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June 30, 2008

Primrose School opens in Edmond

Patty Miller

EDMOND — Teachers at Primrose School recently finished a week of in-service training just in time for their opening Monday.

Primrose School, owned by Sharon and Jon Tanner, is the first Oklahoma franchise for a nationwide group.

“Jon’s brother owns two Primrose schools in Houston, and my passion is the little ones,” Sharon Tanner said. “His brother said we might want to look at his schools with the thought of starting one here.”

Sharon Tanner said the minute they walked into the school they knew they were interested.

“Their trademark is consistency from the minute you open the door,” Sharon Tanner said, “and they make sure you continue that consistency for the children by providing each child with a secure, nurturing and educational child care experience.

“They told us a story about a 3-year-old who attended a Primrose School in Georgia, where the school concept first started,” Sharon Tanner said. “His family moved to Florida, and he didn’t want to leave his school and his teacher. When he got out of the car at his new school, another Primrose School, he said, ‘My Primrose’. That tells you something about the consistency.”

The school was the idea of Jo Kirchner, a female entrepreneur in Atlanta who wanted to make a difference, Jon Tanner said.

Children 6 weeks of age through pre-kindergarten may attend the school and active teaching begins at the age of 6 weeks.

Teachers sing, read, help children focus from left to right and play classical music to the infants.

Curriculum is added to the day as the child progresses in age. Children learn to use sign language and a foreign language.

“We have a strong emphasis on technology and music,” Sharon Tanner said. “You have to see it to believe it.”

Their balanced curriculum is child initiated and teacher directed, she said.

“We encourage our children to learn through self-discovery and a love of learning. We want to help establish a foundation for lifelong learning and success.”

As part of a national chain, everything in the school as well as the outside of the building is consistent in looks as well as philosophy.

“Everything from curriculum to the color and types of flooring has been piloted and tested before being used in the schools,” said Mecca Johnson, executive director for professional development from Atlanta, Ga.

“We call our curriculum approach Balance Learning blending the two leading philosophies of teaching children,” Johnson said. “One of those philosophies endorses a child-initiated approach, in which children are free to explore their individual interest with teacher support.

“The other places a greater emphasis on teacher direction, where an established curriculum leads children along a consistent learning path.”

Johnson was part of the training team brought in to lead the teachers in the Edmond Primrose School’s training program.

“Our focus is to mentor the teachers so they have the training to be the kind of people we want to care for our children,” Johnson said. “We want this place to be an extension of the home where the children are nurtured as well as educated.”

A private pre-school, Primrose School has a capacity for 180 students with lead teachers and assistant lead teachers in charge of the children during the day.

There also is an extended care program for children kindergarten through sixth-grade through their Explorers program. The program takes place before and after school, all day during the summer and holidays.

The director is Alyson Burkhart, assistant director is Glenna Allison and operations consultant is Donna Michalik.

Primrose School is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools as well as North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement. The school also must pass 50 standards set by the corporate office to be accredited.





PRIMROSE SCHOOL is at 15000 N. Western Ave. For more information,, call 285-6787.

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