A Christ-centered education.
Grace Early Education offers Christ-centered education for children eight weeks to four years old in both Tyler and Lindale, Texas. In Lindale, Grace offers a two-day-a-week Mother’s Day Out program.
Grace Early Education isn’t like any other daycare. From the playground to the classroom, we apply Christ-centered love for children to truly educate and grow them into who God made them to be. We seek to provide holistic care, and to us, that means helping your child grow spiritually, emotionally, and intellectually.
Kindergarten Readiness
As a parent, you want to give your child the best possible start to school. Who will teach and care for my child? And what will my child be learning each day? are questions you’ve likely asked yourself. Alignment between school and home is crucial in these early years, so that the lessons you are modeling at home are reinforced — not deconstructed — at school.
At Grace Early Education, we believe in the right combination of learning and loving: learning key fundamentals for kindergarten readiness and nurturing the love of Christ for healthy social and emotional development.
As a parent, you will see your child:
- Master new skills through play, movement, music, and biblical integration of developmentally appropriate content
- Practice social skills through positive interactions, while also learning how to get along with classmates and correct ways to deal with feelings and emotions
- Establish a lifelong love of Christ through dedicated Bible lessons, biblical integration in the classroom, and attending chapel starting at age 2
- Receive individualized attention with two teachers in every classroom, assuring your child isn’t going to get lost in a crowded environment
At Grace Early Education, we’re laying the groundwork for a strong academic foundation at every stage:
Our Frog Street Press curriculum (infancy through age 4) uses themes, stories, poems, dancing, and music to make content engaging, accessible, and seamlessly integrated. Your child will learn the essentials for reading and math.
Our Footsteps for Fours curriculum (ages 4-5) is from Bob Jones University Press and has Christian values woven into each lesson. Through themes, songs, and activities, little learners are taught values and social skills alongside primary academic principles. Daily phonics, pre-reading activities, and math lessons explore foundational skills while music, science, language arts, social studies, and handwriting exercises give little learners opportunities for exploration and engagement.
Our Sing, Spell, Read, & Write curriculum (ages 4-5) teaches alphabetic principles, phonemic awareness, sound/letter correspondence, short vowel sounds, blending, and handwriting, all in a fun and engaging way.
Our art, music, and theater lessons (infancy through age 5) bring out each child’s inner artist, fostering and instilling creativity, and rounding out a Grace EE education.
Classrooms
Little learners benefit from an environment where they don’t have to compete for attention, where they will be known, loved, and seen. At Grace Early Education, we have two teachers in every classroom, ensuring personalized attention and individualized assistance.
| Classrooms | Teacher to Child Ratio |
|---|---|
| INFANTS (8 WEEKS +) | 2 to 10 |
| TODDLERS | 2 to 12 |
| TWO YEAR OLDS | 2 to 14 |
| THREE YEAR OLDS | 2 to 15 |
| FOUR YEAR OLDS | 2 to 16 |
| K4 (Four and Five Year Olds) | 2 to 17 |
At the end of our early education program, your child will be confident and prepared for kindergarten. Our preschool graduates are well-rounded with a comprehensive academic and biblical foundation, and the social skills necessary to interact with peers and adults respectfully. They’re reading, writing, and have mastered basic math skills. Oh, and our graduates can also continue building on those skills at Grace Community School (K-12).
As a Grace Early Education family, you have priority access to Grace Community School through a simplified application process, which makes for a seamless transition to elementary school. Learn more by visiting www.gracetyler.org.
“The best thing we could have done for our girls was to start them at Grace Early Education and then make the transition to Grace Community. Grace allows us the opportunity to continue with faith-based learning and for us to provide our daughters with a strong community.”
THE HEARN FAMILY Parents at Grace EE
350
Students
85
Faculty
2
Locations
Years
Experience
Jay Blogs – The Goodness of God
Jay Blogs – The Goodness of God If there’s one descriptor that’s used often to describe God, it’s that He is “good.” We are invited in the psalms to “taste and see that the Lord is good.” (34:8). James tells us that “Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down…
Meet Our Directors
Gail Brown
Executive Director of Grace Early Education
Gail Brown
Executive Director of Grace Early Education
B.A., LeTourneau University
Gail has worked at the Grace Early Education Center since 2008 and has worked in the early education field for more than 35 years. Gail feels that she was called to work with younger children, and their pure hearts bring her so much joy! She is the proud mom of three adult children and seven grandchildren. Her children and grandchildren keep their families very busy. Gail enjoys anything outdoors, being around friends and loved ones laughing. Gail says Grace is her extended family. The staff and families love big, support each other in the good and hard times. She feels blessed to call Grace Community her home away from home.
Shanequa Fleming
Early Education
Shanequa Fleming
Early Education
Shanequa joined Grace Community School Early Education as a K4 Teacher in 2023. She received her Associates of Art degree from Northeast Community College and is completing her bachelor’s degree in Communications. She earned her Registered Behavioral Health Certificate. Shay has enjoyed working with children at the Andrew’s Center and Mentoring Alliance. She attends and is involved with her Church home, Church of the Pines.
Jessica Huddleston
Director of Curriculum & Instruction
Jessica Huddleston
Director of Curriculum & Instruction
M.S., Stephen F. Austin State University
Jessica has worked as a high school teacher since 2003. She has worked in the public schools and at Grace since 2013. Since 2018, she has served as Director of Curriculum & Instruction and the Purposeful Design Director (STEM) for K-12 grades. She has also served as the mathematics department chair, TAPPS Academic Coordinator, and TAPPS Mathematics Coach. Jessica received her bachelor’s degree in Mathematics from the University of Texas at Tyler and her master’s degree in Mathematics from Stephen F. Austin State University. Jessica and her husband, Craig, have a daughter, Randi, who attends school at Grace.
Amy-Katherine Kilkenny
Grace Early Education
Amy-Katherine Kilkenny
Grace Early Education
Rhonda Mladan
Director of Early Education, Lindale
Rhonda Mladan
Director of Early Education, Lindale
Rhonda joined the Grace Early Education team in 2010 as the Director of Early Education in Lindale. She has been in the field of early childhood since 1977. Rhonda taught in the classroom setting until acquiring her CDA in 1986. She is blessed with two children and four grandchildren that call her “Sassy.” Since Rhonda began her career in early childhood education, she has seen lots of children come and go. She has had the privilege and the blessing of raising multiple generations of children in the East Texas area. Rhonda knows that children are a gift from God and believes that she is blessed to share the love of a child each day!
Victoria Spencer
Director of Daily Operations of Grace Early Education
Victoria Spencer
Director of Daily Operations of Grace Early Education
Victoria joined the Grace EEC-Tyler team in 2013. She began working with children at an early age; her first job was at a local gym and then expanded to babysitting and nannying for those families. After graduating from high school, she coached volleyball and mentored girls in elementary, middle school, and high school. Victoria was fortunate to stay at home with her son for almost two years after he was born. Then, when she returned to work, she chose Grace EEC and said the community blesses them. Her son attends Grace Community School.
INTERESTED IN ENROLLING? START HERE!
Choosing the right childcare center for your child is a really big decision.
What’s most important to you? Is it a flexible schedule? Plenty of playtime and learning? Christian values? There’s a lot to consider when thinking about your child’s first introduction to the classroom environment.
We believe children are never too young to start learning, exploring, and discovering. From infants all the way up to our pre-k classrooms, we provide a solid educational and biblical foundation. With two teachers in every classroom, our faculty and staff not only make lessons engaging and fun, they also model Christian values and set a positive example for little learners.
We want to be sure we’re the right fit for your family. At Grace Early Education, our enrollment process begins with a tour — in-person or over the phone. We want the opportunity to get to know you and for you to get to know us. Every family is unique and a conversation will help us determine how we can best meet your specific needs.
Here are three easy steps for enrolling at Grace Early Education:
| 1. SCHEDULE YOUR TOUR | 2. PUT YOUR NAME ON A WAITING LIST | 3. ENROLL |
|---|---|---|
| Fill out the Schedule a Tour form for our Tyler or Lindale location and be on the lookout for an email from us. | Classes at Grace Early Education fill up quickly! Once you decide we’re the right childcare center for your child, we encourage you to put your name on our waiting list and pay the $25 fee. | You’ll be able to enroll once we can ensure space in the classroom is available. Grace Early Education accepts new students year-round. |