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About

History

Founded by and for our Ann Arbor community.

Allen Creek Preschool was founded in 1994 by a group of Educators, Psychoanalysts, and Community Leaders. Since then, the school has grown in size and richness of programs, while staying true to the original mission of supporting the healthy growth of children and families in our community.

1994

Allen Creek Preschool is incorporated as a non-profit.

1995

Parent-Toddler groups begin in a church classroom.

1997

Our own purpose-built facility opens with two parent-toddler groups and one preschool class.

2000

Our first large-scale benefit event features Jerry Hadley of the Metropolitan Opera at the historic Michigan Theater.

2001

Allen Creek adds Kindergarten Enrichment class.

2004

Creative Arts becomes a formal staff position.

We receive the Children and Family Community Service Award from the American Psychoanalytic Association.

2005

Our first Capital Campaign culminates in the purchase of our building.

2006

We receive The Association for Child Psychoanalysis’ Award for Excellence.

We hire our first Executive Director, followed by the establishment of a Child Development Director as a paid position.

2007

The school’s 5’s class is established, along with an afternoon preschool class.

2009

Planning begins for building and grounds expansion involving the newly acquired, adjacent, 1515 Franklin Street.

2011

Accreditation is reaffirmed by the Alliance for Psychoanalytic Schools.

2013

Allen Creek undergoes a restructuring of the administration and a push to cement the school as a model of early childhood education.

Work commences on our nature play area in the Franklin Yard.

2014

We institute year-long faculty studies of psychoanalytic principles in relation to early childhood and early school experiences.

2017

We host an extension program of the national meeting for the Association for Child Psychoanalysis.

We serve as a community partner in hosting the Reggio Emilia exhibit “The Wonder of Learning: the Hundred Languages of Children.” We create an outdoor water atelier for the community to engage in.

2018

We begin a partnership with Emerson School to provide summer programming for preschoolers.

2020

We nimbly respond to challenges created by the Covid-19 pandemic and keep school safely open and running. An ongoing process.

2022

We celebrate 25 years at our Miller Road location.