Guest Column: Albany Preschool In Search of Alumni as 75th Anniversary Nears

[Editor's Note: Writer Kim Trutane attended preschool in Texas, but her children are both Albany Preschool alumni, and she served on the Albany Preschool Board of Directors for two years. This article was originally published in December 2010; we figured we had a number of new readers out there since then, and thought this might be relevant to the community.]

Did you go to ? That's a fair question whether you're 5 or 65 years old. This well-loved Albany institution has  and is approaching its 75th anniversary in March 2012. 

It's a question preschool aficionados would like us all to ask each other as they search for alumni and gather stories the program's past.

"We're celebrating 75 years of playing together and we want to get many graduates and families back in touch with the preschool for our celebration," said Joy Knott, Albany resident and member of the Preschool Board.

"We're collecting stories, memories and photos that can tell us more about our rich history as one of the area's oldest preschools," she added.

Anniversary festivities will include special honors for the oldest graduates and for multi-generational alumni families.

Dorothy Coakley, former Albany resident and retired San Francisco public librarian, is one such graduate. She attended the school from 1947 to 1949. Although Coakley said she recalls playtime and crafts, she said the preschool shaped her and her classmates' lives more fundamentally.

"We were from very different backgrounds, and those divisions in society were much more important then than they are now," she said. "We might not have mixed with the family two doors down, as our religions were different. But our moms became best friends as they traded childcare for the younger children in order to participate at the school."

From the beginning, say many supporters, Albany Preschool taught children and their parents to set differences aside and reach toward a common goal: that of getting along with others. And to respect each individual. Those are lessons the preschool is still teaching today.

The school day begins with a circle, and chatter dies down as the greeting song is sung. Parents often sit behind their preschoolers with babies or toddlers in their laps. Kind hands calm active hands and feet.

Several minutes of focus are achieved to count off the days that have passed in the month, name the weather and go over that day's coming activities.

"Now look closely at your clothes!" teachers often advise. "If you're wearing green, bring me your mat," one might say.

Students line up color-by-color to hand over their mats and collect a high-five or a hug from their teacher, who smiles and warmly welcomes each one. Then the fun really starts.

As a play-based program, students are free to make their own choice of playing outside, creating their own art, doing special arts and crafts projects, exploring at the science table, dress-up, or that most classic of all childhood activities, building blocks with the preschool's immense block collection.

A unique aspect of the school has been its long-term ties with the city. The preschool still resides rent-free in a city-owned building on Masonic Avenue near Solano Avenue, which has been its home for more than 70 years. The preschool rents its large play yard from a private owner.

Although founded by the Depression-era Works Progress Administration, the preschool became a city program in 1942, administered through the Recreation Department. To keep costs down after federal funding was lost, mothers began to share the teaching responsibilities. Training the mothers to teach was part of the adult education program at .

Parent participation is still at the core of the program, though training is now done on site.

Alison Marshall is a lifelong Albany resident who went to the preschool as a child and returned there recently with her own children as a parent participant.

"I loved being a part of the learning experience of my own children and seeing how all the children interacted. And you feel like you are part of a community, having met so many children and parents who have all been a part of your child's educational experience," she recalled.

Parents actively participate as teachers in the morning program. Professional teachers staff the afternoon program, with all parents taking part in a wide variety of family jobs throughout the year.

Albany Preschool is known too for its devoted staff. Early Director Nell Curran started as an assistant in 1939, became preschool director in 1941 and held that position until 1971, a total of 32 years of service. Diane Gross and Maureen Beck, both now retired, served 30 years and 25 years respectively.

Afternoon Program Director came to the preschool as a parent in 1986 and has been on staff for 19 years. Three generations of her family have been involved with the school, and Bernos taught her own grandsons a few years ago.

Head Teacher also began as a parent participator and has now clocked 12 years on staff. As part of the Recreation & Community Services Department, staff members of the school were city employees until it was discontinued as a city program in the aftermath of Proposition 13.

The preschool now operates as a nonprofit parent-run cooperative with all costs covered by tuition and fundraising.

The preschool has served 60 to 70 families per year for the past decade. It is usually fully enrolled, with preference being given to Albany residents. The  has a kindergarten enrollment of just more than 270 students, meaning up to a quarter of the district's kindergarteners may be Albany Preschool alumni.

"We have our own way of preparing children for kindergarten," said Lee. "We prepare them socially to be able to negotiate with each other and resolve conflicts verbally. And we introduce concepts through play in a very basic, age-appropriate level."

Gross said she believes the preschool contributes to the district in another way.

"It feels natural for co-op parents to be involved in their children's education, so they often go on to be parent volunteers and leaders of the PTA," said Gross. "That whole intertwining, weaving of generations--that's what Albany Preschool is about. Once Albany Preschool is your school, it is always your school. You are always welcome back!"

Alumni are encouraged to write the school at alumni@albanypreschool.org. More information about Albany Preschool can be found on its website, www.albanypreschool.org.

Everybody makes mistakes ... ! If there's something in this article you think should be corrected, or if something else is amiss, give editor Emilie Raguso a ring at 510-459-8325 or shoot her an e-mail at emilier@patch.com.

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