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News and Press - Educational First Steps

In Memory of Joyce Vanston Wright

Educational First Steps celebrates the life and memory of Joyce Vanston Wright. Joyce Wright was the embodiment of a community treasure. She dedicated her life to the care and concern of children, especially the ones we serve at Educational First Steps. As one of our founders, her vision was to ensure…

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Striving for Greatness with Allyson Felix Gala

Dallas, TX – Educational First Steps (EFS) hosted the Striving for Greatness gala at The Ritz-Carlton Dallas on Tuesday, February 20th. The evening featured a seated dinner and conversation with the most decorated U.S. Olympian, Allyson Felix. In addition to raising funds to further their work in early childhood education,…

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Educational First Steps Hosts Reception for “Striving for Greatness with Allyson Felix” Benefit Gala

Supporters Gather at Park House in Highland Park Village DALLAS, TX – Vickie Allen- Brown, President and CEO of Educational First Steps and event co-chairs Angela Hosseini and Lupe Mora-Duarte recently joined guests at a celebratory reception in recognition of the organization’s upcoming “Striving for Greatness with Allyson Felix” benefit…

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News Release | Educational First Steps to host “Striving for Greatness with Allyson Felix” Benefit Gala at the Ritz-Carlton Dallas

The Most Decorated U.S. Track and Field Olympian Returns to North Texas in Support of Early Childhood Education and Childcare. Dallas, TX (Jan. X, 2024) – Educational First Steps (EFS) and event co-chairs Angela Hosseini and Lupe Mora-Duarte are proud to announce the “Striving for Greatness with Allyson Felix” benefit…

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Partner Center Spotlight | Southern Crest Learning Center

For our next Partner Center Spotlight, we are honored to feature Southern Crest Learning Center and their Director, Cecilia Henderson. Southern Crest Learning Center is a family-run childcare center licensed to serve 90 children in the Cedar Crest neighborhood of Dallas, TX. They have been in business since 1986 and…

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Teacher of the Year Spotlight | Yvonne Virden

Each spring, Educational First Steps hosts an Early Childhood Educators Conference for childcare providers and educators in our partner network. Part of the conference includes a series of awards, named after our founder Dave Munson, acknowledging leaders in the field: Director of the Year, Home-Based Provider of the Year, and…

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Grow Up Great®: PNC Foundation and Educational First Steps Show Appreciation to Early Educators Across North Texas

Early Childhood Education has faced insurmountable odds for years throughout the United States. From a lack of funding and resources to a teacher shortage crisis that has left its impact on families, small business owners, and school districts across the country. In response to the needs of the community,  PNC…

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Partner Center Spotlight | Royal Hearts Learning Center

This month, we are honored to feature our Dave Munson 2023 Home-Based Provider of the Year award recipient, Shaneda Ford, and her home-based center, Royal Hearts Learning Center. Shaneda started her journey in Early Childhood Education as a teenager working at the childcare center at her church. Throughout the course…

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In Memory of Mr. David Munson Sr.

Educational First Steps celebrates the life and memory of David Munson.  As a tireless advocate and champion for early childhood education, Mr. Munson made a transformational impact on generations of early learners.  Mr. Munson believed that every child deserved access to a quality early learning experience and the opportunity to…

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Partner Center Spotlight | Sunrise Early Learning and Development Center

This month, we are honored to feature our Dave Munson 2023 Director of the Year award recipient, Angela James-Davis, and the center that she leads, Sunrise Early Learning and Development Center. Angela first started her journey in Early Childhood Education in 1993 when she began volunteering at her son’s daycare….

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News Release | Lake Highlands Cheers on Participants at Family-Friendly GenFit Event Benefiting Educational First Steps

DALLAS, TX, May 9th, 2023 – The Lake Highlands community came together in the name of health, fitness, and early childhood education this past Saturday for the GenFit Challenge, powered by Coach Jae Coston and ForeverAthlete. The family-focused relay event featured 26 teams of parent-child duos racing through various exercises…

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News Release | Early Childhood Educators Conference Equips Local Teachers and Childcare Leaders for Success

DALLAS, TX, April 27, 2023 – Early childhood educators and childcare providers from across North Texas gathered at the Gaylord Texan Saturday, April 15th for the Annual Early Childhood Educators Conference hosted by Educational First Steps (EFS).  The DFW-based nonprofit offers the conference complimentary to educators and childcare providers within…

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Regen Horchow and Vickie Allen: Dallas’ Early Education Champions

Story and photos by Jennie Trejo with Dallas Doing Good A child’s brain is 90 percent developed – nearly fully grown – by age five. Decades of research show that a child’s experiences in the first few years have a lasting impact on a child’s ability to succeed in school…

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News Release | Nowitzki Event Raises Over $1.3 Million in Support of Early Childhood Education

Dallas, Texas, March 23rd, 2023 – The Ritz Carlton Dallas was the scene for “An Evening with The Great Nowitzki,” a fundraiser held by Educational First Steps (EFS) to benefit childcare providers across North Texas. NBA legend and local icon Dirk Nowitzki of the Dallas Mavericks headlined the event, sharing his story of perseverance and…

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Partner Center Spotlight | Olive’s Lil’ Angels Learning Center

For February’s Partner Center Spotlight, we are thrilled to feature Olive’s Lil’ Angels Learning Center (OLALC). OLALC and its founder Shaneka N. Hogg, have been partnered with Educational First Steps for over 15 years. After growing from a small, home-based childcare provider to a center that serves over 120 children…

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Partner Center Spotlight | DearOnes Daycare and Preschool

R.C. Chauhan opened DearOnes Daycare and Preschool in Fort Worth, Texas, in 2018 and officially became an EFS partner in 2022. R.C.’s mission is to create a safe, respectful, and loving space for children to learn and grow; she continues to achieve that mission every day. It is a pleasure…

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News Release | Dirk Nowitzki to speak at an evening benefitting Educational First Steps

Dallas, TX, December 12th, 2022 – Educational First Steps (EFS) proudly announces “An Evening with The Great Nowitzki,” a benefit scheduled for 6:30 PM CST on February 21, 2023, at the Ritz-Carlton, Dallas. For over 30 years, Educational First Steps has been creating and supporting high-quality early learning environments that…

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News Release | EFS Welcomes New Chief Strategy & Impact Officer

The Commit Partnership and Educational First Steps (EFS) is proud to announce a staff transition that stands to benefit the whole early education ecosystem in North Texas. Dominique McCain, the Commit Partnership’s Managing Director of Best in Class, will be stepping down from her role at the end of this year…

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Partner Center Spotlight | Good Shepherd Christian Academy

Ontara Nickerson and Good Shepherd Christian Academy have partnered with Educational First Steps since 2018. The childcare center opened in Fort Worth on August 19th, 2013, and looks forward to celebrating its 10-year anniversary this upcoming August. Located in a childcare desert, Nickerson and her team of dedicated educators and…

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Partner Center Spotlight | Denton Christian Preschool

For our next Partner Center Spotlight, we are excited to introduce to you, EFS Partner and Denton Christian Preschool (DCP) Executive Director, Alicia Blanca. Alicia has been with DCP for about 22 years, starting out as a cook and janitor and eventually serving in every position until she was brought…

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Celebrating Accreditation | Olive’s Lil Angels Learning Center

Cedar Hill, TX, October 13th, 2022 – Olive’s Lil Angels Learning Center (OLALC) is a non-profit organization whose purpose is to provide a superior preschool and early childhood development program that serves children ages six weeks to 12 years old. Founder Shaneka N. Hogg, started the program in her Cedar…

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News Release | EFS Ranked Top 10 Places to Work in Texas

Educational First Steps Ranked Top Ten among Best Companies to Work for in Texas Dallas, Texas, October 7th, 2022 – Educational First Steps (EFS) was ranked #9 among the Best Companies to Work for in Texas, a survey and awards program recognizing the top workplace cultures. Rankings were announced Thursday…

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Partner Center Spotlight | Saintsville Baptist Academy

It is month three of the Monthly Partner Center Spotlight and we are thrilled to share this interview with EFS Partner and Saintsville Baptist Academy Center Director, Shirley Pace. Saintsville Baptist Academy has partnered with EFS since August 2013, and Shirley and her family have been a part of the…

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Partner Center Spotlight | Happy Days School

It is month two of the Educational First Steps (EFS) monthly Partner Center Spotlight, and we are proud to feature Center Director Dee Merrit at Happy Days School in Garland. Happy Days School has been partnered with EFS since March 2016, and Dee has been their Center Director for twelve…

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Celebrating Re-Accreditation | El Kinder Bilingual Academy

Dallas, TX, August 16th, 2022 – El Kinder Bilingual Academy is an award-winning, bilingual childcare center for children ages 18 months to 5 years.  El Kinder has partnered with Educational First Steps since 2003 when they achieved their National Accreditation Commission (NAC) Certification. As of July 21st, 2022, El Kinder Bilingual Academy reached another…

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Partner Center Spotlight | 2nd Step Daycare & Learning Center

Educational First Steps (EFS) is launching its monthly Partner Center Spotlight, a video interview series featuring the business owners and directors behind the small businesses and early education centers that EFS partners with throughout North Texas. The purpose of this series is to highlight the work done by their partners,…

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Back to School with EFS

  Can it really be that time of year already?? Schools throughout DFW are just one month away from students returning to the classroom, and we need your help to make this year the best yet. As summer comes to a close, we want to ensure all partner centers, directors,…

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News Release | EFS Welcomes New Board Members

Educational First Steps Welcomes Five Board Members with the Launch of Their New Fiscal Year  Dallas, TX, June 28th, 2022 – Starting June 1st, 2022, the Educational First Steps (EFS) board of directors welcomed five new members; continuing their mission to “create and support high-quality early learning environments that ignite…

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News Release | EFS Early Childhood Conference

Educational First Steps Impacts Over 1,750 North Texas Educators Through Its Annual Early Childhood Conference  Dallas, TX, May 5th, 2022 – This past month, from April 25th to April 29th, local Dallas nonprofit, Educational First Steps (EFS) hosted its annual Early Childhood Conference themed: Changing Times, New Beginnings. Sessions featured…

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News Release | EFS and Dallas College Federal Work Study Program

          Educational First Steps and Dallas College partner up to address current early childhood education workforce crisis   Dallas, TX, April 11th, 2022 – Child development centers across North Texas are facing an unprecedented teacher shortage crisis due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This crisis risks a devastating…

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News Release | Diving Deep with Mark Cuban

Mark Cuban talks education and entrepreneurship at evening benefit supporting Educational First Steps on February 22, 2022 Dallas, TX, December 10, 2021 – Educational First Steps (EFS) and event co-chairs Wasan Alfalahi and Tiffany Cuban proudly announce “Diving Deep with Mark Cuban,” a benefit scheduled for 6:30 PM CST on…

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News Release | Wendy Mogel

Educational First Steps presents psychologist and New York Timesbest-selling author Dr. Wendy Mogel as Munson Lecture Series final speaker on Wednesday, March 31, 2021 Dallas and Fort Worth TX, March 3, 2021 – Vickie Allen, President & CEO of Dallas/Fort Worth’s  Educational First Steps (EFS), has announced that Dr. Wendy Mogel will headline…

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EFS in the News

Access news coverage about Educational First Steps. How are women navigating the pandemic economy? With flexible schedules, paid time off and other help — if they can get it | 01/17/2021 By Mitchell SchnurmanDallas Morning News “Mayor’s Disaster Relief Fund to award $275,000 in grants to help nonprofits responding to COVID-19”…

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John Quinones, host/producer of “What Would You Do?”, to present second Munson Lecture on Jan. 12, 2021

 Dallas and Fort Worth TX, Dec. 8, 2020 – Vickie Allen, Executive Director for Dallas/Fort Worth’s Educational First Steps (EFS), is pleased to announce John Quinones as the headlining speaker for the second installment of the Munson Lecture Series, a three-part virtual event series that focuses on themes of Equity,…

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EFS Publishes 2019-2020 Impact Report

Educational First Steps published a 2019-2020 Impact Report, providing an organizational summary, timeline, by the numbers overview, and update on its Dallas/Fort Worth COVID-19 Childcare Relief Fund. The full report can be accessed and downloaded here….

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EFS Announces Munson Lecture Series

Equity, resilience, and independence headline inaugural three-part Munson Lecture Series from Educational First Steps, launching November 10, 2020 Nationally -renowned speakers will offer thought-provoking commentary during three virtual events in November, January and March to honor EFS co-founder David Munson, Sr. Dallas, TX, (October 13, 2020) – Educational First Steps(EFS)…

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Educational First Steps Announcement | Celebrating Our President & CEO’s Next Chapter

After five years of remarkable leadership, advocacy, and inspiration, our President & CEO, Vickie Allen, will be stepping down to join our friends at The Dallas Foundation as their new Chief Impact Officer. Vickie has been a leader of integrity, wisdom, and joy, building a solid organization that will profoundly…

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