Our Mission & History
At Christina Kent Early Childhood Center (CKECC), our mission is to serve the children of economically diverse working families with quality childcare, early education, and nutritional services in a safe and nurturing environment.
Christina Kent Early Childhood Center is a private, non-profit corporation founded in 1919. It is the oldest continuously operating child-care center in the Albuquerque area. Originally called the Albuquerque Day Nursery, the Center has maintained its guiding mission through the years.
In 1942, CKECC moved to the present site in downtown Albuquerque. The historic building was at one time a duplex and is over 100 years old. The unique architectural features of the building provide a home-like atmosphere that conveys feelings of warmth, nurturance, and safety.
In September 2025 we opened The Annex. Across the street from our historic building, we expanded to serve infants and toddlers through early PreK.
Our staff of teachers creates an exceptional learning environment for the 110 children ages 6 week to 5 years who attend our program. They are supported by an Executive Director and office staff.
For decades, CKECC has retained a five star childcare license. This is the highest licensing rating offered by the New Mexico Early Childhood Education Care Department. CKECC maintains accreditation through the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), a professional organization that offers accreditation only to exemplary early childhood programs. NAEYC accredited programs practice program quality improvement through rigorous self-study and validation. Nationally accredited programs help families, educators, and communities recognize the value of setting high standards for programs for young children.
We focus on security, inclusion and the importance of seeing everyone as human with their own unique aspects and individuality.We respect how our children grow and celebrate their development.We know that being capable means valuing potential.We understand that these values extend to families, peers, educators and our community.
A look into the early days of Christina Kent...
