The Pillars: Murphy (formerly Whistle Stop Station), located conveniently on Murphy Road in Richardson, offers a range of programs for children starting at 6 weeks of age.
As a premier Christian preschool, The Pillars stands out with its exceptional facilities and its dedication to providing top-quality care. The Pillars: Murphy also services numerous local elementary schools as part of our before and after school program for school-aged students up to age 12. We also offer a variety of camps which provide care for students during school holidays, including our award winning summer camp program, Spring Break camp, Thanksgiving break camp, and Christmas break camp.
The Pillars the perfect choice for parents looking for a trusted and nurturing environment infused with faith-based curriculum. The Pillars also has two additional locations in nearby Rowlett, The Pillars: Chiesa and The Pillars: Hickox.
Try a “free day” of care to see what makes The Pillars: Murphy the perfect choice for your family.
Murphy School Information
Meet The School Director
Mrs. Catie Williams
School Director
director-murphy@thepillars.com
Experience: 7 Years
Degree: Master of Arts in Human Services Counseling
Credentials: State Director’s Credential/License, CPR/First Aid Certified
Mrs. Catie brings a heart for service, family partnership, and child development to her role as School Director at The Pillars Murphy. She began working in Early Childhood Education in 2019 and holds a Master of Arts in Human Services Counseling, along with her State Director’s Credential/License and CPR/First Aid certification. Her background supports a leadership style that is thoughtful, encouraging, and focused on helping children and families feel known and cared for.
Since joining The Pillars family in 2026, Mrs. Catie has supported programs for infants, toddlers, preschool, Pre-K, before and after school, and summer/holiday care. She is committed to creating a school environment where children feel safe, supported, and inspired to grow, while teachers and families work together with trust, purpose, and shared care for each child’s development.
Mrs. Catie and her husband have three children and recently relocated to the area as their family helps plant a church and become part of the local community. Together, they enjoy exploring the outdoors, discovering new activities, and making memories in their new season of life. Her mission is to equip others to serve with purpose while helping shape the hearts and minds of the next generation.
The Pillars: Murphy Reviews
Angela Derry
April 01, 2026
Shame on anyone posting hateful reviews for this school. I’m assuming you are just a wealth of knowledge? Parents really think they know the ins and outs of childcare. You do not. And daycare hopping isn’t going to get you far either. This school has been wonderful for years, not perfect but wonderful. Here in the recent months they had a new Director Madalyn Whaley who was in my opinion a little on the immature side. Incidents were always brushed under the rug and handled poorly. They were never on the same page and in the front office. I even walked through the school and heard this Director beating her child in her office. Sickening! It definitely needs a new leader and we will wait for that. Disgruntled employees who were nothing short of useless and mishandled the children are all I see commenting negative things about this school. Do not believe it. They do what they can with the knowledge they’re provided. I will keep my children here over any other school.
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Sheri Hamilton
April 18, 2025
We LOVE LOVE LOVE The Pillars Richardson/Murphy ! Best daycare ever! Where do I start??? They love our 2 yr old lil guy which is super important obviously 😉 The Pillars is SO organized from top to bottom: excellent curriculum and activities, excellent monthly lunch/snack menu, great app to keep us informed and reminded of events. I feel tuition/fee is extremely fair! I love the daily communication , love the security of the building, love the cleanliness, fun theme weeks! The Pillars is always decorated BEAUTIFULLY and ELABORATELY for holiday and theme weeks. I can’t imagine being anywhere else ❤️
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Ali Hall
August 22, 2024
We absolutely love Whistle stop! Our daughter has been going since January. From the minute you walk in the door the office staff greets you. If you have any problems they are quickly to handle. Our daughter has ezcema and they were amazing at constantly keeping her moisturized. This is our third daycare and we don’t plan on going anywhere else. We love her teachers. They’re absolutely amazing. I could go on and on about this place and how amazing it is. When you drop off her teachers always welcome her with open arms and she’s so happy to be there!
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Ashley Lynch
August 21, 2024
Whistle Stop has been a great place for my children! I have had 3 kids go through this school. I love the Christian curriculum and I believe they are working on keeping their staff/teachers for longer periods of time. Retention is better! I drive over 25 minutes one way to take my kids here! Thank you so much for taking care of my babies from infancy to now 1st grade.
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SVG3 MOSKA
August 15, 2024
I cannot express enough how grateful we are to have found Whistle Stop Station. Private From the moment we toured the facility, we felt welcomed and at ease. The staff is incredibly caring and attentive, always going above and beyond to ensure each child feels loved and supported.
The curriculum is engaging and age-appropriate, filled with fun activities that promote learning and creativity. Our child has made significant progress in their social skills and development since starting here. We love receiving daily updates and photos, which give us a glimpse into their day and the wonderful experiences they have.
The facility is clean, safe, and well-organized, providing a nurturing environment for children to explore and grow. We also appreciate the open communication with the staff, who are always available to answer questions and provide feedback.
Overall, we highly recommend Whistle Stop Station to any parent looking for a loving and enriching place for their child. Thank you for everything you do!
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