Testimonials

My experience with Crouther's Academy has been amazing from the very beginning. I was blessed with the opportunity to work with Leslie in the past and always looked up to her as an honest, hard-working professional, with a true passion for helping young children. When our paths unexpectedly crossed again this past year, she reached out to my family and touched my life. We were here with an infant in the hospital; trying to balance her needs with our energetic 2-year-old was challenging. Leslie offered us a place at her preschool for our daughter if my husband and I were interested. From working in the past with Leslie, I knew there is no place I would rather my daughter be. Even from our first visit we could feel the love and positive energy of Crouther's Academy. It is truly a school built on the foundation of fostering children's needs in an uplifting environment. Every time I walk in there, my daughter runs to not only her teachers, but also the managers and Leslie with a big hug. Children are purely honest, and for her to feel so comfortable and happy during her time at school is all I have ever wanted for her. Beyond that, the curriculum of the school and the concepts my daughter has grasped in her first months there are astonishing- I cannot be more pleased! I wish we were here long term to be a part of this excellent program for longer, but the gift of being a part of the Crouther's family for even 6 months is a blessing to our family in so many ways. Thank you to Leslie and the entire Crouther's Academy family for making a difference in our family's life and more importantly, Harper's. We are forever grateful.

- Amy Lee

The Crouthers Academy has been a God send to our family. I was a typical first-time mother - hesitant to leave my newborn in the care of someone other than myself. My husband & I visited numerous day-care centers in the area and never found a center with which we were completely satisfied. Fortunately, we learned of a new daycare center in our area that was opening around the time that I was scheduled to return to work - the Crouthers Academy. We visited Crouthers and met with owner, the center's director, and the registered nurse at the school and immediately felt like we found the "home away from home" for our son. We registered our son on the spot.

We've been at the Crouthers Academy for over two years now, and are absolutely delighted with the care our son has received. The teachers are so nurturnig and loving - it's very apparent that each child has a special place in the teachers' hearts. Open and direct communication between teachers and parents is also a plus - I receive daily detailed reports on how my son is developing, what he's learning, and what his day was like. I take great comfort in knowing that my son is being well cared for in an enriching, loving, and safe environment. And, my son gets excited to go to Crouthers each morning - that says it all for me.

Brenda Gleason
Clinical Pharmacist & Associate Professor,
St. Louis College of Pharmacy

Attendance at Crouthers Academy has enriched my son Carson's development and has impacted our family in so many ways. The environment that you and your staff have sustained during his three years has imparted steadfast values, confidence, responsibility, and most important: FUN!! Carson is a happy, respectful person who will adjust easily to his new Kindergarten environment because of the time he spent at Crouthers Academy.

Kerri and Mark Hanis

My son started at Crouthers Academy after attending a larger school for 10 months. We were hesitant to go look at Crouthers because the larger preschool had a gym, and many other outside classroom activities and we were worried he would miss out. After talking to Leslie for 5 minutes we realized he was missing out NOT being at Crouthers. It is absolutely evident that Leslie, along with all of the administrators and teachers there truly care for each child just as if they were their own. Leslie has clearly taken the time to not just hire qualified individuals but individuals that fit what she considers top notch, and does that well! The school is smaller, but that is the reason we love it the most! Leslie's goal isn't to be a huge school with 16 kid classrooms, but instead more of a family environment. I love dropping off and picking up William every day because I feel like it is a second family. I truly felt at the larger school it was more of an in and out system, and it wasn't personal. I also feel that the smaller classroom size is so much more conducive to learning but more importantly at that age, acceptable social interaction. William's teacher really focuses on helping the kid's differentiate acceptable behavior from non-acceptable and why certain behavior isn't acceptable and helps them with figuring out a better way to solve the problem. I feel that in a smaller setting this is more attainable for a teacher, verses chasing around 15 kids at a time! Also, if something is going on with one of the children's life (vacation, new baby, new house, or new car) not only Leslie knows but Karen, Virginia and the teachers know too! Even the teachers from other classrooms know the majority of all the kids' names.

My son started at Crouthers Academy after attending a larger school for 10 months. We were hesitant to go look at Crouthers because the larger preschool had a gym, and many other outside classroom activities and we were worried he would miss out. After talking to Leslie for 5 minutes we realized he was missing out NOT being at Crouthers. It is absolutely evident that Leslie, along with all of the administrators and teachers there truly care for each child just as if they were their own. Leslie has clearly taken the time to not just hire qualified individuals but individuals that fit what she considers top notch, and does that well! The school is smaller, but that is the reason we love it the most! Leslie's goal isn't to be a huge school with 16 kid classrooms, but instead more of a family environment. I love dropping off and picking up William every day because I feel like it is a second family. I truly felt at the larger school it was more of an in and out system, and it wasn't personal. I also feel that the smaller classroom size is so much more conducive to learning but more importantly at that age, acceptable social interaction. William's teacher really focuses on helping the kid's differentiate acceptable behavior from non-acceptable and why certain behavior isn 't acceptable and helps them with figuring out a better way to solve the problem. I feel that in a smaller setting this is more attainable for a teacher, verses chasing around 15 kids at a time! Also, if something is going on with one of the children's life (vacation, new baby, new house, or new car) not only Leslie knows but Karen, Virginia and the teachers know too! Even the teachers from other classrooms know the majority of all the kids' names.

Nicole and Dan Graul