About
Discovery Tree and Arista Schools – Preschool Program offers a hands-on environment where children take part in open learning center times, moving from center to center and changing projects as their interests change. The program includes hands-on activities, art projects, and manipulatives, with child-sized tools and equipment set up at the child’s level. Children’s art is treated as open-ended work and is displayed where they can see and enjoy it.
• Ages: 2–6 years old
Discovery Tree and Arista Schools – Preschool Program is a preschool program for ages 24 months to 6 years with a 1:9 teacher/child ratio. The program uses mixed-age or “family” groupings that focus on ability rather than chronological age and balances teacher-directed times with open learning center times. The environment is described as child-centered, with an alternative “Reggio Inspired” and RIE philosophy developmental program that does not use regimented, highly structured activities such as dittos, worksheets, or workbooks. Children enrolled must be able to participate in every aspect of the day, with ADA reasonable accommodations for inclusion. Each site employs a full-time Program Director, and the Executive Team, which includes the Executive Director, Director of Operations, Regional Directors, and a Resource Coordinator, is directly involved daily and divides time between centers.
Discovery Tree and Arista Schools, Inc. was established in 1979 with the opening of the first center in Fair Oaks, California, and has added multiple sites over the years, including additional locations in Citrus Heights, downtown Sacramento, Elk Grove, and East Sacramento. The Arista Group/Schools were added in 2017 as “Sister Schools,” and another downtown location opened in 2020.
The leadership team includes Owner, CEO, Executive Director, and sole stockholder Alix Hall; Regional Director 1 Meghan Mara; and Regional Director 2 Corrin Ures. Ms. Hall holds a Bachelor’s Degree, Master’s studies in Child Development, College Instructional Credentials, and is an Early Childhood Educational Consultant. She has served on the Sacramento County Local Child Development Planning Council for eighteen years, contributes to World Forum Foundation committees on Multi-site Child Development Centers & Curriculum Development and CQEL/PACE Membership committee, and is Vice-President of the National Association for Early Learning Leaders (AELL), where she chairs the Executive Invitational and Corporate Partnership Alliance Committees. Regional Director 1 Meghan Mara has a BA in Psychology with a minor in Child Development and more than 20 years of experience, and Regional Director 2 Corrin Ures has more than 25 years of experience working with children.
Discovery Tree and Arista Schools state that their mission is for their learning centers to provide “Hands-On” learning environments and experiences that encourage the child to explore, investigate, and discover, and their vision is to merge work and play in a professional, creative environment that challenges both children and adults to be active and lifelong learners. The program states that it values the fact that all families and children are not the same, views each child as an individual with their own developmental needs, and tailors curriculum to meet those needs while nurturing social, emotional, physical, and cognitive areas of development. The program notes that it values play as the true work of children and teachers.
Discovery Tree and Arista Schools report that their alternative “Reggio Inspired” and RIE philosophy developmental program has been well received by the community. Ms. Hall’s long-term service on local and international committees is part of the program’s community involvement. One parent testimonial states, “We are very happy and look forward to many years at Discovery Tree.”
Last updated June 27, 2026.
• Ages: 2–6 years old
Discovery Tree and Arista Schools – Preschool Program is a preschool program for ages 24 months to 6 years with a 1:9 teacher/child ratio. The program uses mixed-age or “family” groupings that focus on ability rather than chronological age and balances teacher-directed times with open learning center times. The environment is described as child-centered, with an alternative “Reggio Inspired” and RIE philosophy developmental program that does not use regimented, highly structured activities such as dittos, worksheets, or workbooks. Children enrolled must be able to participate in every aspect of the day, with ADA reasonable accommodations for inclusion. Each site employs a full-time Program Director, and the Executive Team, which includes the Executive Director, Director of Operations, Regional Directors, and a Resource Coordinator, is directly involved daily and divides time between centers.
Discovery Tree and Arista Schools, Inc. was established in 1979 with the opening of the first center in Fair Oaks, California, and has added multiple sites over the years, including additional locations in Citrus Heights, downtown Sacramento, Elk Grove, and East Sacramento. The Arista Group/Schools were added in 2017 as “Sister Schools,” and another downtown location opened in 2020.
The leadership team includes Owner, CEO, Executive Director, and sole stockholder Alix Hall; Regional Director 1 Meghan Mara; and Regional Director 2 Corrin Ures. Ms. Hall holds a Bachelor’s Degree, Master’s studies in Child Development, College Instructional Credentials, and is an Early Childhood Educational Consultant. She has served on the Sacramento County Local Child Development Planning Council for eighteen years, contributes to World Forum Foundation committees on Multi-site Child Development Centers & Curriculum Development and CQEL/PACE Membership committee, and is Vice-President of the National Association for Early Learning Leaders (AELL), where she chairs the Executive Invitational and Corporate Partnership Alliance Committees. Regional Director 1 Meghan Mara has a BA in Psychology with a minor in Child Development and more than 20 years of experience, and Regional Director 2 Corrin Ures has more than 25 years of experience working with children.
Discovery Tree and Arista Schools state that their mission is for their learning centers to provide “Hands-On” learning environments and experiences that encourage the child to explore, investigate, and discover, and their vision is to merge work and play in a professional, creative environment that challenges both children and adults to be active and lifelong learners. The program states that it values the fact that all families and children are not the same, views each child as an individual with their own developmental needs, and tailors curriculum to meet those needs while nurturing social, emotional, physical, and cognitive areas of development. The program notes that it values play as the true work of children and teachers.
Discovery Tree and Arista Schools report that their alternative “Reggio Inspired” and RIE philosophy developmental program has been well received by the community. Ms. Hall’s long-term service on local and international committees is part of the program’s community involvement. One parent testimonial states, “We are very happy and look forward to many years at Discovery Tree.”
Last updated June 27, 2026.
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