How Parker-Chase Preschool in Carrollton Helped a Girl Find Her Voice

Until Evelyn was almost two years old, she spent her days with her mother, Mary, who worked remotely from home. With her older son already in a preschool program, Mary couldn’t afford a double tuition bill, so like many parents around the country, she relied on YouTube videos to keep her daughter entertained while she worked from home. 

But as time passed, Evelyn’s language skills were not where they should have been. She could say a few words but rarely used them and didn’t use any complete phrases. She wasn’t speaking on the level most children nearing the age of 2 should be at, and she mainly used American Sign Language (ASL) to communicate (these videos were among her favorites to watch). Evelyn was bright, social, and engaged but wasn’t speaking. Mary was worried.

Concerned about her daughter’s language development, Mary wasn’t sure if the delay was due to being home all day or if something deeper was at play. She researched preschools and asked if they could focus on Evelyn’s language development. Some schools said they couldn’t promise that. But when Mary called Parker-Chase Preschool in Carrollton, she found a team of compassionate teachers who were happy to help.

From Signs to Sentences

“From the first visit, I knew Parker-Chase was the right place,” Mary said. “They really cared about communicating with her on the level she understood and bringing her language skills to where they needed to be.”

Although they started with sign language, the Parker-Chase teachers quickly got Evelyn to develop her verbal skills. She began pairing words with signs—saying “more” while signing it and naming animals while using their corresponding signs. Over time, her confidence grew, and so did her vocabulary.

“Mom told us how she was familiar with sign language, and it was such an amazing feeling to see her smile when we used ASL with her when she was struggling in class,” said Lisa Salazar, an Assistant Teacher who worked closely with Evelyn. “This is the true meaning of teaching, and we’ve seen Evelyn go through different obstacles and many achievements to get where she is now. It was such a wonderful experience to see Evelyn grow into the happy toddler she is now.”

A Decision That Made All the Difference

Just five months later, Evelyn is “talking all the time,” Mary said, and has progressed to the Toddler 2 class. 

“Evelyn showed both social and emotional growth during her time in our Toddler 1 classroom,” said Kim Groban, an Assistant Teacher who also worked with Evelyn. “As she experienced the routine and safety of a caring environment, she became better able to transition from activity to activity and was more open to new experiences. She continues to grow and learn in the Toddler 2 classroom. It is a joy to see her thrive.”

Today, Evelyn is a confident, chatty toddler who loves learning, playing, and expressing herself in new ways every day. For Mary, enrolling Evelyn at Parker-Chase was more than just finding a preschool—it was giving her daughter the foundation she needed to succeed.

“Going to Parker-Chase was one of the best decisions I’ve made as a mom,” Mary said.