Welcome!
I want to start by saying thank you for the opportunity to share my vision of early care and education with you.
Our family moved to Lake Saint Louis in 2009 to be closer to our family. My in-laws built their home in Lake Saint Louis over 40 years ago and my husband graduated from Holt High School in the Wentzville School District (back when our district only had one high school!). All that to say, our family loves living here and have been longstanding community members.
We have two boys, Sean and Avery, and I can assure you, I know what a treasure children are. It is important for them to be excited to come to school - to explore, play, and enjoy learning - and for you to feel confident in the care and education they receive while you're at work. Our building is intentionally set up to look more like a home, so it feels more inviting and comfortable. We value a strong learning environment that incorporates music, physical movement and character development. Our curriculum is research based and even if we're having fun at school, we're also working hard to help our students have the best educational start.
Since living in LSL the past 17 years, I worked at a local private early learning center, and the Wentzville School District before opening Learning Lodge West in 2018. I can’t express enough how grateful I am to own and operate our school and work in early childhood education for over 20 years.
My hope is that you can hear my passion for our youngest learners! I look forward to getting to know you and your family.
Jacinda
Who We Are
Our teaching philosophy combines purposeful academic instruction with meaningful play to create a well-rounded early learning experience. We believe children learn best in an engaging, play-based environment where they feel safe, supported, and encouraged to explore the world around them. Through a balance of teacher-guided learning and child-led discovery, students develop school readiness skills, independence, confidence, creativity, and positive character traits that prepare them for future success.
Our preschool (ages 2–4) and pre-kindergarten (ages 4–5) programs are designed to nurture the whole child while building a strong educational foundation. We place a heavy emphasis on early literacy and language development, with support from a dedicated literacy teacher who works closely with students to foster a love for reading and learning. Classrooms are filled with hands-on activities, purposeful play, creative exploration, and opportunities for social-emotional growth. In addition to daily classroom learning, students also participate in enriching experiences such as music and social-emotional learning activities throughout the week.
For our school-age students, we provide homework support, snacks, and engaging after-school activities that encourage creativity, collaboration, and continued learning in a fun and supportive environment. During the summer months, our program transitions into an exciting Summer Camp experience featuring weekly themes, special activities, water play, and field trips for older students.
We believe that parents and teachers working together create the strongest foundation for a child’s growth and success. Our goal is to provide high-quality care and early education in a loving, respectful, and safe environment where every child feels valued and supported. We strive to meet each child’s intellectual, emotional, social, and physical needs while inspiring curiosity, confidence, and a lifelong love of learning. Our dedicated teachers are committed to creating meaningful learning experiences and fostering a warm environment where children can thrive each and every day.
Our Leadership Team
Jacinda Kirk
Owner/Director
Kristen Schwartz
Curriculum Director
Erica Cameron
Operations Director
Aubrey Beene
Program and Marketing Coordinator
Maria Kehn
Director in Training
Our Teaching Team
Jenn
Kitchen Manager
Whitney
Infant Lead Teacher
Erin
Lead Toddler Teacher
Kayla
Lead Toddler Teacher
Abby S.
Toddler Assistant Teacher
Coming Soon!
Toddler Teacher Assistant
Helen
Toddler Assistant Teacher
Tori
Twos Lead Teacher
Abby
Twos Assistant Teacher
Abi
Preschool 1 Lead Teacher
Kaylee
Preschool 1 Assistant Teacher
Maria
Preschool 2 Lead Teacher
Anitha
Preschool 2 Assistant Teacher
Becca
KPrep 1 Lead Teacher
Jessica
KPrep 1 Assistant Teacher
Abby L.
Lead Summer Camp School Age Teacher
Laney
Assistant Summer Camp School Age Teacher
Suzi
Lead School Age Summer Camp Teacher & Literacy Teacher
Alexis
Lead Summer Camp School Age Teacher
Ashlyn
Assistant Summer Camp School Age Teacher
Madelynn
School Age Support Teacher
Sydney
School Age Support Teacher
Taylan
School Age Support Teacher
Andrea
Support Teacher
Urvi
Support Teacher
Hemlata
Support Teacher
Skylar
Support Teacher
Reese
Support Teacher
Allie
Support Teacher
Kota
Support Teacher
Jayci
Support Teacher
Surya
Support Teacher
Rachel
Support Teacher
Angelica
Support Teacher
Maddie
Support Teacher
Our Employees Matter To Us
We are committed to providing our team members a great work environment. We offer a comprehensive benefits package that includes a full medical health plan, dental and vision options and a retirement savings plan with employer match. We also have paid time off, sick leave, holiday pay, longevity bonuses and child care discounts.
Interested in learning more about becoming part of our team? Email us for more information at ericac@learninglodgewest.com