Fresh Start: LPS preschool students thrive in new learning environment

August 21, 2024

Lincoln’s littlest learners will now have a larger amount of space to socialize, solve problems and experience success.
 
Preschool students at Humann and Huntington elementary buildings began the 2024-25 academic year in fresh environments. Several Lincoln Public Schools sites will offer at least one new classroom and one remodeled classroom for children. They will provide students with additional square footage for lessons, updated restroom facilities and safer routes to early childhood playgrounds.
 
Humann preschool teachers Kendra Elmshauser and Jennifer Haney said they are excited about the changes. Preschool teachers from across LPS provided input to district leaders about ways to improve spaces for younger children. Administrators embraced those suggestions and came up with solutions that will help hundreds of Lincoln families.
 
“The new classroom is huge,” Haney said. “It’s a lot of fun. It’s a lot of great space to have a variety of center and choice time.”
 
“It’s great for them to come in and have a new space,” Elmshauser said. “What’s really great about preschool is that we’re the first person that they see on their journey through LPS, so to have that space for them already made and provided, it kind of just sets the tone of what their LPS education is going to look like.”
 
The new classrooms at Humann and Huntington are part of a comprehensive plan by LPS to expand preschool services. The school district is adding seven new classrooms at six elementary schools: Arnold, Fredstrom, Humann, Huntington, Kooser and Roper. Existing classrooms at Fredstrom, Humann and Huntington are also being remodeled.
 
Once completed and staffed, each classroom will serve 20 children in the morning and 20 in the afternoon. This will provide space for 14 half-day preschool classes at the six facilities. The morning and afternoon classes will each last 3.5 hours.
 
LPS Director of Early Childhood Cara Lucas-Richt said she was grateful for the community’s support of preschool education. Lincoln voters approved the construction of early childhood facilities as part of a $290 million bond issue four years ago.
 
“The construction projects, which were a result of the 2020 bond issue, allow us to provide spaces that are more appropriate for serving the needs of our young learners,” Lucas-Richt said. “That’s really important as we think about their needs and their developmental levels, but also the needs of the staff to support them and work with them every day.”
 
One section of each remodeled classroom includes counters, cupboards, tables and two sinks for students to use for activities such as arts and crafts. There are also large cloak spaces where they can place coats and backpacks.
 
Restrooms located inside each classroom are another major feature. Students will not have to leave the preschool space to access restrooms in another area of the school building, and each restroom is large enough to accommodate wheelchairs and walkers. They also contain child-friendly faucets and sinks.
 
Haney, who is entering her 25th year of teaching preschool at LPS, said those simple upgrades to both spaces will make a sizable difference for students. For example, the sinks are low enough that preschoolers will be able to wash their hands by themselves.
 
“We really encourage independence, so we’re thrilled that we can start with those expectations from day one and make connections with them,” Haney said.
 
Classrooms will include exit doors directly connected to preschool-only outdoor playgrounds. A large interior play area includes many shelves with toys, puppets, dolls and building blocks. Child-sized chairs provide spaces to rest, and staff can use a large whiteboard area for small-group and large-group teaching activities.
 
Elmshauser, who has led early childhood classes for eight years, said the renovations will help students grow in many areas.
 
“Early childhood is going to be teaching a child social and emotional skills, we’re going to be teaching math skills, reading, literacy, so we’re really that beginning step to get them ready for kindergarten,” Elmshauser said. “I hear from a lot of parents that want to work on independence, that want to work on those friendships, and this is really great to have that space where they can work with other peers.”
 
Lucas-Richt said all of the classrooms – both remodeled and additional – are connected to the school district’s strategic plan of meeting the community’s growing request for early childhood education. LPS has early childhood programs at 31 elementary and high schools. Right now, the school district has 77 pre-kindergarten classrooms serving more than 1,500 preschool students. After the projects are completed, that number will jump to 91 total rooms allowing LPS to serve approximately 1,800 pre-kindergarteners. 
 
“I would say that the demand for additional early childhood options for families continues to increase every year,” Lucas-Richt said. “This past school year, between August and the end of the school year in May, we grew by 536 students in early childhood. That’s 536 additional students from birth to age five that were able to access high-quality early childhood education programs and services.”
 
Lucas-Richt said the goal is to complete construction projects at Arnold and Roper this winter. Both sites would open two classes for students in the second semester.
 
Haney said she is looking forward to helping students experience success in their new educational homes.
 
“We really are excited about the opportunities to teach our youngest learners,” Haney said. “(We want) to let Mom and Dad know that they’re going with trusted adults and that we’re really going to have a great time and help them enjoy learning and be lifelong learners.”

Learn more about LPS Early Childhood Education at our website at https://home.lps.org/earlychildhood/.

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