City's Lone Preschool on the Market

For the past 27 years, Vicki Pillow has been a familiar figure in the Hercules community. 

As one of the founding members of —the city’s only privately owned preschool—Pillow is constantly reminded of her accomplishments as a local educator. 

“Not a day goes by that I don’t go into a bank or see a child that used to go here, and they’re grown up now and bringing their own kids in and enrolling them,” Pillow said. “That’s really cool to see.” 

Unfortunately, such occurrences won’t be seen for much longer. Pillow plans to retire following this year’s graduation on June 3. The school, its building and its lot on Pheasant Drive have been put up for sale. Pillow hopes that someone new will step forward and continue the school’s legacy. 

“It’s an advantage to promoting the business because the school is well established in a nice community,” said Sharon Clark of Signature Realty Services, which is listing the property. “The school has a great past and a great reputation and has been getting a lot of interest.” 

Pillow Pre-School was founded in 1983 by Vicki’s mother-in-law, Bernice Pillow, who initially bought the property the school was built on. Bernice worked as the school’s director until 2000. Then Vicki, who had been working as the  assistant director, took over.

Hercules has several city-run and private day care centers, but Pillow Pre-School is the city’s only formal learning institution that prepares children for kindergarten. The school currently employs six credentialed teachers (including some who have been there from the beginning) and treats students and staff to homemade meals each day.

Students engage in Easter egg hunts, Halloween parades and other festive activities when holidays come around, and the school year always ends with a commencement ceremony, including a musical program and cap and gown attire.

“There is a significant difference in the quality of credentials and background and curriculum that a preschool offers for a kid’s mental, physical and emotional development,” Clark said. “This is a dedicated property of 19,000 square feet strictly to develop children for kindergarten.”

Pillow plans to spend a good portion of her retirement enjoying the company of her three granddaughters. Although many families are sad to see her go, she takes comfort in the fact that she has successfully continued the legacy of Bernice Pillow, who died in 2009.

“It was a dream for her to put this school together,” Pillow said. “She took classes, volunteered her time, and built the school from the ground up. She had her grandchildren go here, which she always wanted to do. I love children, I love being around them, and when she passed away, nothing changed at the school.”

For additional information on the sale of Pillow Pre-School, contact Signature Realty Services at 800-919-9880.