In 1978, a small group of stay-at-home mothers decided they wanted more for their preschool children. They didn’t need full time childcare, but they wanted to give their children an opportunity to learn, grow, and flourish within a community. With just a $100 loan and a giant leap of faith, the Parents’ Cooperative Preschool was born.
Now the Parents’ Cooperative Preschool & Kindergarten, the school continues to flourish as a non-profit with almost 35 years of history serving young learners. Throughout the decades, the school has operated in churches, leased private locations, and rented spaces within businesses like Itty Bitty City. Regardless of the environment, the vision remains the same: a first early childhood learning experience where parents are partners and developmental needs of children are respected.
The school has grown in recent years, now offering classes for a wide range of ages: preschool classes for 2 and 3 year olds (3 half-days a week), a pre-k class for 4-year-olds (4 half-days a week), and a kindergarten class for 5-year-olds (5 half-days a week)
As a cooperative, parents pay tuition and volunteer in the classroom, using their talents to create a community that seems more like family than a school. You won’t just see stay-at-home moms volunteering in the modern-day PCPK. Parents (including lots of dads) who freelance, are small business owners, or have unique work schedules all volunteer and contribute to the school community.
 Lindsey & Jaxson during craft time at the start of the school year. |
Lindsey (she/her), mom to Jaxson, has really enjoyed the experience since her son started this year. “PCPK loves your children for exactly who they are. They allow them to feel what they’re feeling and they encourage each child to be themselves. They show them and teach them respect and kindness.”
When Lindsey needed help assembling a jungle gym for her son’s birthday party, PCPK parents came to help. “It’s a community of people who all have similar goals and wants for their children. It’s a family.”
When Ashley (she/her), now mom of 3, enrolled her daughter Mia, she was concerned that it might be too much for her reserved daughter. Now in her second year at the school, Mia (now 4) has become a social butterfly. “I have watched my daughter thrive at PCPK, academically and socially,” Ashley said.
Juggling a growing family while working full-time is no easy feat, but Ashley has found a real community there. “Not only is the school great for learning, but the environment it creates for families is incredible,” Ashley said. “It truly is a community that cares about each other. from organizing meal trains, to helping with fundraisers, there are countless ways to help and be helped by this wonderful school.”
 Ashley and her daughter, Mia, were all smiles during an egg hunt last spring. |
The involvement piece was a big selling point for Megan (she/her), mom of Indigo (3). “Getting to know teachers and other parents is invaluable,” Megan said. “It created a real sense of trust for us with the staff and other families because you really get to know them this way.”
Megan also feels that the cooperative model helped make this first educational experience a positive one. “Our daughter has absolutely thrived in this environment after the long isolation of Covid, and being able to be in the classroom easing her transition the first few days was amazing.”
 Indigo and dad, Colin, sported matching unicorn costumes at the Halloween party this year. |
Colin (he/him), Indigo’s dad, has enjoyed the cooperative model so much, he now serves as a daily teacher’s assistant. On any given day, you’ll see him soothing an upset child while supporting the classroom teacher.
For other families, the transparency of the co-op model isn’t a perk - it’s a necessity. Evie Mae’s parents, Wade (he/him) and Melissa (she/her), had never left their daughter in the care of anyone before enrolling at PCPK last year. Their first daughter, Maisy, was killed in childcare in 2017, and the anxiety around trusting someone with their second child was high. “We knew Evie needed a place to practice some independence without us hovering, but the idea was terrifying,” Melissa said.
Wade volunteers in the classroom regularly, and has enjoyed seeing his child flourish. “It was really important to me that Evie was safe, but emotionally safe, too. I didn’t want her left crying in a corner if she was having a hard day. Knowing that there are teachers (and parents) who will swoop her up and comfort her gave me comfort, as well. And being able to be that parent for the other kids is great, too. It’s just what we wanted.” He’s also found a community here, making friends with other dads who now have playdates together outside of school.
 Evie Mae, holding big sister Maisy’s photo. |
The qualifications of the staff sealed the deal for Melissa. She said, “When we applied, I was shocked to find out that the preschool teacher had a double master’s degree. As a former middle school teacher myself, quality education was important to me. I just didn’t expect to find that in a little half-day preschool.”
While a lot may have changed since 1978, Parents’ Cooperative Preschool & Kindergarten community is looking forward to decades more serving the Springfield area’s youngest learners and their families.
To learn more about PCPK, visit their website at https://www.parentscoopspringfield.com.
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