With Open Arms - By Birth to Five Illinois: Region 4 Staff

The Birth to Five Illinois: Region 4 Team sat down with Lisa Fambro, owner/operator of Open Arms Learning Center in Rockford, Illinois earlier this month. Mrs. Fambro has a passion for educating and serving our youngest learners. Her entrepreneurial spirit led her to research what was needed to build her own Early Childcare Learning Center. The location was meant to be, as it had been vacant for over a year before she made it her own. Hallways and classrooms are filled with colorful images of Black leaders during Black History Month. Teachers decorate their doors for various holidays, and everything is vibrant and engaging, resulting in a creative learning environment. Lisa worries too many young children are being "tablet-trained" and emphasizes age-appropriate education and social interaction with the children in her care.

Lisa’s current waitlist is a testimony to the many families searching for quality child care in the Rockford area. Mrs. Fambro currently operates eight licensed classrooms and cares for over 100 children. She is fortunate to have a wonderful staff of 20, including four director qualified teachers, who not only guide education, but also desire to do their best in partnership with Mrs. Fambro. She attributes her strong staff to offering a higher-than-average pay, staff development days, and by creating a supportive family environment. Having been a home care provider for over 20 years, Lisa knows firsthand what it means to care for children. She still enjoys visiting the classrooms and helping care for the children on a regular basis.

Lisa’s energy for providing quality child care and good jobs within her community is inspiring. We are pleased she is supportive of Birth to Five Illinois: Region 4, and are looking forward to additional collaboration in the future. We value her contribution to the work of Early Childhood Education and Care in our community!