Building a Firm Foundation for Tomorrow

GINA BENSON

“We are building a firm foundation for tomorrow.” These are words I have been using as an opening line at training sessions for new teachers for the past two decades. The same words I used when convincing my business and life partner J. Michael, to put all we had on the line to build a school I believed could make a difference for the children in our community. As an educator for the past 35 years, I truly believe that the goal of nearly every teacher, regardless of the age or grade that they teach, is to help in creating a path to success for their students. For me, the idea of becoming a teacher myself was inspired by having teachers who supported me as a student, made me believe in myself and saw no mountain as insurmountable. They instilled confidence and the ability to persist. When developing my own school, this was what I wanted for my students. A place where the teaching staff was given the encouragement and tools to support a child today, in whatever way, so that the child could do anything tomorrow they put their mind to do.

My journey to becoming an owner of my own school started as a kindergarten teacher where I witnessed firsthand the cracks in the education system. I worked with teachers who expressed feeling overwhelmed, unappreciated, and ill equipped to help their students. Policies that promoted test scores and decisions determined by dollars saved vs. student growth. As the system saw students fail to pass, instead of asking why, the standards were simply lowered to get more to pass with less skills achieved. I believed what was being overlooked were the children entering too early and not having the core skills necessary to build upon. I saw the lack of self-regulation and confidence needed to be successful in their new environment. This all took away from their ability to learn, to connect with friends, and to grow as a person. I would see very young students experiencing frustration daily, which for some would develop into prolonged negative behaviors. These emotions would rise to the surface as they were just beginning their journey into school.

When looking at the preschool programs being offered to families for their young children prior to school entry, I found that the focus was on profit not preparedness. Preschools had overflowing classrooms with 20-30 children in them and often just one teacher. There was no ability to make a connection with a child. These teachers too appeared frustrated, under equipped, and overwhelmed. I believed there was a way to do better - to make a positive impact for children earlier. I wanted to build a school that took a vastly different approach, one that placed the students and teachers as the priority.

There were countless conversations shared with my partner about the need to focus on true early education and school readiness. I wanted to build a school that embraced the idea of today makes tomorrow. The idea that all decisions would be held to the question, “How does this benefit the kids?” This approach to care and early education was no small feat. Committing to building and developing a state-of-the-arts school came at a great personal cost. Putting all our eggs in one basket, my partner and I reduced our personal living expenses, drained our 401Ks, cashed in bonds, placed a second mortgage on our home, borrowed money from family, and quit our jobs to build a school that we felt would make a difference for the children of our community.

Together we established Milestones Learning Center in 2014. With the belief that the most critical learning years are the first five years, we dedicated the school to children from 8 weeks of age to 5 years old. Placing the focus on ensuring what happens today in the classroom, on the playground and in center time play will make a difference in that moment, tomorrow, and in the years to come. That every interaction is a learning opportunity. For a business tagline we chose, Building a Firm Foundation for Tomorrow’s Future. It’s a statement that’s more than a catchy slogan; it is the expectation we hold ourselves to and that our teachers use when approaching all aspects of operating the school, the classrooms, and the day. It is our mission to go against the childcare industry’s grain by placing the children’s needs and their futures above any financial gains. To move away from the glorified babysitter role towards creating a foundation of core learned skills, which students will build upon as they enter kindergarten.

As the school’s administrator, I encourage teachers to focus on connections with each student, to take the time to teach in the moment, and I am dedicated to spending the funds to ensure the children and the teachers are given every opportunity they need to be successful. Milestones’ teachers are encouraged to ask themselves, “Is what I am doing at this moment building the confidence, communication skills, problem-solving skills, and trust needed for the children in my care to grow and learn in a classroom today and next year?” They are not afraid to introduce writing skills, reading skills, math, and science. They encourage the children to stretch themselves academically and emotionally.

Nine years later, the school has doubled in size and tripled in staff. It now has an annual revenue of $1.5M, with a reputation for the highest quality, highest performing early education program. The students are achieving higher than expectations well into elementary levels. I believe that placing the focus on the future of others has paid off for us all.

Gina Benson, born in New York State, currently is living in Southwest Florida. She earned her BA from State University of New York at Potsdam and her MA from the University of the Rockies, CO. She has been a preschool teacher and director for 34 years and she has owned her own preschool in Estero, Florida since 2014. She is a mother of two and a believer in the positive impact early education has on young children. To find out more about Gina or her school, please visit https://www. milestones-estero.com/