Grant Halliburton Foundation launched its Early Risers pilot program this fall at Rosemont Upper School, a Title I early childhood campus in Oak Cliff.
Grant Halliburton Foundation launched a pilot of its Early Risers program this fall at Rosemont Upper School, a Title I early childhood campus in Oak Cliff serving students in prekindergarten through second grade. The program is designed to help young children develop essential social and emotional skills through structured, age-appropriate classroom lessons.
“Early childhood is such a critical window for building emotional awareness and healthy coping skills,” said Javetta Allen, director of mental health education at Grant Halliburton Foundation. “What we saw during this pilot was students learning how to name their feelings, ask for help and support one another—skills that can have a lasting impact well beyond the classroom.”
Early Risers introduces concepts such as identifying emotions, practicing coping strategies, problem-solving, building friendships and showing empathy and kindness. Lessons are delivered through interactive activities, role-playing, creative arts, storytelling and guided discussion, creating what educators describe as a “brave place” where students feel safe expressing emotions and learning how to manage them.
The pilot began Aug. 5, with an on-campus professional development session for Rosemont Upper School teachers. During the training, educators were introduced to the curriculum, previewed upcoming lessons and learned best practices for implementation. Each participating teacher also received a basket of supplies to create a “Calming Corner” in their classroom—a designated, comfortable space where students can step away, regulate strong emotions such as anger, anxiety or sadness, and return to learning when ready.
From September through November, teachers incorporated Early Risers lessons into their daily routines, often beginning each school day with an interactive activity to set a positive tone. Teachers reported strong student engagement and highlighted the depth and flexibility of the curriculum.
According to teacher feedback, every participating classroom reported noticeable increases in students’ emotional growth, self-awareness, and use of healthy coping strategies. Educators also praised the curriculum’s adaptability, noting that lessons could be adjusted or reordered to meet the needs of individual classrooms best.
The pilot program will continue from January through May 2026, with teachers maintaining implementation and tracking student progress. Grant Halliburton Foundation plans to use insights from the pilot to refine the program and explore expansion to additional schools across North Texas.
“Our goal is to build on this momentum and bring Early Risers to more classrooms,” Allen said. “Expanding this program means reaching students earlier and giving schools practical tools that support emotional growth from the very start.”
By T.J. Griffin
Vice President of Communications