St. John Christian Preschool Unable to Open for 2026-27 School Year

Dear St. John Congregation,

It is with deep sadness that we share that St. John Christian Preschool will not open for the upcoming school year (2026-27) and closed effective Friday, August 14, 2026.

Over the past three months, we worked hard to prepare for the new year and were excited to refocus our program on kindergarten readiness. However, ongoing staffing challenges made it impossible to move forward.

In late May, our director announced she would be leaving to stay home with her growing family. We hired a new director who began in early July, but on her first day our lead teacher resigned. Although we interviewed several strong candidates, two ultimately declined after initially expressing interest. Then, in early August, our new director informed us that her family would be relocating out of state. Without a director or lead teacher—and with the school year approaching—we could not safely or responsibly operate the program.

We know this has been incredibly difficult for our families, and we agonized over this decision. Once it became clear we could not staff the preschool, our focus shifted to how the church could support families during this transition.

To help, the church created a three‑week End of Summer Vacation Bible School running August 17–September 4, led by preschool board members, church staff, and volunteers. With a current teacher, a retired teacher, and a retired preschool principal on the board, we anticipate a smooth experience. Families have already expressed gratitude for this option.

Our congregation deeply believes in this ministry, and we are heartbroken not to open this year. We hope this will be a temporary closure. The board will regroup in October to discuss the preschool’s future and will continue to keep the congregation informed.

Thank you for your years of support and encouragement. Board members are available by phone or email for any questions.

Sincerely, 

St. John Christian Preschool Board