Teachers Make The Difference At DPSCD’s Kindergarten Programs

Teachers are real life superheroes and we’re so grateful for their work in our community. Detroit Public Schools Community District (DPSCD) has some of the best teachers who are ready to meet your child where they’re at and help them grow from kindergarten to graduation.

For Detroit Public Schools Community District (DPSCD) teacher Ceceila Ly, teaching kindergarten age children has always been a passion for her in her 20 plus years of being an educator. “I feel I can always help them,” said Ly, referring to her kindergarten students. “They are little children that need that beginning, whether it is learning to express themselves, working with others, learning to be responsible or building relationships,” said Ly, who has successfully shared her craft for a nearly a decade at DPSCD’s Bennett Elementary School. “I can make a big difference.”

Indeed. As a district, DPSCD recognizes what an amazing time kindergarten is for your child and for you as a parent. In the DPSCD kindergarten classroom, we use this opportunity to build upon your child’s natural curiosity to guide their learning experiences. The District uses purposeful materials, language and lessons to address each child as an individual as well as provide the type of support they need as they learn and develop a new concept or skill, a method in education known as scaffolding. DPSCD kindergarten educators such as Ly are focused on the whole child, one of the District’s priorities, to prepare them not only for kindergarten success but also to be lifelong learners.

In addition to the classroom experience, DPSCD provides opportunities to help your child get ready for kindergarten. Programs such as Kindergarten Bootcamp, held in the summer months, provide a runway to prepare. Also, through the District’s Early Childhood office, DPSCD offers free early childhood education options (Pre-K) for children who are four years of age on December 1 of a given calendar year. DPSCD also has a comprehensive free Montessori learning program in several schools located in Detroit.

Something for everyone

While DPSCD expected most students to learn in person for the 2021-22 school year, a key takeaway from the pandemic is that for some students, virtual learning may provide a needed alternative to the traditional brick-and-mortar learning environment. As a result, the District is operating a standalone Virtual School (K-12) for students that includes kindergarten. And thanks to the passion, ingenuity and creativity of Virtual School kindergarten teacher Cassandra Reed, her online kindergarten students are getting the social and emotional connection they need while learning online.

With the support of her colleagues as well as the District’s Professional Development (PD) programs, Reed provides her kindergartners the socialization portion of the curriculum that is so vital. Online features such as “Break Out Rooms” as well as using “Talk to Text” features in the chat box, has enabled Reed to build relationships with her students and their families. Reed has had several endearing moments that are testaments to her passion for teaching, something she recognized in her youth when she took attendance by counting her stuffed animals.

“When I first started, I mailed out my very first birthday card to one of my students,” she recalled. “He (the student) stopped the entire class once his mom brought him the mail and held up the card for all to see,” said Reed. In another instance, her students sent her heart emojis, saying, “I love you Ms. Reed”, as she was logging off one day. “I started to tear up, because sometimes as a teacher, I forget just how powerful an impact I can make, even on the other side of a computer screen.”

Rise Up with DPSCD!

Whether in person with teachers such as Ceceila Ly or in the new Virtual School with teachers such as Cassandra Reed, DPSCD is ready to serve you and your kindergartner and help lay the foundation for their social, emotional, and educational development.