Waves of change
By Danny Gillham
Staff Reporter

Marilyn Tolbert will become the new director of KinderFrogs Tuesday, marking one of many changes the program has made in the last few months.

Tolbert said she came to KinderFrogs for two main reasons.

“I have a niece that has special needs,” Tolbert said. “That has always been where my
heart is. Plus I’m a TCU alum, graduate and undergraduate. The two were a winning combination for me.”

Formerly known as the Rise School, KinderFrogs is a center for children with Down syndrome and a small number of typically developing children.
KinderFrogs officially spilt from the Rise Program, which is based at the University of Alabama, in May. The Rise Program was investigated in April by Child Care Licensing on suspicion of abuse and neglect. No charges were filed, said interim director Sharon Hodges.

Former director Kathleen Spencer-Cooter, who stepped down in April, said she will now run the Starpoint School full time.

Sam Deitz, dean of education, said Tolbert’s background made her a good fit for KinderFrogs.

“She has a lot of experience in curriculum for children, and that is what we need,” Deitz said. “We wanted someone that was an educator and understood children and could help us prepare them for the next step in life.”

Deitz also said Tolbert will push the program to national accreditation from the National Association for the Education of Young Children.

KinderFrogs recently received certification through Texas to run on its own, but Deitz said the program needs the national recognition, as well.

“It’s a real important thing to do, and Marilyn has already done it three times at different places and was very successful,” Deitz said.

Hodges said KinderFrogs became independent because the Rise Program’s model held its education process back.

TCU programs, such as the Miller Speech and Hearing Clinic, are now at KinderFrogs’s fingertips, Hodges said.

“The educational resources that TCU provide enable us to provide different therapies, training and ideas to our children,” Hodges said. “That kind of early intervention is key in their development.”

The program was not allowed to receive certain donations under the Rise policy. After it announced its independence, the program received $25,000 from a nonprofit organization founded by members of Pi Kappa Phi fraternity.

Deitz said the Rise model didn’t agree with the current program having more special-needs students in the classrooms.

“We didn’t have enough full-time (typically developing) students according to Rise,” Deitz said. “We wanted to be able to have just a few part-time (typically developing) students because that’s really all we were getting.”

Martha Cook, director of the Rise Program at Alabama, said she is glad the program is keeping focus on children with special educational needs.

“I think it’s fantastic that KinderFrogs will still continue to serve children,” Cook said.

“There are many different models to choose from, and we are happy they are serving children because that is the most important thing.”

Tolbert said plans of her own for expanding the program.

“I have a background in science,” Tolbert said. “So I want to provide more discovery and inquiry opportunity for the kids. I’m also trying to push for a garden and a natural area as well.”

With all the different moves being made, expansion would seem to be next in line. However, Deitz said funding for a new building is not available.

“Right now we have two classrooms with about 20 children, and the budget is about $300,000,” Deitz said. “If we were to build four or five classrooms, the budget would be closer to $1 million. That would require tuition to be more than TCU, and that’s not feasible for parents looking to educate their young children.”

Even with all the changes in place, Deitz said he has high expectations.

“In the near future, I think KinderFrogs will be a place where people from all over the country come and visit to see what an excellent facility can be,” Deitz said. “To be a well-known national education center would be great for TCU, as well for the kids.”