Ritenour School for Early Childhood Education Named Missouri's 2024 Early Childhood Program of the Year
The Ritenour School for Early Childhood Education (RSECE) has been named the 2024 Early Childhood Program of the Year by the Missouri School Boards’ Association FutureBuilders Foundation.
RSECE’s free program, which serves 224 preschoolers in half-day and full-day classrooms, uses a child-centered, play-based and Reggio-inspired approach. “The school’s teachers are passionate about early childhood education,” said Principal Dr. Jennifer Singleton.
“Our amazing educators take care of each child with love - nurturing the whole child, and building on the strong foundation our families have established,” said Singleton. “We are partners with our families and the community to give our youngest Ritenour students a beginning that celebrates childhood and prepares them for future learning and growing!”
As part of the Reggio Emilia approach, the school’s outdoor courtyard garden and indoor “atelier” studio encourage curiosity and self-directed learning.
The school's emphasis on "loose parts" play helps preschoolers engage in open-ended activities that integrate STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics) concepts and critical thinking skills while having fun.
RSECE’s commitment to professional development has been pivotal in its success to meet the needs of the whole child. The staff have undergone extensive training in trauma-informed instruction, conscious discipline and Project Construct – a constructivist curriculum that empowers children to take ownership of their learning.
Community engagement is another cornerstone of Ritenour's early childhood program. The school has forged partnerships many local organizations such as Maryville University for literacy kits for families to use at home, a food drive led by first responders during the holidays for RSECE families in need, and The Magic House and Myseum with free family events for families with babies, toddlers and preschoolers. During the past year, RSECE has received more than $170,000 in grants to provide additional educational resources both inside and outside the classroom for families with infants through preschoolers.
RSECE’s most recent kindergarten readiness data show that its students score more than two percentage points higher than those who did not attend the program, Singleton said. Teachers regularly monitor the progress of each student, and use different early interventions to help the student make strides thanks to the school’s partnership with Special School District, an English language learner educator and other supports.
Superintendent Dr. Chris Kilbride said he is proud of the tremendous impact Ritenour’s early childhood program makes on the district’s youngest scholars.
“We know the children who get a stellar foundation at the Ritenour School for Early Childhood Education enter kindergarten more prepared than those who do not attend our preschool,” said Kilbride. “We also know we don’t have enough classrooms to serve all the families who want their children to attend, so we are getting to the point when, as a community, we need to think about if and how we can expand this vital program.”
MSBA Executive Director Melissa Randol said Ritenour’s exceptional commitment to early childhood education made them a standout choice for the Early Childhood Program of the Year Award in the large district category
“Their innovative approaches, dedicated staff, and unwavering focus on the developmental needs of young children set a high standard for quality early education,” said Randol. “Ritenour’s ability to create a nurturing and inclusive learning environment ensures that every child is given the best possible start to their educational journey. We are proud to honor their achievements and celebrate the positive impact they have on the community."
RSECE will receive the award on Oct. 19 at the Missouri School Boards’ Association annual conference in Kansas City.