By Jennifer Kiilerich
In 2021, Kathleen Seabolt, executive director, Vanderbilt Child & Family Center , founded the Owls kindergarten as a pilot program at The Acorn School, which provides care for young children of Vanderbilt University faculty and staff. By embracing a whole-child, play-based pedagogy with an emphasis on nature learning, Owls has rooted itself in the community as a place for children to thrive. Soon, it will have a new permanent home at another esteemed Vanderbilt site for early learning.
Beginning in the fall of 2026, Owls will migrate across campus to join the Susan Gray School, Vanderbilt's inclusive pre-school that is part of Vanderbilt Peabody College of education and human development. "The move allows current families in Susan Gray to seamlessly continue into kindergarten if they choose," said Katherine Newman, director of the Susan Gray School. "We will have spots for students with disabilities and a dedicated special education teacher."
"It has been a privilege to collaborate with teachers Nea McKeehan and Bryan O'Callahan and all the helpful hands within the Vanderbilt Child and Family Center to create a program like Owls for Nashville families," said Seabolt. "Innovation like this is possible only when an institution encourages it. I deeply appreciate Vanderbilt University, and specifically the Division of Administration and People, Culture, and Belonging, for resourcing this research-to-practice pilot. Gratitude to Katherine Newman and her excellent team for welcoming the Owls to continue their story with the Susan Gray School!"
The Susan Gray School serves nearly 200 children through its school-based program and its community outreach arm, with small classes that support typically developing children alongside children with disabilities.
With the support of key donors including Kelly Finan Richards, BS'09, her husband Jeff Finan Richards, and Roy and Margrey Thompson, among others, the learning environment, located at Peabody College, will be updated to give kindergarteners direct access to a meadow from their outdoor classroom. The improvements will provide an expansive homebase for nature-fueled learning.
This active educational experience "builds on kids' desire to be hands-on and their ability to understand complex life cycles," said Newman. For example, they might study cicadas by collecting them from a meadow, and then reading, writing and conducting science based around the insect. Teachers implement engaging, exploration-driven learning while also meeting Tennessee state standards so that children are prepared to enter first grade upon completion of the school year.
"Joy and play are powerful values to frame a developmentally effective pedagogy," said Seabolt. "The Owls program has shown that play is no constraint to fully meeting academic content standards."
As part of Peabody College, Susan Gray is also a hub for research and teacher training. The addition of a kindergarten program will allow for the extension of existing longitudinal studies, more student teaching and practicum positions, and the ability to support early elementary scholars at Peabody.
"Kathleen Seabolt has done a phenomenal job in establishing and developing the Owls kindergarten program. It offers a unique and impactful learning environment, and we are thrilled to bring it to the Susan Gray School where it can continue to flourish," said Newman.
