St. James R-1 School District is proud to announce that Tiger Cubs Preschool has earned a Demonstrating Quality Designation through the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s (DESE) Quality Assurance Report process.
Across Missouri, 404 preschool programs were assessed through the process. Of those, 234 met the quality instruction thresholds to move forward. Tiger Cubs Preschool went on to earn the state’s Demonstrating Quality Designation.
The DESE Quality Assurance Report is designed to help early childhood programs examine and strengthen the quality of the learning experiences they provide. The process looks at areas such as teacher-child interactions, classroom environments, instructional practices, professional development, curriculum, assessment, and family engagement.
For the Tiger Cubs team, the designation reflects the thoughtful work happening in preschool classrooms every day. Teachers create welcoming environments where young learners build relationships, develop new skills, explore ideas, and grow in confidence as they begin their school journey.
“I’m very proud of our early learning staff and the dedication they have shown throughout the QAR process,” said Elementary Assistant Principal Victoria Abel, who supported the Tiger Cubs team through the process. “Earning this designation reflects the hard work, collaboration, and commitment of our teachers to providing amazing learning experiences for our youngest learners.”
The QAR process also provides opportunities for programs to reflect on their practices, receive feedback, and continue strengthening the experiences they provide for children and families.
At St. James R-1, that work begins early. Through caring relationships and purposeful learning experiences, Tiger Cubs Preschool is helping build a strong foundation for students as they begin their educational journey.
Congratulations to our Tiger Cubs Preschool team on this well-deserved recognition!