Friday was a little different at the Academy! Our school was closed so our incredible educators could spend the day learning, growing, and investing in themselves.
We welcomed back the amazing Colleen Schmidt for a powerful professional development day focused on something that could not matter more: how our presence in the classroom helps wire a developing brain for success.
As early childhood educators, we have an extraordinary responsibility. The experiences, interactions, conversations, encouragement, and connections we provide during these early years can have a lasting impact on how children learn, grow, communicate, regulate emotions, and understand the world around them.
One statistic from our day really stopped us in our tracks:
More than 60% of IQ is developed before a child turns 5 years old.
Every conversation.
Every book we read.
Every question we answer.
Every hug.
Every moment we get down on a child's level and truly listen.
Every time we encourage them to try again.
WE MATTER.
Our teachers aren't supervising children. They are creating environments where developing brains can thrive. They are building relationships, creating meaningful experiences, modeling language, encouraging problem-solving, and helping children develop the skills they will carry with them long after they leave our classrooms.
🏆 A Summer Worth Celebrating!
This summer, The Academy of Indian Lake Village took home TWO incredible awards! 🥳
🏆 Best Leader
🏆 Best Community Visibility
We are incredibly proud to serve the Hendersonville community and to be a school that doesn't just care for children, but actively invests in the families, educators, and community around us. We have had a blast at The Summer Concert Series!
And if you know Ms. Morgan, the Best Leader award probably comes as no surprise! After receiving the Energy Award last year, she has continued to bring that same energy, positivity, and passion to our school every single day.
She starts everyone's day with a smile—and that smile is contagious. 💛 But great leadership isn't just about the person at the front. It's about building a team that believes in the mission. Ms. Morgan has led this incredible teaching team to become the team with the highest QRIS score in Hendersonville! That achievement represents the dedication, intentionality, and hard work of every educator who walks through our doors each morning.
Friday reminded us why professional development matters.
The awards reminded us why our community matters.
And our classrooms remind us every single day why early childhood education matters.