Becoming Bridge Builders: How Lightbridge Academy Has Found a Model That Works

Lightbridge Academy® CEO Gigi Schweikert has been following her passion for education and child care at Lightbridge Academy for the past eight years, working to create a better early childhood education environment. From an early age, Schweikert was always passionate about child care and education and has worked in various child care settings like the United Nations Child Care Center.

One of Lightbridge Academy’s core values that has helped it grow to 67 units is “care deeply,” and this aligns with some of the people Schweikert feels were the best mentors for her. “To really care deeply means I will tell you when you’re not doing what you should be doing, pushing the boundaries too much, not being as responsible as you should be or hurtful to someone even though you might not intentionally try to be,” said Schweikert. “Those who have been some of the best mentors in my life are those people close enough to me and honest enough with me to tell me I’m not being the best person I can be.”

Much of Lightbridge Academy’s success can be attributed to the fact that the teachers work to educate the whole child. “People are not only made up of their academic skills, but their social skills, as well. It’s really about the whole child, the physical, the mental and the academic, and that is why I think the children here are so successful,” said Schweikert.

Lightbridge Academy sets itself apart from other early childhood education centers by having cameras in every classroom. These cameras are able to be accessed by parents at any time of the day. There are even infrared cameras that allow parents to check in on their children during nap time and still be able to see them clearly. This virtual open-door policy grants parents peace of mind and brings families closer together.