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The Grove School, a new preschool located in Plano, Texas, and Cary, North Carolina, has officially opened its doors to offer children in these communities exceptional educational opportunities. By incorporating education about organic foods and social responsibility with early reading and writing skills, The Grove School integrates its unique healthy mind, healthy body and healthy planet philosophy into every aspect of its preschool activities and learning environment.

The Grove School prepares children ages 2 to 5 for both today and the future, providing an extensive curriculum that offers them a head start on understanding our quickly evolving world. In fact, after extensive research, a group of professionals with more than 35 years of expertise in early childhood education discovered that many parents nationwide were seeking a preschool that includes both traditional early learning curriculum and instruction in social purpose and a healthy lifestyle to deliver a high-quality and well-rounded education. The Grove School goes beyond serving organic food and using sustainable products to fully implement its overarching philosophy in every element, from curriculum and materials to types of activities and models for the way the children interact with one another, parents and their community.

The Heads of The Grove School, Dr. Scott Andersen and Wendy DeSpain, bring years of educational experience to the schools and are set to lead these inaugural locations with their teams of talented and motivated teachers. As its leaders, they embrace the school’s mission and play an active role in the parents’ and children’s experience, employee growth and school development. The Heads of School are also very involved in the day-to-day supervision of the school staff, providing constant and consistent guidance that maps to the school’s unique principles.

“The Grove School openings offer an exciting start in education, focused on our healthy mind, body, and planet philosophy, to children 2 to 5 years old, said Ty Durekas, president, The Grove School. “Our Heads of Schools, along with their teaching staff, are prepared and motivated to offer children a sustainable learning environment with research-based curriculum focusing on nutrition and a sense of community, as well as the structure and concepts presented in traditional elementary schools.”

“We are excited to provide a dynamic, educational and innovative environment for children at The Grove School,” said Dr. Scott Andersen, Cary’s Head of School, The Grove School. “We look forward to the benefits each child will receive from the excellent academic preparation we can offer them.”

“Being involved in the development of The Grove School has been an enlightening experience, and I am excited to introduce children to this unique and well-rounded curriculum and learning environment,” said Wendy DeSpain, Plano’s Head of School, The Grove School. “One of our greatest goals is to prepare children for K-12 education, and with this combination of traditional curriculum and social purpose and healthy lifestyle education, we know our students will be ready to continue learning and becoming productive members of their communities.”

John oversees public relations for the school. For 20 years he's been helping global consumer brands, non-profits and high-tech companies engage in meaningful conversations.

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The Grove School has announced the Head of School at each of our locations. Dr. Scott Andersen and Wendy DeSpain will be joining the Cary and Plano schools, respectively, bringing with them extensive experience in education and passion for the school’s healthy mind, healthy body, healthy planet philosophy and dedication to educational excellence.

After an in-depth interview process, The Grove School identified two credentialed individuals to lead its inaugural locations. In the Head of School role, Dr. Andersen and DeSpain will support The Grove School and the guiding principles behind its philosophy. The leadership position requires both visionary and managerial abilities, as its leaders embrace the school’s mission and play an active role in the parent and children’s experience, employee growth and school development. The Head of School will also be very involved in the day-to-day supervision of the school staff, providing constant and consistent guidance mapping to the school’s unique principles and goals.

Dr. Andersen’s qualifications include Ed.D., Ed.S. and M.S. degrees in literary science and educational technology, and a B.S. in computer science. He also taught Spanish, English, math and technology in public schools, was an adjunct professor of digital-video editing, and served as a principal and superintendent of several schools. With seven children of his own, Dr. Andersen is a natural educator and leader both at work and in his personal life. In addition to this extensive education experience, Dr. Andersen has also worked as a software developer and is an award-winning photojournalist.

After receiving her M.S. in elementary education, specializing in special education, her B.S. in interdisciplinary studies, focusing on reading in the teaching field and Principal’s Certificate, DeSpain has worked in various roles, from teacher to principal, within Plano’s school district. With 14 years in the field, DeSpain was most recently the No Child Left Behind coordinator in the Plano Independent School District in its Department of Assessment & Accountability. She was also a third grade teacher, as well as a science and math teacher to elementary students, involved with Plano Principal’s Association for several years as a Board member and President and assisted in curriculum development in Plano Independent School District. In addition to working with hundreds of children throughout Texas, DeSpain has three children of her own and 25 nieces and nephews.

“Both Scott and Wendy have varied, valuable and extensive experience in education,” said Ty Durekas, president, The Grove School. “We are confident as Head of School in the Cary and Plano locations, they will help us achieve our goals of offering parents and children a sustainable learning environment with research-based curriculum focusing on nutrition and a sense of community, as well as the structure and concepts presented in traditional elementary schools. We are excited to have these extremely credentialed leaders help bring The Grove School’s healthy mind, body and planet philosophy to the Plano and Cary communities.”

“Joining The Grove School team has been a wonderful and enlightening experience,” said Dr. Scott Andersen, Cary’s Head of School, The Grove School. “I am excited for the opportunity to work with such passionate and smart people. The enthusiasm among this group is contagious.”

“I have been immersed in education in Texas for the past 14 years and am thrilled to be a part of this innovative new preschool,” said Wendy DeSpain, Plano’s Head of School, The Grove School. “The combination of traditional curriculum with topics on social responsibility is an ideal learning environment for today’s children and will produce students well prepared for K-12 schooling. It is something for which I have great passion and can confidently support and advocate.”

John oversees public relations for the school. For 20 years he's been helping global consumer brands, non-profits and high-tech companies engage in meaningful conversations.

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