About Our School

Finding Inspiration in Every Turn

At Discovering Minds Child Development Center, we are a Texas Rising Star 3 Star Licensed Childcare Center and a Texas Education Agency qualified Pre-Kindergarten Center that provides quality childcare to all children, no child is too small to learn.

Our Philosophy

Our professional, caring and loving staff are eager to provide learning fundamentals of Reading, Writing, Mathematics, Science (STEM) and Social Studies at the tender age of 12 months and we continue to the age of 4 years; we also mentor after-schoolers in these same fundamentals.

Our students are intellectually advance when entering into the Bay City, Van Vleck, Tidehaven and Palacios Independent School District because we provide small learning environments, one on one learning, as we specialize and focus on Reading, Writing, Mathematics, Science (STEM) and Social Studies fundamentals to ensure that our students are well prepared for all grade levels.

Our school-age students are mentored, given quality before and afterschool care and help with homework. Our mentors make sure all homework is completed before each student leaves our facility. Here at Discovering Minds Child Development Center we value our parents, our students and their education. Everyday we love and enjoy "Enriching Minds One At A Time".

Meet Our Team

Valerie Ragland

// Owner

Valerie Ragland has worked with children for 24 years. She worked 1 year with Early Headstart as a Early Headstart Teacher, 1 year as a Kindergarten Teacher, 7 years as a One on One for children with disabilities and 15 years as a childcare owner and 13 of those 15 years as a Childcare Center Director. I have a passion for children and love working with them, I realized many years of ago that children where my calling and purpose for life.

Tracy Jefferson

// Director

Mrs. Jefferson has an Applied Associates Degree in Early Childhood Development from Wharton County Jr. College and she has 16 years of experience working with children.

Denise Young

// Assistant Director

Mrs. Young has 16 years of Early Childhood experience and she has worked in all aspects of Early Childhood from being an infant teacher to a School-Age Teacher.

Asya Hebert

// Master Lead Teacher

Ms. Hebert has an Early Childhood Certification from Wharton County Jr. College. She also has 7 years of Early Childhood experience.

Lakatlyn Woods

// Preschool-3 year old Teacher

Ms. Woods has an Early Childhood Credential Director Accreditation from Elite Educational Services. She has 2 years of Early Childhood experience.

Irma (Ally) Rodriguez

// Toddler Teacher

Ms. Rodriguez has 1 year of experience working with children and has a passion for Early Childhood.

Jessica Trujillo

// Infant Teacher

Ms. Trujillo has 2.5 years of Early Childhood experience. She enjoys caring and loving on her infant group.

Christina Durgin

// Infant Teacher

Christina has worked in Early Childhood for over 17 years from the Infant classroom to the Preschool classroom. Working with children is a passion of Christinas coming from one of the community well known childcare centers, Christina brings a wealth of knowledge and experience with her and we are excited to have her on our team.

Catherine Brown

// Food Service Director

Catherine Brown has worked in Early Childhood for 2.5 years, with 2-3 year-olds, and worked 1 year as a Food Service Director. Ms. Cathy is still a Big Kid so that she can relate to any of the kids.