Shoreline Cooperative Preschool: 60+ Years of Play-Based Learning and Family Connection
For over six decades, Shoreline Cooperative Preschool has nurtured children and supported caregivers through its unique model that combines early childhood education with parent education. With deep roots in the Shoreline community, including Senator Patty Murray as a former parent and board member, the preschool continues to thrive by offering affordable, part-time programs that prepare both children and their families for life beyond preschool.
Q&A With Elisabeth Heftel Director, Shoreline Cooperative Preschool
Q: How long have you been in business?
Over 60 years! Patty Murray was once a parent in our preschool and held her first elected position serving on our Board.
Q: What service does your business provide for our community?
We offer affordable part-time, play-based preschool for children ages 18 months to 5 years. Our program includes parenting support, access to early childhood development resources, and college credit for participating adults through Shoreline Community College. Families spend one class session each week helping in the classroom, creating a rich, cooperative learning environment. Our teachers are SCC faculty who design curriculum for children and a syllabus for parents and caregivers to learn together through discussion groups and a quarterly speaker series.
Our preschool functions as a laboratory classroom for SCC’s Parent Education program, helping families grow together. In addition to academics, the co-op builds strong community connections among families who work side-by-side. Many parents go on to take on leadership roles in PTAs or even work in the school district. We’re proud of the ripple effect our program has across the wider community.
Q: What do you love the most about Shoreline?
We love all the families that live here! People have landed in Shoreline for so many different reasons and we love the stories and perspectives that everyone brings to this community. Schools in particular are places where people come together across socioeconomic backgrounds, racial and ethnic identities, home languages (75+ spoken across Shoreline!), ability levels, gender identities, family structures, and more, and we are grateful to all the folks in Shoreline continually working to make sure we are a welcoming place for all families.
Honorable Mention - We absolutely adore Shoreline's amazing natural beauty. We spend time outside every day with the preschoolers, rain or shine, and consider nature the best classroom. How amazing to have wild and abundant places a stone's throw away for class field trips - The beach, the forest, and everything in between. As teachers, we look to resources made in collaboration with Coast Salish tribes so our preschool community can become good caretakers of the land, whether that learning takes place through picture books in our classroom or while observing salmon migrating up the creek.
Q: What inspires you each day?
The kids and their play! We are constantly amazed by the way children process emotions, transitions, and big life events through imaginative play. Whether they’re navigating a move, illness, or a new routine, play helps them explore, cope, and grow. It reminds us as adults that children have powerful internal tools to learn and heal—our job is to support and trust the process.
Q: What’s your next upcoming event?
School begins September 8, and we still have a few openings in several of our classes! For the broader community, we’re excited for our annual Harvest Carnival on November 8, open to the public with fun activities for all ages. We hope to see you there!
Learn More About Shoreline Cooperative Preschool
📍 510 NE 175th St, Shoreline, WA
📞 206-451-0104
🌐 www.shorelinecooperativepreschool.org
📸 @shorelinecooppreschool | Facebook
Whether you're looking for a high-quality preschool or a supportive family community, Shoreline Cooperative Preschool is a beloved Shoreline gem that continues to shape young learners and their families, one joyful day at a time.
