For 30 years, The Goddard School has used the most current, academically endorsed methods to ensure that children from six weeks to six years old have fun while learning the skills they need for long-term success in school and in life.
Preparing Children for Success
Barb Burrows – Goddard School
In 2009, I opened my first Goddard School in Edwardsville, Illinois. With 15+ years of prior Human Resources experience in the corporate world, I was a fish out of water. The teachers soon “taught” me what being in the education field was about, and in a short period of time, I saw first-hand the impact they had on our students. Even at the infant level, I was able to see their developmental milestones. It was intoxicating and our environment was one that promoted a passion for literacy, science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics. We were preparing children for success…over 1,500 students to date.
After several years of fine-tuning, we became a Circle of Excellence Goddard School. That catapulted us into the top 3% of all 500 Goddard Schools across the nation. The Goddard School curriculum allows our teachers to become “the best of the best” in the early childhood development sector, while having fun. Our students out perform their peers in mathematics and literacy assessments by 45%!
Considerations for a Second Location
So, after ten (10) years, I decided I wanted to do this again…But where? I had taken a look at Springfield, Illinois, but was not able to find a solution. I then traveled to Liberty and Columbia, Missouri, and Ankeny, Iowa. While in Iowa, I received an email from Corky Joyner, asking me to reconsider Springfield. He then listed some viable land options to do a “ground up” school. I grew interested and we met. Quickly, I located a piece of land, and off we ran to build a 9,000 square foot school with plenty of extra land for gardening. It was the perfect match.
A Solution
Growth Corp and Bank of Springfield soon jumped in to help! With their help, I will be able to employ over 30 employees, engage over 150 families annually, and teach thousands of students to be school and life ready! Our school, equipped with a Lake Springfield theme, will be an extension of our families’ homes. We have partnered with the Springfield Island Bay Yacht Club and have created a Sailing Curriculum for our students to enjoy. Our commercial grade greenhouse will help teach our students learn the “seed to table” experience, and we will grow a large organic garden to feed the school, and help feed local not-for-profit organizations.
I am so thrilled to enter the Springfield market, and with many, many thanks to Growth Corp and Bank of Springfield I will be able to open our school in April 2019 at 3411 Hedley Rd.
Read more about The Goddard School in Springfield, Illinois.
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