Self Development Preschool (SDP) is now 30 years old.
In that time, our staff and students have seen six presidents come and go. Just like President Bush Sr. and President Bush Jr., who walked the halls of the White House, this preschool building also has seen fathers and then sons walk through these halls and rooms of SDP.
Josh Pyle, former attendee who now sends his daughter to the preschool, said, “It all seems the same, only the size of the building and rooms seem smaller. When you are a kid, things seem so big,” he continued. “The great room and the outside area when I was 7 years old were both massive compared to how I view them today.”
Self Development Preschool opened in June 1988 with just 49 students. Asif and Anjum Majeed, along with the support of a few close and trusted friends, Vernetta Madsen and Rachel Hunt, founded Self Development Preschool. The idea underpinning SDP was as radical as it was necessary.
A child’s inner capabilities are limitless when the child engages in self-reflection. “Self Development encompasses the acceptance of one’s weakness, as well as strengths, and enhances self-esteem,” said Dr. Anjum Majeed. “The school’s mission is to foster the development of each student’s maximum potential,” she added.
“When Dr. Majeed approached me about moving to Arizona from Wyoming to be the director of her preschool, I knew it would be a great opportunity I could not pass up,” said Vernetta Madsen, who still serves as director of the preschool. She also oversees Human Resources for the two Self Development academies.
“Anjie would concentrate on my strengths to help me grow by seeing how I could turn my weaknesses into strengths,” said Ms. Vernetta. “The result of that is I grew in all areas and became the person I am today.”
Sound familiar? This was exactly Dr. Majeed’s definition of self-development. Dr. Majeed walks the walk and talks the talk.
What set SDP apart from other early childhood programs was the seamless way the preschool mirrored the best parts of home life. Kim Kunkle, parent and now grandparent to a preschool student remembers, “We were welcomed with open hearts by Ms. Vernetta.”
According to Dr. Majeed, something special made SDP stand apart from other schools. “It’s the caring and committed staff who truly believe in nurturing the youngsters and assisting them to reach their maximum potential.” Kim agrees, “We are very happy with SDP and SDA,” she stated.
Ms. Vernetta, in particular, seems to have been a key source of affection and love for these students and parents. “Even today, Ms. Vernetta seems to be synonymous for me with Self Development,” said Josh. “She’s always been kind to me, personally, and to see my daughter and the affection she has for Ms. Vernetta, hugging her every time she sees her, is really special.”
Reflecting on why she brought her own daughter to the school, Ms. Vernetta said, “The school is like family, and the staff goes out of their way to make sure everyone feels the same way.” It was as much the school as it was the people.
Like Ms. Vernetta, Sara Pringle would not only work for, but would bring her daughter to Self Development. “It was my second home,” said Sara, a former student who spends her adult time at Self Development, working at the academy next door.
“The teachers and staff were loving and nurturing—constantly pushing us to be the best versions of ourselves,” Sara remembered. “We were constantly taught to support and love one another, no matter our differences.
“The persistent push to be mindful, respectful human beings truly has helped mold me into who I am today,” Sara further stated. “This same push is what solidified my decision to send my daughter to Self Development Preschool and on to Self Development Academy when she starts kindergarten.”
Decades later, SDP continues to be a loving and nurturing place. “I feel the same personal connection of each teacher and staff member with each other, their care for the students, and the scholastic strength now, as I, we, did more than 20 years ago as a mother and as a grandmother,” Kim Kunkle stated. “We absolutely love this school.”
The love and care the staff provides at SDP allows the children to explore the world, rich with knowledge, skills and concepts. “At 4 years of age, my daughter, Shelby, could tell you the functions of her organs in her body and why we needed them,” said Kim. Achieving such high-level thinking at such a young age meant resolute foresight into how the multiple age levels aligned in terms of their cognitive development.
Rebecca Gau, a former parent of SDP and SDA, often recalls what surprised her about Self Development Preschool. “Not only did the preschool provide an enriched and integrated thematic curriculum, but this curriculum also was horizontally and vertically aligned with the other classrooms and ages of students,” she said.
Fortunately for the kids, the intellectualism surrounding the design of the curriculum translated into serious fun for the students. Dr. Majeed emphasizes that educators should leverage children’s instincts to play as means of discovery and learning. “Through play, they learn about concepts of float and sink and volume while spending time at the water table,” she stated.
“I had a great group of friends I used to run around with there and it was always a fun way to end my school day,” Josh recalled. And Kim remembers the experiences of her son, Nick. “He had fun every day, not even realizing how much he was learning scholastically and as a human being.” Serious play was subterfuge for serious learning.
There is a core to every person. An essence no fury of predicament or catastrophe could shake. The seasons will change and the canyons we cross are tattooed on our faces, but inherent to everyone is a root that remains. Self Development Preschool is like that.
The same persons walk in through the same glass door, but they come in and out as parents, not students. Their children see the same walls, but hung on them is PAW Patrol, not Barney or Dora. Self Development Preschool adapts enough to just accentuate what made itself great over 30 years.
Come celebrate our 30 years of success. Bring your family and friends to the open house on Saturday, May 18, between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. The location of the school is 1721 N. Greenfield Road. For more information, please call Ms. Vernetta at (480) 396-3522.