Dear John,
I'd like to introduce you to Sebastian.
When four-year-old Sebastian started pre-k, he was quiet and timid. He would stare from a distance before joining an activity his teacher, Ms. Dominguez, said. Students complained that he refused to share, and at times, he would grow so agitated that he would hit his classmates. No one wanted to be his friend. Throughout the year, Ms. Dominguez made every effort to encourage him and help him apologize to other students when an incident would occur. Slowly, he started to come out of his shell. By the end of the year, Ms. Domingez said he was a happier kid overall — a model student.
For Sebastian, having access to quality pre-k and a caring teacher like Ms. Dominguez made all the difference in the world. It provided him with a safe and supportive environment where he could learn to control his emotions and how to socialize.
This year, Texans Care for Children was a leader in the fight to secure funding for full-day pre-k for kids like Sebastian. And we won! It was one monumental step forward but it isn’t enough. There are more Texas children who would benefit from full-day pre-k but are ineligible to enroll in the early childhood program. We have work to do to ensure all kids can develop the critical social and emotional skills they need to start school ready to learn and reach their full potential.
