News & Announcements
UNLV Announces $10 Million Gift to Expand Campus Preschool
UNLV Preschool plans expansion after $10 million donation
‘A hidden gem’: UNLV will expand preschool with $10M donation
UNLV preschool to expand with $10 million donation
UNLV donor's $10 million gift going towards expanding campus preschool
"City Cast Las Vegas" Episode Coverage
How UNLV’s preschool could shape education statewide
Interactive Conceptual Floor Plan
A safe, inclusive environment for children to grow
Premiere Naming Opportunities
Jessica Morales Alvarez is a mom who’s pulled a dozen directions. She's a full-time clinical substance abuse counselor, mom to a two-year-old, caretaker to her parents, and full-time student earning a master's degree in clinical mental health counseling.
Jessica has no time to spare.
When serious illness struck her caregiving network, she debated taking a break from UNLV to focus on work and family demands – a decision many student-parents face during their academic careers.
Fortunately, the UNLV/CSUN Preschool at the Lynn Bennett Early Childhood Education Center (LBECEC) and a federally funded grant are helping Jessica stay on track for her degree and a better future for her family. She's able to focus on her studies, knowing her daughter, Zuri-Anahi, is learning and growing with great on-campus caregivers.
Jessica also takes advantage of the preschool's wraparound resources, including seminars on handling challenging behaviors, time management, stress relief, and mindfulness.
New Classroom Naming Opportunities
Existing Classroom Naming Opportunities
He was a natural from the start. In 2017, Carl Esteban walked into the UNLV/CSUN Preschool at the Lynn Bennett Early Childhood Education Center (LBECEC) doors as a student worker. In 2022, he walked out with two degrees and a title - Nevada Early Childhood Educator of the Year. That's no small feat.
“I never thought I would be a prekindergarten head teacher,” he says. “But not just that, a male prekindergarten teacher of color." Mr. Carl (as his students know him) took charge of his own classroom in 2019.
As an advocate for inclusion, he worked tirelessly to create a welcoming environment and positive learning experience for his diverse students and their families. Have no doubt, he's laser-focused on making a positive impact on every child he works with. He's also confident that he can drive positive change in early childhood special education.
“It’s the simple, yet meaningful moments that really stand out.
I want young children to know that they should never put limits on themselves.”
- Carl Esteban
Former UNLV/CSUN Preschool teacher and 2022 Nevada Early Educator of the Year
Over the course of 23 years, Yamila de Oliveria has affected hundreds of young lives as an educator at the UNLV/CSUN Preschool at the Lynn Bennett Early Childhood Education Center.
Yamila started her teaching career in 2000, when she was midway through her undergraduate program. She loved it so much, she never left. When preschool administrators saw her potential, they quickly gave her a classroom of her own where, both she and her students,
are constantly growing.
She drew her initial inspiration from her mother, who was a teacher in her native Argentina. Yamila's family put her on a path to a classroom, both as a teacher and as a student, as she earned a master's degree in early childhood special education in 2006.
Much like her students, Yamila loves the preschool because it offers so many opportunities to continually grow here. She's led the pre-K classroom for years, but is always looking for ways to enhance her curriculum and trying new things.
Watching the preschool grow from a six-classroom operation to its current space was exciting, but she's even more excited about the prospect of doubling the space, more outdoor play areas, and making room for the more students on their waiting list, which often stretches to more than 200 families in need of care.
"At the preschool, our preservice and in-service teacher candidates collaborate with diverse students and mentor teachers and become innovative, solutions-oriented professionals who are prepared to tackle a variety of complex situations."
- Joseph Morgan
Associate Professor Joseph Morgan, Early Childhood, Multilingual, and Special Education Department Chair
New Family & Admin
Existing Family & Admin. Space
Demographic Population
UNLV/CSUN Preschool at the Lynn Bennett Early Childhood Education Center (LBECEC)
Annual Status Assessment Report
New Outdoor Spaces
Existing Outdoor Spaces
Lynn Bennett Early Childhood Education Center
Report of Activities 2021-2023
of our children are
students of color
The preschool fosters an environment that celebrates the diversity of its students. About half of our children are students of color, a quarter of which identify as Hispanic/Latinx and more than a quarter of students speak languages other than English.
teacher candidates collaborate
with us yearly
Educator preparation has been a cornerstone of the preschool since day one. Every year, about 60 preservice and in-service teacher candidates collaborate with diverse students and mentor teachers.
Research Studies
Supported
Understanding how we learn is as important as what we learn. We’ve supported more than 26 research studies in special education, early childhood education, psychology, and physical therapy and partnerships.
Summary of Community Engagement
Spring 2021:
Total Families/Children Served
Spring/Fall 2022:
Total Families/Children Served
Current/Renewed MOUs:
Clark County School District
Current/Renewed MOUs:
Therapy Management Group
Center Personnel
UNLV head staff members
CCSD staff
UNLV student workers, part-time
Donor Wall
On behalf of our preschool students and their families, we thank the following individuals and organizations for their generous support. In addition to helping us fund the expanded space and infrastructure, they are helping us expand research opportunities, provide early assessment and intervention services, and support the next generation of early childhood and special education professionals.
Anonymous
Megan Graham
Craig L. Jackson, Jr.
Caitlyn Lopez
Jennifer Oshiro
Ingrid Perez
Wayne Pirtle
Ariana Zarate
We are excited about the impact the expanded facility will have on the Las Vegas community as we seek to provide a quality education for future generations. Your support will establish our preschool as the preeminent early childhood facility in Las Vegas.
Please note that any naming opportunity can be secured via a multi-year philanthropic pledge.
Please complete this form, and we will provide more information. We cannot thank you enough for your time, interest, and support.
Your gift will forever change the lives of the children that enter our doors!
