Excellence in action: Alysha’s story

Five years ago, Milton Hershey School (MHS) announced the corner of Governor and Homestead Roads in Derry Township as the location for the first Catherine Hershey Schools for Early Learning (CHS) Center.

Then the work began.

*Alysha Royer (middle) with two CHS Hershey teammates.*

The Center needed to be constructed. Dedicated teachers and staff needed to be hired. Children and families needed to fill the halls.

Today, 146 children have moved on to kindergarten from CHS Hershey as the Center recently started its fourth year in operation. The Center held its third Moving On ceremony earlier this month, celebrating the preschoolers making the transition from CHS to kindergarten.

Lead teacher Alysha Royer has been there since the beginning.

The roots

Royer was the first-ever CHS teacher hired, taking part in the inaugural professional development program (Seeds to Lead), which began in September 2022.

“I remember all of the excitement around what was to come,” Royer said. “The feeling of refreshment as we learned together during Seeds to Lead. We grew to know each other better, to understand the mission and vision of Catherine Hershey Schools, and spent time deepening our understanding of early childhood education. I also remember feeling a sense of pride and honor for being part of the beginning of this legacy.”

She, and the rest of the CHS Hershey staff, completed Seeds to Lead and celebrated the Center’s Grand Opening in September 2023. Alongside CHS leadership and families, Royer was one of the ribbon-cutting participants, signaling the opening of the first of six planned CHS Early Childhood Education Centers in Pennsylvania as part of a $350 million initiative by MHS.

*Royer cutting the ribbon at the CHS Hershey Grand Opening ceremony.*

“We did a lot of dreaming, planning, vision making, and brainstorming,” Royer said. “Now we are in our school and are starting our fourth year with children and families. We have put those dreams, plans, visions, and brainstorms into action–with many adjustments along the way–but to me, that’s an example of being Rooted in Excellence–being willing to pivot when necessary, continuing to show up and keep smiling.”

Excellence in action

This past school year, Royer and her two fellow teachers in their preschool classroom received two high-range scores in the Emotional Support and Classroom Organization dimensions on the Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS) scale.

“It is something to be proud of,” said Royer, who emphasized the scores were a team effort. “It shows that we prioritize the social, emotional, and physical health of all the children. Relationships and interactions are our focus. I’m a firm believer in Maslow before Bloom. Once a child knows that you care and that connection has been built–all other skills can follow.”

*Royer signing the CHS Hershey building rendering during the kickoff event for Seeds to Lead.*

For Royer, excellence in action expresses itself in many ways throughout a typical day. It means trying new things even when they are difficult, having a willingness to learn from others, and asking for help. It also means making sure the people around her feel seen, safe, heard, and loved.

She keeps pursuing excellence in her work because it matters deeply and the impact can be seen in moments both big and small with children and families.

“It is hard to pick just one moment,” Royer said. “This work matters so much, it shows up in little moments like a child reminding another child of a way to be helpful in the classroom or a peer cheering on another peer when they have accomplished a skill they have been working on.

“It also shows up in big moments like a parent coming to us saying that their child is using calming techniques we have been practicing in the classroom at home in moments of upset or when a family returns after transitioning to kindergarten from CHS to catch up and say hello.”

Rooted in Excellence

*Interim Executive Director Brittany Tomaso asking Royer her start date with CHS at the 2026-27 school year theme reveal.*

Now, as CHS begins a new school year with the theme Rooted in Excellence, Royer continues to look toward the foundation that brought her here in the first place.

At the school year launch event, all CHS employees lined up around the room in order of their start date as a visual representation of how much the organization has grown.

Royer was at the front of the line as the first CHS teacher.

“To me, Rooted in Excellence means that I remember my why and don’t lose sight of it,” Royer said. “My children and their families are why I show up day in and day out. There are hard days, and no one is perfect, but building strong roots will help on those tough days. It also means to never stop nurturing, playing, and discovering.”

That mindset has remained constant from the days of planning and dreaming to the classrooms filled with children today. Many years after becoming CHS’s first teacher, Royer is still showing what it means to put excellence into action every day.

Excellence in Action series: As the 2026-27 CHS school-year theme “Rooted in Excellence” was launched in August, stories will be shared throughout the year showcasing members of the CHS community on their pursuits of excellence. Vol. 1: Alysha’s Story.