Our History
A Legacy of Love and Learning
This video was produced in 2015 to commemorate the 75th anniversary of Sunshine.
The Sunshine Preschool’s history sets it apart from other schools in the area, and we’re proud to be a place where generations of children have grown, learned, and shined since 1941.
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The Sunshine Preschool was founded, and the extraordinary home was converted into a school. While the original owner is unknown, in the 1940s Sunshine stood alone, surrounded only by open fields and grazing cows.
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Ms. Crombe became the second owner and director of Sunshine. She built an impeccable reputation in what was then a small Brentwood community.
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Ms. Rita Cornyn discovered Sunshine and fell in love with the house and yard. It was serendipitous that Ms. Crombe was ready to sell the school after 20 wonderful years. Within days, Rita became the new owner. Early on, she often wondered, “How could anyone do this for 20 years?” That perspective shifted as she went on to lead the school for more than 40 years.
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In 2020, Rita welcomed Sophie Robertson to the Sunshine family. Sophie brought over a decade of experience in early childhood education on the Westside. Later that year, Rita passed away, and her three children, Alison, Erin, and John inherited the school and continued her legacy with the same dedication, warmth, and vision that have defined Sunshine for generations.