Inspiration. It can be found through out the Dr. Sarah K. Jandrucko Academy for Early Learners. It’s where four-year-olds climb into a model rocket ship and watch real-life rocket launches and then cruise into the savanna on a wild safari ride. An environment created to engage and encourage children to touch, play, and explore.

"It’s structured around early childhood research and what it indicates is best for students and how they learn. Young students will interact with others and learn through play, and they’ll also learn by having these unique experiences that are everywhere.”

— Kristi Cobb, Director of Early Literacy for Mansfield Independent School District

The unique school is located in the small town of Mansfield, about 20 miles south of Fort Worth. The district’s goal for the pre-kindergarten program is to improve literacy and numeracy development at an early age and provide an education that will help early learners read on level or higher by the beginning of third grade. “

“Many pre-kindergarten centers focus on active, hands-on learning, but teachers are working overtime to create environments conducive to that type of learning. At the Academy for Early Learners, the environment and architecture of the building were designed specifically to facilitate active, explorative learning.”


Kristi Cobb, Director of Early Literacy for Mansfield Independent School District.

"One of the learning experiences is about the ocean so students and teachers climb into an interactive submarine where students will learn about different mammals and life underwater.”

— Jeff Brogden, Assoc. Superintendent of Facilities and Bond Programs

The 54,000 square-foot building resembles a hands-on children’s museum with dedicated themes that are carried out through décor and interactive exhibits. The learning environments are grouped into four main thematic pods and branch off into 16 distinct classroom environments. Students spend time exploring and learning about all aspects of life–from taking pets to the vet, igloos in the arctic, or how groceries make it to the shelves of a grocery store.

Mansfield ISD; Jandrucko Academy; Huckabee Architects; Bartlett Cocke GC

“It’s not like a traditional literacy center and not like a traditional school. One of the learning experiences is about the ocean so students and teachers climb into an interactive submarine where students will learn about different mammals and life underwater.”

Jeff Brogden, Assoc. Superintendent of Facilities and Bond Programs

In another pod, children will spend several weeks learning about space, and then walk back into prehistoric time where they can touch, learn, and dig, while a giant stegosaurus dinosaur peers on. When they cruise into the next room, they’ll learn about unique ways to travel with life-like models of a kayak, hot air balloon, and even a camper.

“Students are whisked into a classroom that takes them on an adventure from the moment that they walk in the door. Our thoughts on how early childhood education should look are not new—we’ve just been able to put it all together inside one building.”


Kristi Cobb, Director of Early Literacy for Mansfield Independent School District.

"At the end of the day, the Academy for Early Learners is essentially an interactive museum for children to learn while they play.”

— Katie Hill, Project Manager for Bartlett Cocke General Contractors

Creative concepts and plans were implemented with help from the leading educational contractor in the state, Bartlett Cocke General Contractors(BCGC). Construction on the school began in July of 2017 and was completed less than a year and half later.

Mansfield ISD; Jandrucko Academy; Huckabee Architects; Bartlett Cocke GC

BCGC Project Manager Katie Hill describes the collaboration effort needed to successfully deliver the museum level of quality envisioned by the district.

“We had a great design and construction team working on this project. Every team member understood the importance and community impact of this high-quality project and this message was transcended to each and every entity that was involved. With that, all parties came into this project knowing that it was going to be unlike any other project they had been a part of before. This mindset helped us achieve the vision and quality that the District was seeking. At the end of the day, the Academy for Early Learners is essentially an interactive museum for children to learn while they play.”

Katie Hill, Project Manager for Bartlett Cocke General Contractors

According to MISD, between 480-500 students will be able to enroll at Academy for Early Learners each year. The full day Pre-k will offer morning and afternoon sessions which will consist of 15-17 studentsper class, a teacher, and an instructional aide. The school will also open its doors to host field trips and other activities so that all students in the district have the opportunity to benefit from the facility.

“Our goal is to open our doors as often as possible while still honoring the learning environment. We’d like to share what we are doing with others, and hopefully encourage or inspire educators to think outside the box.”


Kristi Cobb, Director of Early Literacy for Mansfield Independent School District.