Creating the Rainbow: After 40 years, Rainbow School director retires

By Kathy Feist

When Deena Smith enrolled her daughters in her church’s new preschool in 1982, she didn’t realize that it was only the first step in what would become a 40-year career with the early childcare center known as Rainbow School. 

On June 29th, Rainbow School will show its gratitude with a retirement party held at the 75th Street Events space, 214 W 75 St. at 1 pm, following the 11:30 am services at the South Broadland Presbyterian Church, 7850 Holmes Rd. The public is invited.    

“Deena has touched so many families in south Kansas City over the last 40 years,” says Over the Rainbow Director Lindsay Sills. “Her quiet leadership and generous heart have helped carry this community forward in more ways than we can count.”

When the South Broadland Church opened Rainbow School in 1982, Smith and her husband and two young daughters had just moved to Kansas City. She joined the PTA, hoping to get to know other families.  By 1985 she was hired as a staff member and months later, she had landed the role as director of the school.

Smith’s college education background was in social work and sociology. She had experience as a parole officer, helping prisoners reintegrate back into society. Those skills–recognizing needs and plugging in resources to fill them– along with her calm, logical nature would propel the school to new heights. 

Under Smith’s leadership, Rainbow School transitioned from a three-day a week preschool/Mother’s Day Out program to a full time early childhood education program, complete with before and after school programs and a summer camp for older children called Over the Rainbow. 

The school achieved accreditation with the National Association of Education of Young Children, requiring all staff to maintain 18 hours of early childhood learning on a yearly basis. This was an important push for Smith. 

“From when I started in ‘85, so much had developed in research, especially around brain development and how important those first three years are,” she says. “I wanted to shout from the rooftops that we need to have people understand this. I felt that training was really important.”

Around 2010 Smith extended the learning environment to the outdoors, beyond the playground. 

Soon nature became part of the curriculum. 

“Nature deficit disorder is about how our community and world has gone so much into learning academically, learning with the computer, learning so much inside that we are really losing touch with nature, which is a great learning experience,” she said. Rainbow School now has one of only two nationally certified outdoor classrooms in Kansas City, Missouri. 

The large Deena Ray Outdoor Classroom, named in her honor, is one of her crowning achievements. “We noticed dramatic changes in the stress level of not only the kids, but the teachers as well from being in such a connected space with nature,” she says. “So I’m really proud that we were able to kind of blossom in that area.”

While Smith has guided the school to a high standard of early child care, she has had her battles. 

In 2011 her daughter Cinnamon passed away. A few years later, Smith was battling cancer. She beat cancer and was ready to retire when the pandemic hit. She stayed on to steer through uncharted waters. Suddenly she was dealing with CDC regulations and PPP loans from the government.

With the pandemic came a loss in numbers, momentum, funding and most of all, connection with families. 

“One of the things that made Rainbow School so special was that community of families and staff that are really connected with each other.” 

Smith says that connectivity has returned along with financial stability. 

“We’re now at a great spot where that community is really strong again,” she says.

On May 31, Smith confidently retired as director of Rainbow School. Her assistant director Jill Phelps has stepped into the role. 

Smith won’t be far away, though. Her duties as the building operations director with the church will keep her engaged. 

As she reflects on her career with the school, Smith says that her favorite memory is simply being among the children. 

“I get joy every day going in and out of the classrooms and seeing young children. That’s what I love,” she says. “Whether it’s going in to help quiet a baby that’s been out of sorts, or hearing a joke from the three year old that thinks it’s so funny, those kinds of things just fill my heart and  keep me young.”

Learn more about Rainbow School at www.southbroadland.org/rainbow-overview.