Hope springs youthful

Christine Carrillo

Hope sparked the vision for a program that would ensure preschool-age

students health, opportunities, preparation and education.

In February, the Newport-Mesa Unified School District transformed

that vision into a reality at the Harper Education Center in Costa

Mesa.

The visionary was Jane Garland, the communications and special

project coordinator for the district. Her inspiration was her

8-year-old granddaughter, Hope.

Using her granddaughter’s good education as an example of what all

children should experience, Garland worked with a team to establish

the HOPE School Readiness Program for all beginning students.

“Every child is going to benefit from having this experience,”

said Lorie Hoggard, Harper director of early childhood education.

On Wednesday, as part of the national celebration of the Week of

the Young Child, district and school officials gathered at the

re-invented Harper Preschool to experience a bit of the educational

innovation that has been in the works for the past few years.

“We have our Hope in our lives ... and we understand that some

children are born privileged, but they should all have the same

beginning,” Garland said. The district paid for the preschool with

money from a state preschool grant the district received in August.

The school, a first in Orange County, will serve about 240

mainstream and special education students.

“It’s been amazing to see the interaction between them,” said

Taylor Yurada, “We’ve really seen some of our special ed students

come out more. It’s their first time in school, so they’re all

striving to learn.”

Officials say that bringing the students together on one campus,

and in some cases in the same classroom, will provide them with

opportunities to interact with one another and develop their social

skills.

“Our purpose was to provide a place where kids could go and

develop those developmental skills that they’ll need to grow,” Supt.

Robert Barbot said. “Nothing is more critical than those skills

they’ll develop here.”

That belief has been the driving force since the beginning.

“We’ve dreamt about this for so long,” Trustee Serene Stokes said.

“If this is really the only legacy we leave behind, I’ll be happy.”

That happy feeling filled the air Wednesday and the hope for the

school’s success was shared among nearly everyone there.

“I knew it was about little kids,” Hope said. “I want them to have

a good life and make a lot of money, ... and have kids, and the

process will go on, and on.”