Governor Jared Polis visited The Village for Early Childhood Education on Tuesday, October 28 to see the district’s Incredible Years - Dinosaur School program in action.
During his visit, Governor Polis met with school and district leaders and observed lively Dinosaur School lessons led by teachers and beloved classroom puppets Dina the Dinosaur, Molly, Wally, and Tiny Turtle. The Governor asked questions about how the curriculum supports social-emotional learning and how early intervention and family partnerships set students up for long-term success.
“It truly feels like magic when the puppets enter the classroom. The students’ faces just light up,” said Principal Kim Bryant. “When families and educators partner early, that connection carries through a child’s entire journey in Littleton Public Schools.”
Since 2006, The Village has implemented the Dinosaur School curriculum to teach preschoolers how to recognize and manage emotions, make friends, and resolve conflicts in positive ways. Every teacher and paraprofessional is trained in the program, which has become the foundation of The Village’s Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS) approach.
Governor Polis also learned about The Village’s strong home-to-school connection, supported by community partners including Invest in Kids and the Arapahoe County Early Childhood Council, which help fund training, coaching, and parent engagement programs.
“When we invest in early childhood education, we invest in the lifelong success of children and families,” said Superintendent Todd Lambert. “We appreciate the Governor’s interest in seeing firsthand how LPS builds that foundation.”
The visit highlighted The Village’s role in helping children enter kindergarten confident, curious, and ready to learn, and in strengthening partnerships between families, schools, and the broader community.
