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From Infant through preschool, we make early education and daycare joyful, engaging and fun so children are happy to learn, play and grow.

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Curriculum that develops the whole child

Our L.E.A.P.® (Learning Experience Academic Program) Curriculum uses fun, hands-on activities throughout early education to help children develop intellectually, socially and cognitively. Or as we say, to learn, play and grow.

Learn More About Our Curriculum

Characters that bring learning to life

Children love learning from characters—and studies show that it’s highly effective especially in preschool and early education. TLE® has a cast of unique, beloved characters, each one teaching children a new value or activity.

Bubbles and Friends Theme Song

261K subscribers and 60,480,577 views

Grace & Charity

Our dynamic doggy duo introduces the importance of being generous and giving.

Bubbles

Our lovable friend who takes you on a daily adventure that makes kids happy to learn, play and grow.

Lionstein®

Our wise and creative scientist who makes science fun and exciting.

Phoebe

Our literature loving llama makes reading fun.

Two Plus Toucan

Our creative mathematician helps explore the joys of math.

Penny

Our well-mannered etiquette coach demonstrates the importance of being helpful, honest, and kind.

Sonar

Our adventurous submarine reveals the many wonders of the underwater world.

Pablo

Our creative and artsy pig helps children discover the beauty of self-expression.

Gibby

Our kind-hearted, hard-of-hearing gibbon loves to share his passion for sign language and promoting inclusivity.

Success measured in happy stories

See what parents are saying about TLE Childcare Centers.

Megan

Henkels
7 months ago
We are so happy to have joined The Learning Experience family. My little one absolutely adores the directors and her teachers & it's evidenced by the fact that she's so excited to get to school in the morning and doesn't want to leave in the afternoon. Everyone genuinely cares about my ch... Read more

Megan

Henkels
7 months ago
We are so happy to have joined The Learning Experience family. My little one absolutely adores the directors and her teachers & it's evidenced by the fact that she's so excited to get to school in the morning and doesn't want to leave in the afternoon. Everyone genuinely cares about my child and her development, always taking the time to update me on her day and share new milestones. They provide structure and routine for my spirited little girl while maintaining a fun learning environment. Every day my child enjoys reading, music, creative play, art and she especially loves Make Believe Boulevard. I love that I get to be a part of it all through the pictures and updates I receive via the app. I often joke that my daughter eats better than I do throughout the day, as she is served healthy, well balanced meals/snacks. I very much appreciate the extra measures of security they have in place to ensure my child's safety & the bright, clean environment.

Megan

Henkels
7 months ago
We are so happy to have joined The Learning Experience family. My little one absolutely adores the directors and her teachers & it's evidenced by the fact that she's so excited to get to school in the morning and doesn't want to leave in the afternoon. Everyone genuinely cares about my ch... Read more

Megan

Henkels
7 months ago
We are so happy to have joined The Learning Experience family. My little one absolutely adores the directors and her teachers & it's evidenced by the fact that she's so excited to get to school in the morning and doesn't want to leave in the afternoon. Everyone genuinely cares about my child and her development, always taking the time to update me on her day and share new milestones. They provide structure and routine for my spirited little girl while maintaining a fun learning environment. Every day my child enjoys reading, music, creative play, art and she especially loves Make Believe Boulevard. I love that I get to be a part of it all through the pictures and updates I receive via the app. I often joke that my daughter eats better than I do throughout the day, as she is served healthy, well balanced meals/snacks. I very much appreciate the extra measures of security they have in place to ensure my child's safety & the bright, clean environment.

Meet our TLE® Center team

Joanna Siegel

Center Director

Favorite TLE® Character: Sonar

Joanna Siegel

Center Director

Favorite TLE® Character: Sonar

My journey in early childhood education started almost 20 years ago when I made a drastic career change from working in the film industry in Los Angeles to becoming a 2 year old teacher in a small preschool in Pacific Palisades, California...and I have never looked back. After 5 years of being a teacher, I became the Director and have since run 3 different schools in California. When a possibility of moving to Illinois became a reality last year, I was thrilled to find a home at TLE Lake Zurich. I am excited at the growth of our center, and with every new family joined and new teacher hired, we are continuing to create an environment that instills a lifelong love of learning in all children, and a home away from home for our families. My move from California was a big adjustment, but what I have found in life is that home really is where the heart is, and my heart is right here at TLE.

Leanne Panik

Education Director

Favorite TLE® Character: Lionstein

Leanne Panik

Education Director

Favorite TLE® Character: Lionstein

I have very happily been working with children for over 9 years now. After graduating from UW Whitewater with a Bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science, I started working with young children and came to the realization that this was where my true passion was. After moving to Illinois in early 2019 I began working as Toddler teacher at TLE Lake Zurich, which I loved, but after being given the opportunity to become Education Director I jumped at the chance. My weekends and evenings are spent with my husband Zach and our sweet baby boy, Brody :)

Michelle Aparicio

Business Manager

Favorite TLE® Character: Miss Chievous

Michelle Aparicio

Business Manager

Favorite TLE® Character: Miss Chievous

Before coming to The Learning Experience, I worked in the child welfare system for 14 years where I worked with newborns all the way up to twenty-years old. Working in the child welfare system gave me a wide variety of experiences that I am now able to apply to my current position here at TLE Lake Zurich. It is my goal each and every day, to make sure our families feel at home and our children are safe while they are laughing, learning and playing. When I’m not at TLE you can find me at home, having fun playing with my four-year old daughter.

Talia Barrientos

Infant B Teacher

Favorite TLE® Character: Miss Chievous

Talia Barrientos

Infant B Teacher

Favorite TLE® Character: Miss Chievous

Talia has been on our team since October 2021. Her calm and patient demeanor makes her the perfect Infant teacher. She strives to create a fun learning environment for her class and enjoys watching our littlest ones grow. Talia loves to travel and has been to 38 of our states, and has also been to Ireland, Japan and Argentina to name a few. We are happy that when she is stateside, she spends her days with us.

Harriet Nassaazi

Infant A Teacher

Favorite TLE® Character: Bubbles

Harriet Nassaazi

Infant A Teacher

Favorite TLE® Character: Bubbles

Harriet came to us from Dubai where she worked as an assistant teacher and early learning tutor using the British curriculum. She is has become a wonderful, patient and caring Infant room teacher and we are very grateful to have her on our team.

Jessie Grimaldi

Infant A Teacher

Favorite TLE® Character: Bubbles

Jessie Grimaldi

Infant A Teacher

Favorite TLE® Character: Bubbles

Jessie has been with us since we first opened in 2018. She has been in this field for 17 years and her experience is evident every day. She is an incredible teacher, we call her "The Baby Whisperer". When she's not here at the center you can find her at home being an equally fantastic mom to her two sons.

Marlene Paz

Infant A Teacher

Favorite TLE® Character: Penny Polite

Marlene Paz

Infant A Teacher

Favorite TLE® Character: Penny Polite

Marlene came to us through a referral from one of our families who gave us glowing reports on her interactions with their children. So it was really no surprise to discover that Marlene is an excellent and intuitive teacher and we are lucky to have her at our center.

Ana Gonzalez

Preschool Teacher

Favorite TLE® Character: Grace Charity

Ana Gonzalez

Preschool Teacher

Favorite TLE® Character: Grace Charity

Ana joined our team in February of 2020. She attends school while working at our center full time. When she's not at work or school, she spends her time listening to music and going for long walks. Her goal at the center is to teach her Preschool class something new every day.

Domenica Arseneau

Toddler Teacher

Favorite TLE® Character: Flexi Flamingo

Domenica Arseneau

Toddler Teacher

Favorite TLE® Character: Flexi Flamingo

Domenica has been in the Early Childhood field since 2005. She took some time off to raise her two girls, Bella and Scarlett and now that they are a little older she is ready to be back in the classroom again and we are so happy that she chose us :)

Jacquelynn Timmons

Floater Teacher

Favorite TLE® Character: Grace Charity

Jacquelynn Timmons

Floater Teacher

Favorite TLE® Character: Grace Charity

Jacqui started with us in October 2021, but her years of experience in this field go way beyond that. She has her degree in Early Childhood Education and puts her years of experience and education to good use in every classroom at our center. We are very lucky to have her!

Susee Gaub

Twaddler Teacher

Favorite TLE® Character: Miss Chievous

Susee Gaub

Twaddler Teacher

Favorite TLE® Character: Miss Chievous

Susee has been teaching for 30+ years and loves what she does. She has a collection of puppets that she brings in to the classroom for circle time and children of all ages love seeing their favorite stories come to life through Susee and her puppets!

Kelly Whitney

Infant B Teacher

Favorite TLE® Character: Flexi Flamingo

Kelly Whitney

Infant B Teacher

Favorite TLE® Character: Flexi Flamingo

When Kelly started at our center in March of 2019 she was a Toddler teacher, and since has worked with 2 year olds and now our Infants. She brings laughter, vitality and fun to every classroom she is in. When she's not at the center, you will find her spending time with her beloved family and friends.

Abbie Kaminski

Preppers Teacher

Favorite TLE® Character: Flexi Flamingo

Abbie Kaminski

Preppers Teacher

Favorite TLE® Character: Flexi Flamingo

Abbie comes to us with a degree in Human Development and Family Science from Northern Illinois University and multiple years of experience working with children ages 2 - 5 years. On the weekends you will find her spending time with family and friends and hitting the golf course with her boyfriend. She comes to the center every day with her baby boy Mason :)

Allie Farrar

Preppers Teacher

Favorite TLE® Character: Flexi Flamingo

Allie Farrar

Preppers Teacher

Favorite TLE® Character: Flexi Flamingo

Allie has been working at our center since September 2019. She started out as Preppers teacher and after a few years with working with our Infants, she is back with our Preppers again! During her time away from TLE she likes to spend time with family & friends and getting ready for the arrival of her first baby in July :)

Sammi Kaltenbach

Preppers Teacher

Favorite TLE® Character: Miss Chievous

Sammi Kaltenbach

Preppers Teacher

Favorite TLE® Character: Miss Chievous

Sammy joined our center in September 2021 and quickly became an integral part of our Lake Zurich family. She attends the College of Lake County part-time and is still deciding on her major. She spends her spare time writing, baking and watching Netflix. Her every day goal while at the center is to form strong relationships with the children while engaging in fun activities.

Isabel Perez-Garcia

Toddler Teacher

Favorite TLE® Character: Bubbles

Isabel Perez-Garcia

Toddler Teacher

Favorite TLE® Character: Bubbles

Isabel started with us in November of 2019 as an Infant teacher. Since then she has worked with our Preschoolers, Twaddlers, Preppers and finally landed with our Toddler class! She also became a Mom and her daughter is in our Preschool 1 class. Isabel juggles her role of Mother and teacher perfectly, giving her a unique perspective that makes her one of our very best.

Deborah Dombrowski

Preschool 2 Teacher

Favorite TLE® Character: Grace Charity

Deborah Dombrowski

Preschool 2 Teacher

Favorite TLE® Character: Grace Charity

Ms. Deb, or Ms. D as she prefers to be called, brings many years of experience and equal amounts of passion and energy to the Preschool 2 classroom. She is an "out of the box" thinker and uses her creative mind to bring the classroom curriculum to life

Anthony Skillen

Preschool 2 Teacher

Favorite TLE® Character:

Anthony Skillen

Preschool 2 Teacher

Favorite TLE® Character:

Anthony is the newest member of our team and we are very lucky to have him! He has his BA from Loyola University Chicago and his CDA credential for Preschool age. He loves all sports, almost as much as he loves everything Disney. As a Preschool 2 teacher, his main focus is to get his class ready for the big K.

Isabel Perez-Garcia

Preschool 2 Teacher

Favorite TLE® Character: Bubbles

Isabel Perez-Garcia

Preschool 2 Teacher

Favorite TLE® Character: Bubbles

Isabel started with us in November of 2019 as an Infant teacher. Since then she has worked with Toddlers, Twaddlers, Preppers and finally landed with our Preschool 2 class! She also became a Mom and her daughter is in our Preppers class. Isabel juggles her role of Mother and teacher perfectly, giving her a unique perspective that makes her one of our very best.

Kathy Bouffard

Preschool 1 Teacher

Favorite TLE® Character: Phoebe Phonics

Kathy Bouffard

Preschool 1 Teacher

Favorite TLE® Character: Phoebe Phonics

Kathy has been working in this field for almost 30 years and we are so very lucky to have her. Her goal every day is to help the children build self confidence and independence, make them feel safe and loved and get them ready for their next class, and she accomplishes that goal EVERY day! Kathy loves to travel and spends time outdoors in nature whenever possible.

Lexi Payne

Teacher

Favorite TLE® Character: Flexi Flamingo

Lexi Payne

Teacher

Favorite TLE® Character: Flexi Flamingo

Lexi worked with us when we first opened and is now back with us, this time bringing her baby boy with her; our newest member of the Infant room! Shas been working with young children for over 5 years and we are extremely happy to have her back at the center with us :)

Many ways to stay connected

We offer an easy-to-use smartphone app and an array of ways to help you stay connected.

Monthly newsletters and invitations to our community events

Monthly calendars

Everyday photos of your little learner

Blog to help you stay with the current trends

Notifications of your child’s learning activities

Social media

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