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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.

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Our Leadership Team

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Jacinda Kirk

Owner/Director

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Kristen Schwartz

Curriculum Director

Erica

Erica Cameron

Operations Director

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Aubrey Beene

Program and Marketing Coordinator

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Maria Kehn

Director in Training

Our Teaching Team

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Jenn

Kitchen Manager

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Whitney

Infant Lead Teacher

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Erin

Lead Toddler Teacher

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Kayla

Lead Toddler Teacher

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Abby S.

Toddler Assistant Teacher

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Coming Soon!

Toddler Teacher Assistant

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Helen

Toddler Assistant Teacher

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Tori

Twos Lead Teacher

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Abby

Twos Assistant Teacher

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Abi

Preschool 1 Lead Teacher

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Kaylee

Preschool 1 Assistant Teacher

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Maria

Preschool 2 Lead Teacher

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Anitha

Preschool 2 Assistant Teacher

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Becca

KPrep 1 Lead Teacher

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Jessica

KPrep 1 Assistant Teacher

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Abby L.

Lead Summer Camp School Age Teacher

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Laney

Assistant  Summer Camp School Age Teacher

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Suzi

Lead School Age Summer Camp Teacher & Literacy Teacher

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Alexis

Lead Summer Camp School Age Teacher

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Ashlyn

Assistant Summer Camp School Age Teacher

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Madelynn

School Age Support Teacher

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Sydney

School Age Support Teacher

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Taylan

School Age Support Teacher

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Andrea

Support Teacher

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Urvi

Support Teacher

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Hemlata

Support Teacher

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Skylar

Support Teacher

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Reese

Support Teacher

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Allie

Support Teacher

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Kota

Support Teacher

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Jayci

Support Teacher

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Surya

Support Teacher

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Rachel

Support Teacher

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Angelica

Support Teacher

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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