Vanderbilt's Susan Gray School Expands to Kindergarten

The Owls kindergarten program will join the Susan Gray School, providing a seamless transition for families.

Feb. 2, 2026 at 6:39pm

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Vanderbilt University's Susan Gray School, an inclusive pre-school, will be expanding to include a kindergarten program starting in the fall of 2026. The Owls kindergarten program, which was previously a pilot at The Acorn School, will be moving to the Susan Gray School campus, allowing current families to continue their children's education in the same environment.

Why it matters

The expansion of the Susan Gray School to include a kindergarten program will provide a unique, play-based learning environment for young children, with a focus on nature-fueled exploration and hands-on activities. This aligns with Vanderbilt's mission to support early childhood education and provide inclusive learning opportunities for all students.

The details

The Owls kindergarten program was founded in 2021 by Kathleen Seabolt, executive director of the Vanderbilt Child & Family Center, as a pilot program at The Acorn School. The program has been praised for its whole-child, play-based pedagogy with an emphasis on nature learning. Now, the Owls program will move to the Susan Gray School, which is part of Vanderbilt Peabody College of education and human development. The move will allow current Susan Gray School families to seamlessly continue their children's education, and the school will have dedicated spots for students with disabilities and a special education teacher.

  • In 2021, the Owls kindergarten program was founded as a pilot at The Acorn School.
  • Beginning in the fall of 2026, the Owls program will migrate to the Susan Gray School.

The players

Kathleen Seabolt

The executive director of the Vanderbilt Child & Family Center, who founded the Owls kindergarten program as a pilot at The Acorn School.

Katherine Newman

The director of the Susan Gray School, which will be welcoming the Owls program to its campus.

Susan Gray School

Vanderbilt University's inclusive pre-school that is part of Vanderbilt Peabody College of education and human development.

Owls

The kindergarten program that was previously a pilot at The Acorn School and will now be joining the Susan Gray School.

The Acorn School

The school where the Owls kindergarten program was previously a pilot program.

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What they’re saying

“The move allows current families in Susan Gray to seamlessly continue into kindergarten if they choose. We will have spots for students with disabilities and a dedicated special education teacher.”

— Katherine Newman, Director of the Susan Gray School

“It has been a privilege to collaborate with teachers Nea McKeehan and Bryan O'Callahan and all the helpful hands within the Vanderbilt Child and Family Center to create a program like Owls for Nashville families. Innovation like this is possible only when an institution encourages it. I deeply appreciate Vanderbilt University, and specifically the Division of Administration and People, Culture, and Belonging, for resourcing this research-to-practice pilot. Gratitude to Katherine Newman and her excellent team for welcoming the Owls to continue their story with the Susan Gray School!”

— Kathleen Seabolt, Executive Director, Vanderbilt Child & Family Center

What’s next

The Susan Gray School and the Owls program will work together to update the learning environment at Peabody College, including adding a meadow for nature-fueled learning, to provide an expansive homebase for the new kindergarten program.

The takeaway

The expansion of the Susan Gray School to include a kindergarten program demonstrates Vanderbilt's commitment to early childhood education and inclusive learning opportunities. The Owls program's focus on play-based, nature-driven pedagogy will complement the Susan Gray School's mission, creating a unique and impactful learning environment for young children in Nashville.