About Us
With the opening of the St. Ann Spiritual Center in 1986, Msgr. Luke Hunt was looking for more effective use of the building, whose classrooms were used only for Sunday parish religious education programs. Under his direction, and the efforts of the Director of Religious Education Anne Hoffman, the St. Ann Extended Care facility was opened in February 1987 with one caregiver and three children. In response to parent and community needs, the idea of a preschool was explored. As a result, St. Ann preschool opened in the fall of 1987 for children from ages two through pre-kindergarten. The first ten years saw changes in leadership and direction in the preschool program, but the children of Gulf Breeze and the surrounding area cared for five days a week in a strong, loving, nurturing environment on their journey to kindergarten.
With the continued success of this program, along with the extended care program, Msgr. Hunt’s determination again came to ensure that St. Ann could provide a quality preschool education to all enrolled children including those enrolled in the extended care portion of the school. In the fall of 1997, St. Ann Extended Care and St. Ann Preschool combined to form the St. Ann Discovery School. The programs meshed through a transition year. The Discovery School continues to provide an age-appropriate preschool curriculum for all children ages one to five. The school also continues to offer working parents extended care for their children. Each classroom offers a warm, positive learning experience in a loving Christian atmosphere for our enrolled students.