We would love to have the chance to introduce you to Delaney Wright, show you our beautiful campus, and tell you more about the ways we can collaborate to build a wonderful foundation for your child’s life of learning!
History
How did Delaney Wright come to be? In 2002, Shelley Acton Hanlon and her brother Jaime Edwards-Acton dreamed of turning an old church property in Hollywood, which Jaime had recently become the priest of, into a preschool that introduced and encouraged growth and development through the arts. Shelley, our founder, had been a Kindergarten teacher for San Diego public schools for over twenty years at the time and was dismayed with the severely structured education that was becoming commonplace in schools around the country. She wanted to create a program that was play and art-based, where children could explore and discover and be supported in that play, and felt that her family-oriented and art-based vision made perfect sense in serving the Los Angeles community. It was her belief that children were so much more capable of learning and growing when taught in a loving, caring, and enriching environment where kids were able to just be kids. Working together with Jaime, they created a lush and inviting learning environment, filled with a variety of sights and sounds and dedicated and loving teachers, all of which is what we now lovingly know as Delaney Wright Fine Arts Preschool.
Our school is named after Delaney Wright, a student of Shelley’s who unfortunately passed away from leukemia at the age of 5. Delaney Wright loved to dance and paint and at her young age, truly enjoyed life to the fullest. Her bright spirit lives on through our programs and serves as a daily reminder of the importance of children being allowed to just be themselves and learn and grow in an environment that supports their different personalities, passions, and their overall selves.