What started as a dream is now becoming a reality for Caitlin Gorman, as she opens up her own preschool this September.
Gorman is the owner and lead teacher at The Learning Cottage. She is taking a big leap of faith, as she describes it, by opening her own preschool in her home and giving young minds a warm, inviting space to learn and explore.
“I'm very intentional about providing a great education for these kids,” Gorman said. “I want there to be childcare that parents just know that I'm genuinely invested in their kids and trust me as soon as they drop their kids off. But I also want to provide a strong educational foundation.”
As a mother of three little ones, she wanted to be present for her family while continuing her love of teaching.
“I've always had this little bit of a dream, and I didn't think it would happen so soon,” Gorman said. “But it was like I kind of got that nudge and I went with it, after calling like every friend I know,” she said with a laugh.
Support from friends and family motivated her to pursue it.
In just four short months, her family transformed their storage and playroom into what is now her preschool before the first day on Tuesday.
“I had the vision, and my husband has worked very hard many nights and weekends to make it happen,” Gorman said. “... My kids have helped too, and that makes it even more special.”
She also expressed gratitude for the many people who gave her toys and items for the room.
Her background includes 15 years of public education experience, most of it in her hometown.
“I'm a third-generation Bearcat. … So it was very special to teach in Pilot Point ISD because it's the community that raised me,” Gorman said. “So I'm glad I got to give back in that way.”
She will be joined by preschool assistant Becky Buchanan, who brings experience with children as a paraprofessional, librarian and substitute teacher.
The Learning Cottage also has a historical connection: It’s located on College Street in Pilot Point, the same street as Denton County's earliest established college.
“The Pilot Point Seminary School opened in 1872 as a primary and secondary school, and later offered bachelor’s degrees in 1884,” according to the Denton County Office of History and Culture website. “The school officially changed its name to Franklin College in 1892.”
The school eventually closed in 1900 because it lacked funding and student enrollment.
The house was later turned into what many know today as the Rest Cottage, an orphanage that expanded to take in unwed pregnant women and mothers.
“I love that the land has the history of caring for people and educating people,” Gorman said. “And now in my own little small way, I'm going to continue that.”
The preschool is equipped for 12 students. Ten are currently enrolled, with two openings left.
One of those students is her youngest child, Emmett, who already seems to love the space.
The preschool will follow the PPISD calendar to match its breaks.
Later in the month, she will start offering The Cottage Creative Club, a 6-week series starting Sept. 15 for ages 4-10, meeting every Tuesday afternoon.
Starting in October, Fall Fridays: Drop-in Mornings, a childcare service, will be available for ages 3-10.
She also plans to incorporate art and outside playtime in the Curiosity Garden for the preschool class, and eventually, she hopes to add gardening.
“I want everything to be meaningful childhood experiences that end up kind of being academic, like when you're gardening and you're learning responsibility and, obviously, the science of it,” Gorman said. “And then we're going to do some cooking together. So we do some measuring and some real-life experiences there.” With a passion for literacy acquisition, she plans to offer private reading tutoring.
“Watching a child learn to read is the most rewarding experience,” Gorman said. “… I think if they develop that love for learning when they're young, that's going to impact their educational journey for life.”
Gorman said she’s excited to be part of that journey in her students' lives, and it’s one of the main reasons she decided to work with younger children.
“I hope that the Learning Cottage will continue to grow someday, both in size and what it can offer,” Gorman said in a text. “I'm passionate about encouraging and mentoring early childhood educators. I would love TLC to be a place where not only children can learn and grow, but teachers too. Of course, for now I'm excited to start small, do my best, and see where this little school goes from here.”
