Bright Horizons Is Providing Early Education To Working Families

Bright Horizons at Woodinville is a brand-new early education and preschool center that provides year-round care for children 6 weeks old to 5 years old. With curriculum and spaces that honor childhood and stimulate growth and discovery, children develop confidence and a passion for learning.

Jacob Gonzales, center director for Bright Horizons at Woodinville, knew he had a passion for teaching lifelong skills to children ever since he worked as a summer camp coach. "I realized that the world of early education really excited me and made me feel like I was making a difference," says Gonzales.

Read on to learn more about Gonzales' experience in the field, as well as Bright Horizons' 30 years of success:

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

Gonzales: Bright Horizons at Woodinville opened on April 15, 2019. However, Bright Horizons has proudly been in business for over 30 years. For more than 30 years, Bright Horizons® early education centers and preschools have been helping children around the world develop confidence and a passion for learning. Bright Horizons is committed to the field of early education and to practices that guide each child’s social, physical, emotional and cognitive development. Bright Horizons’ 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.

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

Gonzales: I have worked with kids for over 15 years. I started as a summer camp coach and loved working with children. Their energy, curiosity, and desire to learn were contagious. After receiving my degree in Education with a minor in Health/Coaching, I worked mainly with children in grades K-12. In 2012, I got a job as a preschool teacher and loved that at this age, there was the ability to teach lifelong skills to the children. I realized that the world of early education really excited me and made me feel like I was making a difference.

Patch: If you had to sum up your business mission to a stranger in five words, what would those words be?

Gonzales: Early education for working families

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

Gonzales: I would say the most challenging piece to my job is figuring out how to get a staff of 20 to 50 people to work and function as a single unit. But I love the challenge! Our teachers are what make our program special.

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

Gonzales: I am grateful to work for an organization like Bright Horizons that strives to do what is best for children, families and educators. I have been a teacher/director for multiple organizations over my career, and I am happy to have found a home in Bright Horizons. I take pride in the quality of care from top to bottom that we provide. I know that the quality of the environments, curriculum, playgrounds, teachers and menus is going to be the best.

Next, I am grateful for how much is invested back into our teachers. We provide a week of off-site training before starting and provide continuing education throughout their careers with us. We also offer great benefits and through our Horizons Teacher Degree Program where we will pay for 100 percent of our teachers' college degree if they would like to pursue a career in Early Education.

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

Gonzales:

• Over 30 years of business
• Proven emergent curriculum that reflects the latest research on early education
• Thoughtfully-created environments
• Teachers who are supported to grow professionally and stay current on the most effective education techniques
• 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
• 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?

Gonzales: For me it all comes down to people. It takes a village to run a high functioning school and getting buy-in from your team is incredibly important. Once you’ve done that, you have a foundation you can start to build on.

Patch: Are there any new projects or endeavors you’re working on that you’re extra excited about?

Gonzales: We just opened in the community so we have been reaching out to local businesses to build relationships. We have some really great partnership events that we hope to share more information about soon!

Patch: Do you have any events coming up in your community?

Gonzales: We will be hosting a Grand Opening Celebration for the community on Saturday, May 11, from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. This is a chance for families from Woodinville and the surrounding communities to come see our new school and enjoy a morning of family fun. The event will feature children’s activities, live musical entertainment by Brian Vogan and his Good Buddies, face painting and much more!

We will also be partnering with the Woodinville Chamber of Commerce and Mayor Elaine Cook for a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Thursday, May 30, from 4:30 p.m.– 6 p.m. All are welcome to join us!

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

Gonzales: You can visit our website or follow us on Facebook. Contact us by email or at 425-471-7905.

This Patch article is sponsored by Bright Horizons Woodinville.