About Growing Roots Early Learning Center

Our Story

Growing Roots Early Learning Center is built on something that has always mattered to our family — caring for children, supporting families, and helping little ones grow.

Our story began long before the Growing Roots name. For years, our family has been part of the Medina childcare community, caring for generations of local children and building relationships with families that extend far beyond the classroom.

Growing Roots represents the next chapter of that story.

As a family-owned and operated center, we combine years of early childhood experience with an educator's perspective on learning and development. Our leadership brings experience in childcare, general education, and special education, allowing us to look beyond ages and milestones and recognize each child's individual strengths, needs, and way of learning.

The name Growing Roots was chosen intentionally. The early years are when children begin building the roots that will support everything that comes next — confidence, friendships, communication, independence, curiosity, and a love of learning.

We are proud of where we started, excited about where we're growing, and grateful to continue serving families right here in Medina.

Building strong roots, nurturing minds, and creating bright futures.

Meet Kelly 🌱

Hi, I'm Kelly, owner and director of Growing Roots Early Learning Center.

Childcare and education have both been a big part of my life. Before stepping into Growing Roots, I spent years working in early childhood education and later became a special education teacher. I hold New York State teaching certifications in Mathematics and Students with Disabilities.

My experiences in both early childhood and public education have shaped the kind of center I want Growing Roots to be.

But just as importantly, I'm a mom.

My son, Tucker, has taught me more about children, learning, and advocacy than any classroom ever could. Being his mom has given me an even deeper understanding of just how differently children can learn, communicate, develop, and experience the world around them. It has also shown me how important it is for a child to be surrounded by adults who take the time to truly know them — not just manage their day.

I also know what it feels like to leave your child in someone else's care. You want to know that they're safe, but you also want to know that they're happy, understood, included, comforted when they need it, and cared for by people who genuinely know them. I want Growing Roots families to have that feeling when they walk out our doors each day.

I believe children deserve more than a place to be cared for while their families are at work. They deserve adults who understand development, recognize individual strengths and needs, encourage curiosity, and know that behavior, communication, play, and learning are all connected.

As both an educator and a childcare director, I'm very hands-on in our center. You'll see me in the classrooms, talking with families, supporting our teachers, planning experiences, and continually looking for ways we can make Growing Roots even better.

Growing Roots is incredibly personal to me. I'm proud to continue what my family started while bringing my own background in education, my experience as a mom, and my vision for early learning into its next chapter.

My goal is simple: I want Growing Roots to be the kind of place I would want for Tucker — a place where children are known, families are heard, and little minds are given strong roots from which to grow.

Our Mission

At Growing Roots Early Learning Center our mission is to provide a safe, supportive, and engaging environment where children develop confidence, independence, and a lifelong love of learning.

We are committed to supporting the whole child through social-emotional development, early literacy, problem-solving, and positive relationships. Through play-based learning, structured routines, and meaningful interactions, children are encouraged to explore, grow, and build a strong foundation for future success.

We believe every child learns and develops at their own pace, and we strive to create an inclusive environment where all children feel valued, respected, and supported.

Philosophy

At Growing Roots Early Learning Center, we believe children learn best through play, hands-on experiences, exploration, and meaningful relationships.

We believe social-emotional development is the foundation for success in all areas of learning. When children feel safe, supported, and understood, they are more confident in exploring their environment, building relationships, and participating in new experiences.

Our educators create structured yet flexible learning environments that encourage curiosity, creativity, confidence, and independence while maintaining routines that help children feel secure.

We also believe strong partnerships between families and educators are essential. Open communication and collaboration help us provide consistent support and meaningful learning experiences for every child.

At Growing Roots, we are committed to creating a welcoming environment where children feel respected, supported, and inspired to learn and grow.

What Makes Us Different

❤️ Family-Owned and Operated

We value strong relationships with our families and strive to create an environment that feels like an extension of home.

Our Commitment to Families

Choosing who will care for your child is a big decision, and we never take the trust families place in us lightly.

At Growing Roots, our commitment goes beyond providing care during the day. We want families to feel informed, welcomed, heard, and confident about the care their child receives.

That means open communication, regular updates through Brightwheel, teachers who take the time to truly know each child, and a leadership team that is present and accessible to families. We celebrate children's successes, work together through challenges, and recognize that every child develops and learns differently.

We also believe families should feel like they are part of our center — not simply dropping their child off at one. From family events and classroom celebrations to Mystery Readers, field trips, and everyday conversations, we intentionally create opportunities to build relationships between home and Growing Roots.

Most importantly, we want children to feel happy walking through our doors and families to feel good about leaving them with us.

Your child isn't just enrolled here. Your family becomes part of Growing Roots. 🌱