This Preschool Started in a Target. Now It’s Changing the Community. - Jeff Drake

When a beloved Target store shut down in Fergus Falls, Minnesota, Superintendent Jeff Drake saw something no one else did: a blank slate for early childhood education. In this episode of Brighter Together, Jeff shares how his team turned a cavernous retail shell into Lincoln School—a vibrant preschool and kindergarten hub designed around student needs, family support, and community partnerships. From creative financing to experiential environmental education, this is more than a renovation story. It’s a case study in leadership that listens, acts, and builds for the future. If you've ever wished your school could do more with less—or wondered what it takes to lead real transformation—this conversation will leave you hopeful and ready to imagine what's possible.