302 Country Estates Drive, San Marcos, Texas 78666, United States
About Wonderland School
Mrs. Shirley Fife~ Founder
July10,1935-March 31,2022
The day I was born, God told me I was going to teach school with children, and I have never known anything else. That was God’s plan for me. Why would you do anything else if that was God’s plan for you? If you do what you love, you’ll never work another day in your life.
My educational background started when I graduated from San Marcos High School in 1953. I went on to study at Southwest Texas State University, where I got my Bachelors of Science in Education in 1957.
A love for teaching was found at Pana Maria, where I taught general education and music. Afterwards, I went on to teach migrant 4th and 5th grade students at KARNES City for one year. I then moved on to Easthaven Baptist in Pasadena where I taught first grade for both years I was with the school.
After Easthaven, God’s plan set forth to make my life what it has been for the last 53 years.
We had found a facility on the base of Camp Gary, where later the school would be started. They said they could not have a private entity on base, so we moved the school. At the time, it consisted of only 12 students, so we moved them into our dining room. Thus, the start of Wonderland School.
After the first year, Wonderland began its first expansion. Granddad owned property and an opportune moment was seen. We used the bottom half of a two-story house for one year that was owned by grandad, and during that time we built a four-room schoolhouse. The school was moved from our dining room into the school we built.
Eventually, as our reputation as a school grew, so did our student population. We once again needed more space. We moved again to Country Estates, and that has become what we all know now as Wonderland School. Back then the building was about half the size it is now. We have built so much upon it since then, and Jim has added so much since as well, including a gym and a library.
We, as well as all our students, are so lucky to call this place home.
Files coming soon.
