Our School > Our Story

The Children's Center was established in 1952, long before early childhood education was recognized as being important in the development of a child. Mrs. Carol McKenzie Jones and Dr. Thompson Shannon, then Minister of First Community Church in Dallas, Texas, had a dream of creating a pre-school where young children could feel secure in a happy, loving atmosphere.

The Children's Center began with the core of its curriculum centered around the Character Research Project (CRP), and was the first school in the nation to use the tools of research in character education at the pre-school level.

The Children's Center was operated by First Community Church until 2004 as a part of its program of service to the community. In the spring of 2004, the church sold its facilities, and in order for the Children's Center to live on, the school incorporated and became its own not-for-profit entity. In the fall of 2005, the Children's Center moved to brand new facilities next to St. Bernard's of Clairveaux in Dallas.

Past Directors of the Children's Center are:
Carol Jones – 1952-1971
Ouida Johnson – 1971-1999
Nancy Emerson – 1999-2005