amy Ware
Amanda Weare
Rachelle Weathersby
Regina Weaver
Susanne B. Webb
Wanda Webb
Jane M. Whitney
Carmel B. Wood
Sarah M. Wood
Julie A. Zanutto
Jan Zeigler
Lynn A. Zentner
Lisa C. Zimmerman
Christy Zirnheld
v
They say that you never appreciate the mountain top
unless you have spent some time in the valley. Personally,
I have always appreciated both. I love the dramatic
vistas from the mountain summit and the calm beauty of a
peaceful valley. But I think it is all in your perspective.
t
Letter from the Executive Director
2008-2009 Audited Financials
Expenses
Administrative Costs 6.5%
Income
Interest & Other Income 2%
Fundraising Costs 5.5%
Tuition 11%
Program Costs 88%
Donations 29%
Federal Grants 58%
2008-2009 Organization Donors
Churches/Schools
Church Women United in Dallas
First Presbyterian Church, Dallas
First Presbyterian Church, Richardson
Highland Park Presbyterian Church
The Hockaday School
Good Shepherd Episcopal School
Northridge Presbyterian Church
Preston Hollow Presbyterian Church
Preston Hollow Presbyterian Foundation
United Methodist Women
Women of Saint Michael and All Angels Church
Corporations/Corporate Foundations
Amerigroup Charitable Foundation
Bank of America
Barri Remittance Corporation
Los Barrios Unidos Community Clinic Inc.
The Bassett Firm, P.C.
Baylor Health Care System
CW33 Kids Fund, McCormick Tribune Foundation
Capital For Kids
Capital One Services, Inc.
Chi Omega Christmas Market
Christus Health
Cima Solutions Group
Comerica Bank
Crow Holdings
Dean Foods Company
Debra’s Interiors
Estrada Hinojosa
Exxonmobil Foundation
Global Aircraft Service, Inc.
Huselton & Morgan, P.C.
JP Morgan Chase Foundation
Kroger Food Stores
La Princessa
Maverick Capital Charities LTD
McDonald’s
Moroch
NCS Pearson
Neighborhood Credit Union
Pizza Hut of America
Safeway Inc.
Smile Builders Dental Center
Telemundo
Texas Instruments Incorporated
Texcorp Communications, Inc. Minority
Business News
TherapyCare, Inc.
Unicare Life & Health Insurance Company
Verizon Communications
The Wachovia Foundation
Foundations/Organizations
Harry W. Bass, Jr. Foundation
The Dallas Social Venture Partners Fund of
The Dallas Foundation
The First Lady’s Family Literacy Initiative
for Texas
Hawn Foundation, Inc.
The Hoglund Foundation
The Fannie and Stephen Kahn
Charitable Foundation
The Katie Foundation Fund of Communities
Foundation of Texas
Carl B. and Florence E. King Foundation
Lattner Family Foundation, Inc.
McManemin Family Fund of Communities
Foundation of Texas
Preston Center Rotary Club Foundation
q
r
s
This report recognizes gifts received from
July 1, 2008 through June 30, 2009.
Every effort has been made to correctly
report these gifts. If any information
regarding your gift is inaccurate
or missing, we sincerely apologize.
Please contact Jan Zeigler, Director of
Development at (214) 526-0220 ext.
11 for questions or corrections.
LETTER
F RO M T HE B OA RD C H A I R
The 2008 – 2009 school year was a
whirlwind of opportunity and change.
The phrase “battening down the
hatches” seems to sum it up. Our world
changed and we changed with it.
Even as the economic downturn last fall
caused us to revise our fundraising and
budget plans, the door to opportunity
opened. Our search for sources of revenue
led us to the North Texas Community Wealth
Venture and we began the process of
examining revenue generating alternatives
to compliment our mission. This process will
lead to future growth and funding for Mi
Escuelita Preschool.
Our friends and supporters saw us through
the school year. As the economic climate
resulted in our families losing jobs and
wages, our income from tuition dropped.
Fewer families were able to pay their
portion of tuition. Some of our funders
including The Dallas Foundation, Highland
Park Presbyterian Church, Highland Park
United Methodist Church, and individual
donors stepped up and helped our families
keep their children enrolled through the end
of the school year.
Our volunteers stepped up as well. We
began to see the first response to the
national call for service this spring. So
many corporate volunteer groups helped
with maintenance and repair work at our
sites that these costs dropped significantly.
Donations of office and school supplies by
young people, civic groups, and companies
reduced our need for funds for these costs
as well.
ed
Through all of the turmoil the dedication
of the staff ensured that children at Mi
Escuelita continued to receive high quality
early childhood development services. Our
teachers and site managers made sure that
a child’s day at Mi Escuelita continued to be
filled with learning and laughter.
The leadership of our board members and
executive director, the commitment of our
staff, and the help of many friends has
helped us stay the course this past year.
Together we helped 450 children learn the
skills they will need to be successful adults.
With your gifts of time, treasure, and talent
we fulfilled our mission. Thank you.
Best Regards
Gillian Breidenbach
2009 Chair, Board of Directors
Mi Escuelita
Centers
Bethany
4523 Cedar Springs Rd
Dallas, Texas 75219
Buckner
5200 S Buckner Blvd
Dallas, Texas 75227
Cockrell Hill
4031 W Clarendon Dr
Dallas, Texas 75211
Crossover
4231 Maple Ave
Dallas, Texas 75219
St. Matthew’s
1609 N Henderson Ave
Dallas, Texas 75206
Wesley-Rankin
3100 Crossman Ave
Dallas, Texas 75212
f
I can see the difference we make in the lives
of the children and their families.
I love to see the children learn to write their
names and say their colors . . . just watching
them grow.
Our children are so special and their world
is amazing.
o
I feel I am making a difference in the lives
of others.
I feel happy when I see them all grown
up and they say “Look, here is my first
teacher”.
Veronica Chavez working with a student at
Mi Escuelita Cockrell Hill
2008-2009 Accomplishments
Students
• 217 children graduated
• All 6 sites achieved NAEYC accreditation
• Enrollment of 450 children
• 95% of children leaving after two years qualify for English
speaking kindergarten classrooms
• DIAL-3 scores – During the school year children’s English concept
skills improved an average of 294% and children’s English
language skills improved an average of 726%
p
d
By Phillip Morales
Words From
Our Teachers
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Giving Back
to Her
Community
A case worker for Metro Care Services,
Hazel Miranda is proud to be a graduate
of Mi Escuelita Preschool, knowing that
her head start in preschool is what led
her to make a daily difference in lives of
disadvantaged children.
“Attending Mi Escuelita definitely
gave me a step up and helped me start
at the head of the class in Kindergarten,”
said Hazel, who is now 25 years old
and remembers her days at Mi Escuelita
fondly.
Hazel attended Mi Escuelita’s
Bethany Site from 1987 to 1988 and
was not only shy, but also spoke very
little English when she started. “Mi
Escuelita helped me to better integrate
into the American culture through English,
while still allowing me to keep my Latino
culture,” said Hazel.
From Mi Escuelita, Hazel started
a successful educational career, finding
interests in math, science and biology.
She graduated from Bishop Dunne
High School in Dallas and furthered her
education to earn a Bachelor’s degree
in Psychology with a minor in Spanish
from the University of Houston in 2006.
Returning home to Dallas, Hazel now
advocates for children as a Services
Coordinator at Metro Care Services,
specializing in caring for the mentally
challenged population.
Hazel has come a long way
from her days at Mi Escuelita, but she
still believes those early years were
imperative for her and for future
generations of Mi Escuelita students.
“Being that I now work for a non-profit,
I realize the great benefits that only a
non-profit can offer to children”, said
Hazel.
“That’s why non-profits like Mi Escuelita
are important and do such good work.”
Site Wide
• Mi Escuelita was accepted as a participant in the 2009 North
Texas Community Wealth Venture Project
• Mi Escuelita selected as the $1 billionth grant made by
Communities Foundation of Texas
Sarah Hendrix brought books donated to Mi Escuelita
by the Spanish Club at Episcopal School of Dallas. The
club had a bake sale to raise the money to buy books
for our children.
Mi Escuelita
B OA R D o f Dir ect o r s
BOARD CHAIR
Gillian Breidenbach
Bank of America
BOARD VICE-CHAIR
Roxanne Pittman
Structure Events
TREASURER
Jay Duke
BDO Seidman, LLP
SECRETARY
Elaine Johnson
Presbyterian Women
Brian Bachman
Ernst & Young, LLP
Mark Guckian
Brinker International
Osmin Hernandez
Deloitte Consulting
Chris Langmayer
Veolia Transportation
Christina Mancuso
Attorney
Betty Rosenthal
Community Volunteer
Ken Tarango
Consultant
Carrie K. Thomas
Comerica
m
2.5%
The turnover rate
of Mi Escuelita
teachers. The
industry average
is 25-50%
22%
of teachers have
their ASSOCIATE
or BACHELOR’S
degree.
50%
of teachers
took college
level courses to
improve their
skills
Did you
KNOW
Three teachers at Mi Escuelita
Preschool are featured in the recently
published book “Exemplary Literacy
Teachers: What Schools Can Do to
Promote Success for All Students.”
by Cathy Collins &
John N. Mangieri
h
Volunteer Achievements
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
were so happy to see
I loved reading to the kids. They
. I was happy to read
hugs
of
lots
me and they gave me
t wait to read to the
all of their favorite books. I can’
n!
kids and see them smile agai
One
Harriet Hardamom, Capital
•
•
•
•
•
125 community volunteers regularly gave their time
Community volunteers averaged over 250 hours a week at our sites
Volunteers spent over 55,770 hours working in or for our schools.
16,200 homework packets were assembled by FedEx Office,
Accenture, Nortel and Crestside Facilities volunteers.
1
8 girls from Ursuline Academy and 10 boys from Jesuit College
Preparatory volunteered three hours weekly in 22 different
classrooms.
Volunteers contributed over 800 hours to our Family Fiesta Health Fair
W
reckage caused by a 200 year old tree falling on our playground
was cleaned up by high schoolers from Kansas.
1
,300 lbs. of old files were sorted, recorded, and shredded thanks to
Maya Perez.
3
0 new Educator Binders were created for the teachers thanks to over
200 hours of service from Garland High students and Allison Kroiss.
T he Dallas Chapter of the Hispanic Organization for Leadership and
Achievement at Bank of America, painted the classrooms at WesleyRankin.
Irving Bible Church’s youth group painted the entire Bethany location.
N
ursing students from TWU taught all 450 of our children about the
importance of washing their hands.
Organizations Who Donated Their Time
Over The Past Year
I definitely enjoy reading
to the children. It is nice
to see little minds open and
receptive to learning.
It is exciting to see the how
they progress
throughout the year.
- TI Reader
Accenture
Bank of America
Capital One
Deloitte
Episcopal School of Dallas
Ernst & Young
FedEx Office
The Hockaday School
HPPC Women’s Circle
Jesuit College Preparatory
Nortel
PHPC Women’s Circle 4
Texas Instruments Incorporated
Ursuline Academy
Wachovia
J
k
esuit Volunteer Returns to Mi Escuelita
Did you
j
KNOW
Ernst & Young
volunteers helping
the children with
their writing skills
at Crossover Head
Start
ieste and Texas
D
Instruments
donated their
time and money
make the
holidays special
for children at
Mi Escuelita
Every year Jesuit College Preparatory
sends a handful of their senior students
to Mi Escuelita Preschool on Wednesday
mornings to volunteer in the classrooms. All
of these young men are very special to
our children and to our teachers, but one
who walked in our doors this year is extra
special indeed.
Osbaldo Salas is a current senior
at Jesuit Preparatory and a former Mi
Escuelita graduate. He was born in Ciudad
Juarez and came here to Dallas when he
was a child, where his mother enrolled him
in Mi Escuelita because she wanted her
child to have a better life.
“When I think about how I was born
in what is now one of the most dangerous
places in the area, then I was a five year
old struggling to learn English, and now
I just finished applying to Ivy League
colleges, it’s pretty amazing,” says
Osbaldo, reflecting on how far he has
come.
Though Osbaldo struggled earlier in
his school career, not learning to read
until fourth grade, he now speaks very
articulately, passionately, and without a
trace of an accent though English is his
second language. He credits his success to
having strong basic English skills at a young
age and his perseverance to the support of
his mother.
Now as he spends his Wednesday
mornings giving back to Mi Escuelita,
he knows first-hand the struggles these
children face. “I’ve been back to my own
neighborhood, and you realize how much
opportunity could be in each and every
one of those children running around, but
you can’t see that because of the shell that
the neighborhood creates.”
Osbaldo believes that his past has
“transformed my perception of what it
means to volunteer at a place like this.
When I’m reading to a child I’m thinking to
myself, how important is this to this child?
How important was it to me?”