Shepherd of the Desert Preschool

Specialties

Shepherd of the Desert Preschool is a non-​profit, Christian preschool supported by Shepherd of the Desert Lutheran Church (an LCMS congregation.) Our school, licensed by the Arizona Department of Health Services, is one of a handful of preschools across the country to earn Exemplary Status by the National Lutheran School Accreditation Commission.

At Shepherd of the Desert, we provide a loving environment in which each child is given a positive introduction to formal education. We believe a child’s first school experience is important because it lays the foundation for all future educational experiences. Therefore, we provide an encouraging atmosphere conducive to individual growth and development. We believe that each child is a unique gift of God, and our approach involves the whole child recognizing that each one develops at his or her own pace. We strive to provide an environment that is safe, loving, and rich in opportunities for learning and growth through age-​appropriate, h

History

Established in 1987.

In 1980, when North Scottsdale was more desert than anything else, a group of people got together to form what is now Shepherd of the Desert Lutheran Church. As North Scottsdale literally grew all around this young church during the early to mid 80’s, the church wanted to become more active in the community by serving the families who were moving into the area.

In 1987, the preschool was formed in an effort to meet the needs of the families moving in. Originally located at the corner of Shea Boulevard and 96^th street, the preschool grew and grew and grew, from the very first class of 2 year-​olds to a full Preschool serving children 2 to 5 year’s old.

Having outgrown the preschool space at the original campus, Shepherd of the Desert Preschool relocated in 2011 to it’s current location (9400 E. Mountain View Rd.) in an effort to serve more families in the North Scottsdale area.

Today, we continue to serve the families of North Scottsdale and we look forward to many years ahead.

Meet the Manager

Debbie O.

Manager

Debbie Osman grew up in Northern Indiana and received her Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education from Purdue University. She has served as the Preschool Director since 2013. Prior to this she was the assistant director for two years as well as a four-​year-​old teacher for 13 years.

Debbie joined the Shepherd of the Desert family as a preschool parent in 1997 when her son entered our three-​year-​old program. She now has two college-​aged children who attended Shepherd of the Desert Preschool as well as Elementary and Middle school.

Debbie is passionate about the importance of a Christian education, and she is devoted to sharing her gifts with her staff, parents and, most importantly, the little ones who enter our school each day!

She and her husband reside in Scottsdale, AZ where they have spent the past 21 years raising a family and volunteering in the community.

Shepherd of the Desert Preschool also recommends

Raising Arizona Kids

Newspapers & Magazines

Debbie O. says,

«Arizona’s only multimedia resource for families, with compelling stories and comprehensive resources in print, online and in video and audio platforms»