Media Contact: Cherie Yurco; CMYurco@DallasCollege.edu
For immediate release — Oct. 31, 2023
(DALLAS) — Dallas College is proud to celebrate the opening of Bezos Academy Dallas – Cockrell Hill on its Mountain View Campus. A ribbon-cutting, scheduled for Friday, Nov. 3 (see details below), marks the second such preschool on a Dallas College campus, following the opening of Bezos Academy Lancaster – Cedar Valley last April. View this video for more information about the partnership.
“We’ve heard loud and clear from our students, employees and community that the need for affordable, high-quality child care is beyond critical,” said Dr. Justin Lonon, Dallas College chancellor. “With this second phase of our partnership with Bezos Academy, we’re yet again addressing this longstanding barrier, while also providing a transformative preschool experience for the young minds of tomorrow — all directly from our campuses.”
Dr. Robert DeHaas, vice provost of the Dallas College School of Education, explained the importance of early childhood education. “Early childhood development and access to high-quality early education are critical to our future as a nation. Bezos Academy preschools are designed to bring high-quality instruction to our youngest learners in high-need communities. These children might be left behind if not for the vision of public-private partners like Bezos Academy, which understands that an early investment in children lifts us all.”
Bezos Academy Dallas – Cockrell Hill opened its doors to students at the end of October. The preschool offers full-day, year-round programming, with a Montessori-inspired curriculum that focuses on hands-on activities to teach literacy, math, sensory development, social-emotional learning and more. This approach allows every child to develop naturally — to learn and grow at their own pace. Bezos Academy covers all the operating expenses for preschool programs at no cost to the families they serve. The organization hires, trains, develops and pays talented educators and provides everything that the children need during their day, including breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks.
“We’re excited to be able to offer tuition-free, full-day preschool to even more families in and around the Dallas College community,” said Mike George, president of Bezos Academy. “Partnering with community colleges allows Bezos Academy to support families and students of all ages. With the knowledge that their kids are safe and happy in a warm learning environment, families will be empowered to focus on their own careers and education.”
For more information about Bezos Academy Dallas – Cockrell Hill, including application and eligibility details, visit BezosAcademy.org.
Dallas College leadership, including Dr. Lonon, Dr. DeHaas and Mountain View Campus President and Vice Chancellor for Student Success Dr. Beatriz Joseph, will participate in the ceremony, alongside Bezos Academy Partnership Development Leader Sabrina Watkins and Head of School Silvia Chia.
Who: Dallas College and Bezos Academy leadership
What: Bezos Academy Dallas – Cockrell Hill Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony
When: Friday, Nov. 3, 3 p.m.
Where: Dallas College Mountain View Campus (Please park in lot P2, in front of building B. Use Knoxville Road campus entrance.)
Immediately following the ceremony, guests will have an opportunity to tour the new preschool.
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About Dallas College
Dallas College, formerly the Dallas County Community College District, was founded in 1965 and consists of seven campuses: Brookhaven, Cedar Valley, Eastfield, El Centro, Mountain View, North Lake and Richland. Dallas College offers online learning and serves more than 125,000 credit and continuing education students annually. Dallas College also offers dual credit for students in partner high schools and early college high schools throughout Dallas County. Students benefit from partnerships with local business leaders, school districts and four-year universities, and Dallas College offers associate degree and career/technical certificate programs in more than 100 areas of study, as well as a bachelor’s degree in education. Based on annual enrollment, it is the largest community college in Texas.
About Bezos Academy
Bezos Academy is a nonprofit organization that is building a network of fully funded, tuition-free preschools. Our preschools offer year-round, full-day programming, five days a week, for children ages 3-5 from low-income families. Bezos Academy also provides students with all necessary educational supplies and services to set each student up for success, including Montessori materials, books, arts and crafts, field trips and meals. Including Bezos Academy Dallas – Cockrell Hill, we have 18 schools operating across Washington, Texas and Florida and agreements in place to open locations across these states and others, including in Hawaii, Kentucky and Arizona. For more information, visit BezosAcademy.org.