Early Learning Campus: New Campus, Same Mission, One Legacy

by: Madi Bixler

On June 1, joined by city officials, students, parents, faculty, and staff, Legacy Christian Academy celebrated the acquisition of its new Early Learning Campus (ELC) with an official ribbon-cutting ceremony. The campus, located on Lebanon, west of the Dallas North Tollway, opened in August, ready to serve students in Pre-K 3 through Junior Kindergarten. Kindergarten classrooms will join the ELC for the 2023–24 academic year.

As Legacy continues to experience a schoolwide surge in enrollment, this new facility is ideal. Sitting on three acres, the building contains 14 classrooms that are designed for early childhood learning. It also houses a library, a technology/ robotics center, a music room, a gymnasium, a health clinic, a laundry room, and a catering kitchen. Students especially enjoy the expansive playgrounds, a greenhouse, and garden areas! The Early Learning Campus is just a few minutes from our primary campus, providing families with the same access to all of LCA’s resources. The space is well-equipped and age-appropriate. Says Kristen Falatko, the mother of two LCA students, Emersyn (Kindergarten) and Remington (Pre-K 3), “From the moment we walked in, we could tell there was a significant amount of time and energy that had been put into making us feel at home. It has already exceeded our expectations.” Mrs. Falatko describes LCA as a village that partners with her and her husband in raising their children. “It’s a big deal to know that the ELC is a place of comfort to nurture our kids, “she says. “There’s a cohesiveness — something greater than just ‘school.’”

Board of Trustees member Trent Wood signs his name on the ribbon

Head of School Kevin Mosley says God’s will was deeply sought by LCA leadership regarding the acquisition of the building. “The Early Learning Campus was a gift from the Lord,” he says. “He brought it to us.”

With LCA at 97 percent enrollment and expanding rapidly, it became evident that the school needed a specialized place to grow and develop little leaders at the Pre-K level. “During COVID,” says Mr. Mosley, “we saw the community trend toward private education.” Most Christian schools are structured like an “inverted pyramid,” he says, “that is, with more upper school and middle school students than those who are younger. We believe that with the use of the Early Learning Campus,” he says, “LCA will resemble more of a cylinder, so we can welcome the same numbers of younger students as we do in the Upper and Middle Schools.”

Says Tiffany McCollum, Lower School principal, “Quite simply, this new campus will enable us to reach more children and teach them about Jesus.”

“Though it’s another campus,” says Mr. Mosley, “we’re still Legacy. We have one vision and one school, and that vision of building strong leaders with biblical convictions hasn’t changed.”

Just as LCA has a north campus for Upper School students, the school remains integrated. “We’ve made it a priority to stay connected with the other divisions at the main campus,” says Mrs. McCollum. “Our little Eagles will attend pep rallies, for example, and the Homecoming parade, and football players assist us with Friday-morning carlines. We’ve also continued our Early Ed Intern program, for Upper School students who aspire to become teachers.” As Jeremiah 17:7–8 reminds us, a tree planted by water bears fruit and does not wither. “Our goal is to ground our children in faith, so they’re prepared for scorching times,” Mr. Mosley says. By “planting” students near “streams of living water,” LCA prepares them to bear spiritual fruit in times of cultural drought, when truth is relative and Christian values are villainized.

At the ELC, parents can be sure their children’s teachers have the same values — a biblical worldview within the context of a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Says Kristen Falatko: “Who we are as LCA is replicated at the ELC. As parents, we know that Christian values are showing up there every day.”

L to R: Trent Wood, Bill McGee, Kevin Mosley, Nicole Franks, and Jeff Owens

Members of the Frisco Chamber add their names for the ribbon cutting

“Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.”