“The most important element in fostering a sense of place is to teach ourselves, or let ourselves be taught, to see with fresh eyes the place where we find ourselves… It is a great and worthy effort, and few objectives could be more conducive to the common good.”
— Wilfred M. McClay, Why Place Matters: Geography, Identity, and Civic Life in Modern America.
Our neighborhood is important to us. We are fortunate to be surrounded by wonderful people - artists, gardeners, aspiring chefs, and musicians. We have integrated our program into this exceptional setting because we believe preschool ought not be confined to a classroom.
When we first opened Pando in 2017, we knew we wanted to create a school that was connected to its local community, where children could see and learn from a wide range of people. We also knew safety would be our highest priority. To accomplish these joint aims, we structured our program to have one of the lowest teacher-to-student ratios in Albuquerque. Our low ratios ensure children feel confident, safe, and supported both. In 2020, we outgrew our first location and decided to relocate down the street so we could maintain a strong relationship with this amazing community.
The practice of bringing children out into the world to play and wonder has been well established by educators in Reggio Emilia, Italy. It is from their work that we draw our inspiration.
Who's Who in the Neighborhood
Diverse Office Supply
Woman-owned and committed to employing adults with developmental disabilities, Diverse supplies Pando (and the city of ABQ) with all our office and cleaning supplies.
The Source
The Source is a quarter acre campus/home to over 25 small businesses, and a wide variety of mostly alternative health practitioners. Whether you are having pain or health issues, want life coaching, or are looking for a good cup of coffee in a beautiful environment, The Source is an urban oasis.
Michael Thomas Coffee
Michael Thomas is a lovely, family-run coffee shop with the best coffee in town. Their staff have collaborated with our students to build lending libraries, show children how to roast beans, and supplied our teacher with much-needed midday caffeine boosts.
Albuquerque Wheatgrass
Anytime we walk over to Source, children peak into Brian's greenhouse. If we're lucky, he's there to greet us with a big smile and send us back to school with sunflower sprouts for the chickens.