Bright Horizons Offers Early Education For Working Families

This Patch article is sponsored by Bright Horizons.

Bright Horizons at National Landing is a new early education and preschool center that provides year-round care for children six weeks to five years old. Patch chatted with Sherah Williams, Center Director and Lauren Captain, Health and Safety Director at Bright Horizons at National Landing, about their mission and roles in the community.

Patch: How long have you been doing business in town?

Williams: Bright Horizons® early education centers and preschools have been helping children around the world develop confidence and a passion for learning for over 30 years. Bright Horizons is committed to the field of early education and to practices that guide each child’s social, physical, emotional, and cognitive development. Our emergent curriculum approach is designed for this purpose, enabling teachers to tailor activities and projects for the specific interests and skills of each child in the class, with the goal of preparing students for success in school and in life. Our new National Landing location officially opened on April 5, 2021!

Patch: What attracted you to the line of work you’re in, and how did you get started?

Williams: From a young age I have loved working with children. My mom ran her own daycare, and my aunts were all teachers. I spent most of my free time playing with children, helping grade papers, and learning as much as I could. I started working for a friend of our family at her daycare when I was in high school. After, I went to college to become a teacher and received my bachelors in Elementary Education. The rest is history.

Captain: My mom taught kindergarten and I loved going with her for “take your daughter to work” day! In high school, I worked with our head start program and as a teacher cadet, where I was able to create my own lesson plans and solidify my love for children. After college I worked as a nanny for a wonderful family that helped to introduce me to Bright Horizons. I started teaching in the preschool class and I worked my way up to Assistant Director and then Health and Safety Director.

Patch: Sum up your business mission statement in five words.

Early education for working families.

Patch: What’s the biggest challenge or most difficult moment you’ve faced in your job?

Williams: The most difficult moment was a few weeks after our center had closed to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19. I was talking with my teachers about how we do not know when we will reopen, but we will continue to support them through this process. It was so hard to share this information over a video sharing platform, verse being with them and helping them in person. We were all facing so many challenges at that time, so it was difficult. I’m so thankful for the resources that Bright Horizons had for myself, my teachers and our families. It helped us all so much.

Captain: When I was promoted from within my center, I was taking on a supervisory role to people who had been my peers. It was a challenge and a moment of growth for me professionally. I had to uncover how to walk the line of professionalism and friendship in my new role. My director helped support me through and encouraged me to be confident in my decision making and trust in our HEART principles.

Patch: What’s the most satisfying part of your job?

Williams: Watching children learn, see, or do something new! Their faces show wonder, excitement, and sheer happiness. I think it is one of the best parts of life.

Captain: I love to see the children have their “AHA!” moments. It is a beautiful reminder that the world is a creative and wonderful place!

Patch: How would you say your business distinguishes itself from the others?

• We’ve been in business over 30 years
• Industry-leading COVID-19 health and safety practices
• Proven emergent curriculum that reflects the latest research on early education
• Thoughtfully created environments
• Locations and hours to fit the way parents work
• Well-balanced programs that focus on the whole child (social, emotional, physical), and prepare children for success in school and life
• Centers that make sure children feel safe and loved from the moment they put their hands in ours, to the moment they put them back in yours

We have teachers who are supported to grow professionally and stay current on the most effective education techniques. Bright Horizons also offers an additional education benefit: our Horizons Teacher Degree Program, which pays full tuition so teachers can earn an early childhood education degree completely for free! Plus, we offer a variety of family resources that support parents as well as children.

Patch: What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given when it comes to success?

Williams: You only fail if you stop trying.

Captain: Success doesn’t come to you. You go to it!

Patch: How can Patch readers learn more about your work and business?

There are a few ways to learn more about the center and about Bright Horizons. Definitely check out our center website for information on our curriculum and follow us on Facebook to stay up to date on what’s happening here at the center. We are currently offering virtual visits so we invite you to schedule a time to check us out! You can also email us at nationallanding@brighthorizons.com or call us at 703-647-1181.