At Children’s Lighthouse, our franchisees are given the tools they need to implement our nationally acclaimed, research-based curriculum to the best of their abilities and work alongside industry experts on the executive team to ensure excellence on every level.

At the 2016 Children’s Lighthouse National Franchisee Convention in Cancun, Mexico, Children’s Lighthouse Franchise Company recognized several exceptional franchisees who have made a lasting impact on their communities through progressive educational childcare programs.

At the convention, three Children’s Lighthouse Learning Centers nationwide were recognized for 10 years of continuous service to children, parents and communities: Alta Vista in Katy, Texas; People of Faith in Winter Garden, Florida; and Clay Road in Katy, Texas.

In League City, Texas, Tonya Sanders won the prestigious “Franchise of the Year” award. This special honor was given to a high-performing franchise owner who demonstrated remarkable care and execution of educational programs, a commitment to ongoing training and exceptional support for company growth.

Jared and Aspen Robb, owners of a Children’s Lighthouse Learning Center in Olathe, Kansas, won the “Rising Star” award, given to the franchise team with consistently high enrollment numbers, surpassing the benchmarks that measure the business.

San Antonio franchise owners Chip and Amanda Palluch were given the “Bright Start” award, which recognizes franchisees with the highest opening growth rate in the system during 2015.

Finally, the “Golden Anchor” award, given to the franchisees who best maintain steady success and remain positive, was awarded to Randy and Sandy Craft in Cyprus, Texas.

2015 was a busy year for Childrens Lighthouse Learning Centers! Not only has our brand endeared itself further with the 40-plus communities we serve, but we also added four new Childrens Lighthouse locations in Cary, NC, Spring and San Antonio, Texas, as well as Chicago’s Irving Park neighborhood. These new locations represent an exciting growth phase for Childrens Lighthouse Franchise Company, which we look forward to expanding upon in the New Year.

Along with new openings and signed franchise agreements in a variety of markets, Childrens Lighthouse was at the forefront of media attention in 2015 as we continue to act as an expert source on the most pressing education and entrepreneurship issues of the day for consumers.

Childrens Lighthouse reached new heights in 2015 in widely read national publications such as the Washington Post, the Associated Press and Parenting Magazine, discussing the educational topics most important to parents and educators.

On a regional level, Childrens Lighthouse maintained a presence in community-focused publications and TV stations such as CBS 3 Charlotte, the Little Elm Journal and the Katy Times.

The Children’s Lighthouse Learning Centers franchise model has many benefits, including grand opening and ongoing public relations support as well as marketing guidance. With trained media professionals helping bring the focus to your new educational child care franchise, each franchisee has the opportunity to spread brand awareness with placements in relevant newspapers, magazines, TV shows and websites.

Children’s Lighthouse Learning Centers was recently profiled in the Chicago Tribune, the most influential media sources in the region, as an expert on how technology is shaping the future of education. The brand opened a Chicago-area location this year in the Irving Park neighborhood to the excitement of the burgeoning young parent population.

“The fastest growing trend that I see right now, both at school and in the home, is the move toward more portable, multiuse digital devices,” said Dr. Sharman Johnston, director of curriculum and instruction for Texas-based Children’s Lighthouse Learning Centers, in the article. “Teachers from pre-K through high school name laptops, iPads and electronic readers as the portable technologies with the greatest educational potential. Preschool teachers also favor digital cameras, calling them the ‘most valuable instructional technology tool.’”

Children’s Lighthouse Learning Centers across the nation are equipped with top-of-the-line in-classroom technology including iPads, Smartboards and even secure video feeds so that parents can watch their kids learning online during the day.

Because of the viral nature of the news, the Tribune article was picked up by the Utah Daily Herald and several parenting bloggers in the area who shared the story with their audiences. This is just one example of the influence that Children’s Lighthouse franchise owners can have on the educational landscape of their communities.

The comprehensive educational programs at Children’s Lighthouse Learning Centers can have a dramatic impact on the development of young children. The centers specialize in blending education, fun and responsible childcare, creating a completely unique experience for children ages six weeks to six years old. 

The Lighthouse C.A.R.E.S.™ curriculum, a discovery-based learning strategy, employs active engagement, research-centered practices, embedded content and standard-based objectives to help children grow emotionally, socially and mentally through a systematic character values-oriented education. 

Recently, the benefits of this dynamic approach to childcare took center stage on network affiliate morning shows in Kansas City and San Antonio. Children’s Lighthouse franchisees, the owners of the centers in each market, appeared as early childhood education specialists on the programs. 

In San Antonio, on a recent episode of “Great Day San Antonio” on the local CBS station, Steve and Stefani Kulawik, the owners of three San Antonio centers, showcased the type of interactive educational toys students engage with each day. They were able to describe how Children’s Lighthouse combines toys, classroom educational activities and teacher involvement to provide opportunities for students to develop their fine motor skills. 

Similarly, in Kansas City, on the local FOX 4 morning program, Jared and Aspen Robb, the local Children’s Lighthouse franchisees, discussed the value of the educational toys and early childhood programs at their center. Positioned as child development experts on the program, the Robbs talked through several relevant educational topics, including the importance of developing memory, logical thinking, problem solving skills and concentration in young children. 

Pat Brown, president and co-founder of Children’s Lighthouse Learning Centers, began his educational childcare business with his brother Michael in an effort to have a greater impact on the Dallas/Forth Worth community.

Eighteen years later, after making the decision to franchise the business and eventually grow it to more than 40 locations, Children’s Lighthouse is continuing its commitment to the communities it serves.

Here is more on Pat Brown and the growth of Children’s Lighthouse Learning Centers:

 Where did the idea for Children’s Lighthouse Learning Centers come from?

My brother and I have been running businesses since we were in high school. Eventually, we sought to start a company that would have a great impact on the Dallas/Fort Worth community. We wanted to provide a service for young children and we’ve always been big on education. My brother did the homework, researched the industry for years, and traveled the country meeting with different people who worked in education. After a while, my brother Michael honed his idea and invited me to come on board. I liked his findings, trusted his instinct, and decided to join him in a leap of faith to open our first school 18 years ago.

What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business?

My brother and I were primarily entrepreneurs; we didn't have a thorough background in education or childcare. So as our company grew and we developed more cash flow, we were able to hire the people who worked at larger companies within the industry. Making those key hires was vital to our growth as a leader in educational childcare. People were happy to work with us since we provide our staff with a lot of freedom to execute their responsibilities.

What people have influenced your thinking and might be of interest to others?

My father was one of my biggest influencers and inspirations. We also socialize often, and surround ourselves with entrepreneurially minded folks. Business is business, and our friends tend to experience the same issues we do. Our close friends have their own companies to run. If you can stay in an environment of entrepreneurs, you can learn a lot from social gatherings. We have a network of people we can call and get feedback from. For us, that network of friends has been crucial along the way. 

Houston natives Hubert Vaz-Nayak and Glenice Saldanha opened the Harmony Children’s Lighthouse center in Spring, Texas in the spring of 2014.

  What is your personal and professional background?

Hubert has more than 22 years of experience in various strategy and marketing executive roles with large companies such as AT&T Wireless, Motorola, Accenture and BearingPoint.  He has worked with several successful startups – one of which earned $35M in revenue within its first year.  His impressive business acumen is supported by advanced schooling, from which he earned an MBA from the University of Chicago business school, and a BE from the Indian Institute of Technology.

  Hubert has been married to his wife Sheila for 17 years and has two children, Vannessa, 10, and Yohan, 6.

  Glenice has a degree in Accounting and Early Childhood Education. Following college, she went on to work with the Conroe Independent School District, one of the largest school districts in Texas with over 58 campuses in Houston North. Outside of work, Glenice volunteers at her son’s elementary school. She believes that cultivating a relationship between parents and their child’s teachers is extremely important.

  Glenice is blessed with a loving family. She and her husband, Savio, have been married for 16 years and have three sons, Dwane, Carson and Ethan.

  Why did you decide to join the Children’s Lighthouse family?

We were looking for a business ownership opportunity with a high success rate. Not only does Children’s Lighthouse boast a very high success rate with franchisees, but the business model also allows for great work/life balance. Furthermore, we were happy to hear the franchise is family-owned and operated and based in Texas. Plus, the brand’s carefully crafted educational curriculum is unmatched within its segment. All of these factors played into our decision to invest in a Children’s Lighthouse Learning Center.

  What makes your center unique from other educational childcare centers in your area?

First and foremost, the advanced educational curriculum — including our use of technology in the classroom — surpasses that of our competitors. Additionally, our center is in close proximity to two elementary schools. Perhaps most important, we take our position within the community seriously by fostering a happy and creative environment, because we live and work here too!

  How did the Children’s Lighthouse franchise help you reach your entrepreneurial goals?

Children’s Lighthouse provided us with a proven system that has been shown to succeed time and time again. The home office including the brand’s leadership team has become a much-needed resource for us as we continue to grow and expand our learning center.

  What's next for your Children’s Lighthouse Learning Center?

Curtis and Jan Harvey, the owners of the Children’s Lighthouse in Heritage, a master planned community located in north Fort Worth and neighboring Keller, Texas, have owned and operated their center for more than a decade. The Harveys have been fortunate to witness entire families grow up at their Children’s Lighthouse Learning Center, including their own grandchildren.

  In fact, at the suggestion of their oldest daughter, the couple invested in the educational childcare center. She advised the couple to explore business opportunities that would allow them to spend more time with their grandchildren. Jan’s experience as a teacher and reading specialist combined with Curtis’ corporate background made the couple well suited to open a childcare franchise.

  The couple launched their educational childcare center shortly thereafter. The Harveys were attracted to Children’s Lighthouse’s commitment to creating a safe and secure environment where fun and learning come together. They were also excited at the opportunity to spend more one-on-one time with their grandchildren.

  For the Harveys, investing in a Children’s Lighthouse Learning Center has made all the difference in their retirement, and allowed them to grab hold of their personal and professional destinies. Each day, the couple has the opportunity to continue impacting the lives of children, even as their own grandchildren have grown up and graduated from the center. Looking ahead, the couple is excited to pass on their childcare center to their children, grandchildren or great grandchildren when the time is right.