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Our Educators and Expertise

Teaching With Love and Care

Every day begins with warmth and care, as our Pathways educators embrace the children with open arms and smiling faces. This sets the stage for a day of quality learning, where children feel comfortable and confident to explore the learning environment as they grow their independence.

Learning occurs naturally as children are encouraged to play and discover what inspires their curiosity.

Pathways is a place where teachers lead with passion and share a lifelong love of learning. They work hard to build relationships with children and families, while staying current on early childhood best practices through ongoing training. Here’s a story about one amazing educator:

Teacher Feature: Special Edition

2025 Teacher of the Year: Charlene Hough! A Lead Toddler Teacher in North Plainfield, Illinois, Charlene’s passion is evident every day. “I’ve always enjoyed the enthusiasm, curiosity, and energy children bring. Being able to teach, nurture, and care for them while working with families is incredibly rewarding.” She creates a joyful, enriching space where toddlers thrive. “I hope they develop confidence to explore, creativity, and a love for learning with their friends.”

Team Work

Our teachers are backed by a dedicated group of education experts and support teams, all working to create great classroom experiences.


Meet our internal Education team leaders:

Meet our internal Education team leaders:

Dr. Johnna Weller, Chief Academic Officer

Dr. Johnna Weller leads all aspects of Learning Care’s educational vision and mission, focused on excellence in teaching and curriculum, along with high-quality learning environments and experiences for all children and families. Dr. Weller’s background encompasses more than 30 years as a classroom teacher, special education teacher, reading specialist, literacy coach, supervisor of curriculum and instruction, and Assistant Superintendent. She has taught graduate courses and served as a consultant in several school districts, as well as with various state and national committees related to the Common Core State Standards. Weller holds an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership from Immaculata University, plus a B.S. in Education and a M.Ed. in Reading from Kutztown University of Pennsylvania. She also earned a certification in Curriculum Supervision for K-12 from St. Joseph’s University and a Diversity and Inclusion certification from Cornell University.

Meet our internal Education team leaders:

Meet our internal Education team leaders:

Dr. Sara Obarow, Director, Education Quality and Improvement

Dr. Obarow leads quality assurance of LCG’s education programs and the processes to measure their impact and quality, including LCG Education Quality Indicators (EQIs) and external accreditation. She has more than 25 years of ECE experience as a teacher, school principal, K-12 administrator, coordinator of federal programs, and college professor.

Meet our internal Education team leaders:

Meet our internal Education team leaders:

Renee Thompson, Director, Education Programs

Renee Thompson leads the vision and design of educational programming at Learning Care. After graduating from Towson University with a B.S. degree in Elementary and Early Childhood Education, she was a public and private school teacher and center director and has led curriculum design teams since 2011. She has developed comprehensive, standards-based curricula for infants to elementary school students, with a focus on embedded teacher training.

Learning Inspired by Love

Our Educational Approach

Our Educational Approach

Curiosity leads the way to learning every day.

Our Commitment to Quality

Our Commitment to Quality

Five ways we provide a meaningful experience for every family.

Our Learning Environment

Our Learning Environment

Warm, welcoming spaces encourage exploration and discovery.

Schedule a Tour

Visit us to explore our classrooms, meet our teachers, and see how we support your child’s learning and growth every day. We’d love to meet your family!

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