Preschool

Preschool

Mountain Resource Center began preschool services to the community in August, 2024. With a successful first year we are excited to begin registration for the 2025/2026 school year for community three- and four-year-olds. 

How Our Program Works

  • Our Preschool is tuition-based. Total tuition for all students is $1,100 per month
  • Four-year-olds are all eligible for UPK funding which provides funding for half of each day of preschool
  • Four-year-old tuition costs the child’s parents or guardians $500 per month, because UPK covers the rest of the cost 
  • Three-year-olds are eligible for entry into the program at a tuition cost of $1,100 per month

To Begin:

Three-Year-Olds: Child must be three-years-old as of the start date of the school year they are applying for. Begin your three-year-old child’s application here!

Four-Year-Olds: Child must be four years old as of October 1st of the school year they are applying for. First, apply for Colorado’s UPK program for your four-year-old, then begin your four-year-old child’s application with Mountain Resource Center here!

June Summer Camp

Mountain Resource Center is excited offer Summer Camp for the third summer in a row. Back by popular demand, Summer Camp includes:

  • One week per family of camp for ages 6-8
  • Camp days are from 9am-3pm, Monday through Thursday
  • Week long camp sessions occur throughout the month of June

Each day brings a new topic, including 

  • Movement
  • Mindfulness
  • Arts
  • Music
  • Social/Emotional
  • Connecting with new friends

Please check back for open registration in March, 2025.

Preschool is Still going for 2024/2025

Mountain Resource Center's preschool continues to accept 3-year-old and 4-year-old students for the rest of the 2024/25 school year. This year remains at no cost to families.

We offer preschool classes for children who are ages 3 and 4 who meet eligibility requirements. Age eligibility cut off is October 1st of the year entering school.

Incredible Years parent children group classes at the Mountain Resource Center in Colorado

Hours of Preschool Operation

Monday - Thursday
8:15am-3:15pm

You will love our program! We offer:

  • Experienced Staff: Between them, our director and assistant director have over 50 years of combined experience working professionally with young children. They are passionate about creating a positive learning environment, nurturing young minds, and addressing the whole child’s needs. (See our staff biographies, below.)
  • Curriculum: Not only do we use the research-based Creative Curriculum, designed to build children’s confidence, creativity, and critical thinking skills, we also teach the Al’s Pals social and emotional curriculum to help your little ones learn to regulate their own emotions and behavior, and to be resilient to life’s challenges. 
  • Fully Licensed: We want the safest possible environment for your little one! We are fully licensed and up to code. We are committed to training our staff above and beyond licensing requirements, and all of staff members have extra credentials. Your child’s safety and education will be in good hands!  
  • Small Class Sizes: We believe in personalized attention. With small class sizes, each child gets the individualized support they need to thrive.

Introducing Our STAFF

Carla Keitlen, Preschool Director. A blond-haired white woman wearing a blue top, holding up a book as if reading to children.

Carla Keitlen, Preschool Director 

Carla began her career in the early education field in 1997. For twenty years, she worked as a preschool educator at Wilmot Elementary. During this time, she attained her Director of Large Childcare Facilities Certificate at Red Rocks Community College, graduating summa cum laude. In 2013, Carla began working as a family educator at the Mountain Resource Center where she was responsible for leading early childhood classes and facilitating parent support and curriculum-based classes. In 2021, Carla was promoted to Lead Parent Educator, supervising the home visitation program, Parents as Teachers. She has also led the Incredible Years and Circle of Parent programs. In April 2024, Carla accepted the position of Mountain Resource Center Preschool Director. With her experience and passion for early learning, Carla is excited to provide oversight of the newly opening Preschool Program. 

Carla developed an interest in early childhood while helping in her children’s preschool classes 29 years ago. She found children’s views and discoveries so fun that she never left. She is so inspired by this field that she cannot stop learning and has continued to take early childhood classes from Metropolitan State Univ.  In her spare time, Carla paints (yes, occasionally adding glitter), hikes, travels, cheers loudly for her alma mater, The Ohio State University and golfs. 

Leslie Johnson, Preschool Assistant Director 

Leslie became a preschool educator at The Mountain Child Preschool in 1998. She continued teaching while getting her AA in psychology from Red Rocks Community College and later transferring to Metropolitan State University. At Metro, she focused her studies on child psychology and elementary education. However, the love of preschool proved too strong, as she has spent most of her career teaching preschool. Leslie has worked in early childhood for over 25 years. Her experience includes four years as a director, special education paraprofessional, camp lead teacher. She has been a preschool educator for 14 years, including 7 years of teaching at Elk Creek Preschool. She is excited to join the Mountain Resource Center Preschool, as the Assistant Director. Leslie brings a passion for educating children through kindness, fun, and play.  

As someone who grew up and lives in the mountain area, nature is important to Leslie. She enjoys hiking, camping, and exploring our beautiful mountains. Leslie is married, has a teenage daughter and two dogs. She and her family also enjoy riding bikes, traveling, and playing games together. On a quiet afternoon, Leslie enjoys sitting on her deck or gardening while listening to an audio book.  

Leslie Johnson, Mountain Resource Center Preschool Assistant Director. A white woman with long, dark hair and a purple top sits on the floor and shows a book as if she is reading to children.
Meredith Guthrie, Lead Preschool Teacher at Mountain Resource Center

Meredith Guthrie, Lead Preschool Teacher

In 2020, Meredith attained her Bachelor of Arts in Human Development and Psychology with a concentration in Holistic Health. In 2023 she was hired as a Family Educator at Mountain Resource Center, specializing in early childhood classes. Meredith’s approach to teaching has benefited the children and families of MRC’s Incredible Year/Circle of Children classrooms. During her time as an educator, Meredith has become certified to be a Preschool Lead Teacher, a Child’s Circle of Parent Leader and has completed Standards of Quality for Family Strengthening. In April 2024, Meredith accepted the Lead Teacher Position for the Mountain Resource Center Preschool. She looks forward to serving the children of the mountain community. 

In addition to Meredith’s work as a Preschool Teacher she has been a Healing Arts Practitioner in Boulder Colorado for the past 25 years and a Yoga Teacher since 2017. Meredith is passionate about supporting individuals, families, and children to cultivate peace and wellness in their life. She believes in the power of community and that it takes a village to raise children. Meredith is honored to be in a community setting that has welcomed her to be a part of their children’s education. She is a mom of two adult daughters and a soon to be grandmom. In her spare time, she loves spending time with family, traveling with her partner, hanging in the yard with her cat, enjoys gardening, nature, and cooking healthy foods. 

Lily Susmark, Paraprofessional and Community Engagement Associate

Lily has a very deep connection with Mountain Resource Center which started all the way back in the fall of 2017.  As a parent she took early childhood classes offered at MRC such as Incredible years, Circle of Parents and Parents as Teachers multiple times and the classes sparked an interest in Early Childhood Education. 

 Lily has been working at MRC since 2021. She oversaw front desk operations and provided administrative support to MRC’s Resale Store before moving to Early Childhood Education and Community Engagement. She greets all visitors to MRC and has a clear understanding of all programs and communicates about MRC’s current program offerings. Lily is fluent in English and Spanish and provides Spanish language support to and verbal translation for clients as needed.  

 When Lily is not at MRC she enjoys being in tune with nature and hiking as well as spending time with her husband, her two young children, and her 3 dogs. Some of her interests include Pilates and hiking in the mountains.   

Lily Susmark, Paraprofessional and Community Engagement Associate at Mountain Resource Center

We proudly partner with Macaroni Kids. You can find Mountain Resource Center events on their website.

Want to help?

Please consider donating to our preschool: