About
Explorer Parent Participation Preschool offers activities such as digging ditches, balancing on logs, painting masterpieces, serving tea, and sending trains to far off lands as part of its play-based environment.
• Ages: 12 months–pre-kindergarten
Explorer Parent Participation Preschool is a parent participation preschool with an NAEYC-accredited program that includes classes for children ages 12 months to pre-kindergarten taught by experienced and credentialed teachers in a diverse, educational, and welcoming atmosphere. Its mission is to honor each child's individual ability to learn through play and to empower parents to become child advocates at home and in their community. The school’s curriculum is guided by the California Preschool Learning Foundations, and it is accredited by the National Association for Education of Young Children (naeyc.org) and licensed by the State of California (Facility #434406736). Explorer Preschool is a non-sectarian non-profit organization that admits students and families of any race, color, gender identity, sexual orientation, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally made available to students at the school.
Explorer opened its doors on April 26, 1960, and has been in a supportive and enriching environment for over 60 years. Over its history, it has offered an afternoon Pre-K program for students who had completed the Mon/Wed/Fri class but were not yet old enough for Kindergarten, as well as a beloved outdoor program at Vasona County Park providing children with a unique nature experience. Konne Ainsworth created a class for two-year-olds, became Explorer’s director, and served as a teacher and director for 44 years until her retirement in 2020. Teacher Annie Deckert became Explorer’s director after being a teacher for 25 years and an Explorer parent prior to that. Earlier leaders included Kathi (Murry) Levin, who provided leadership as director and teacher and remained on staff until 1977, and Bev Tucker, who joined the staff and worked with Kathi until 1977.
Explorer Parent Participation Preschool is located in the Willow Glen community of San Jose and is part of a regional network of 14 co-op nursery schools known as the Santa Clara Valley Council of Parent Participation Preschools (SCVC), which is part of the California Council of Parent Participation Nursery Schools (CCPPNS). The goal of CCPPNS is to be a community of parents and educators committed to teaching and inspiring families through parent involvement and mutual support. Through daily interactions in the classroom, parent education classes, and collaboration with other parents, caregivers are given a platform to advance their skills alongside their children. The school’s playground has been remodeled to include a wooden play structure, a musical garden, water features, and sensory foliage, and a new outdoor classroom was dedicated in April 2004.
Last updated March 19, 2026.
• Ages: 12 months–pre-kindergarten
Explorer Parent Participation Preschool is a parent participation preschool with an NAEYC-accredited program that includes classes for children ages 12 months to pre-kindergarten taught by experienced and credentialed teachers in a diverse, educational, and welcoming atmosphere. Its mission is to honor each child's individual ability to learn through play and to empower parents to become child advocates at home and in their community. The school’s curriculum is guided by the California Preschool Learning Foundations, and it is accredited by the National Association for Education of Young Children (naeyc.org) and licensed by the State of California (Facility #434406736). Explorer Preschool is a non-sectarian non-profit organization that admits students and families of any race, color, gender identity, sexual orientation, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally made available to students at the school.
Explorer opened its doors on April 26, 1960, and has been in a supportive and enriching environment for over 60 years. Over its history, it has offered an afternoon Pre-K program for students who had completed the Mon/Wed/Fri class but were not yet old enough for Kindergarten, as well as a beloved outdoor program at Vasona County Park providing children with a unique nature experience. Konne Ainsworth created a class for two-year-olds, became Explorer’s director, and served as a teacher and director for 44 years until her retirement in 2020. Teacher Annie Deckert became Explorer’s director after being a teacher for 25 years and an Explorer parent prior to that. Earlier leaders included Kathi (Murry) Levin, who provided leadership as director and teacher and remained on staff until 1977, and Bev Tucker, who joined the staff and worked with Kathi until 1977.
Explorer Parent Participation Preschool is located in the Willow Glen community of San Jose and is part of a regional network of 14 co-op nursery schools known as the Santa Clara Valley Council of Parent Participation Preschools (SCVC), which is part of the California Council of Parent Participation Nursery Schools (CCPPNS). The goal of CCPPNS is to be a community of parents and educators committed to teaching and inspiring families through parent involvement and mutual support. Through daily interactions in the classroom, parent education classes, and collaboration with other parents, caregivers are given a platform to advance their skills alongside their children. The school’s playground has been remodeled to include a wooden play structure, a musical garden, water features, and sensory foliage, and a new outdoor classroom was dedicated in April 2004.
Last updated March 19, 2026.
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