Welcome! Bright Futures Learning Center at Prairie Groves opened July 1st 2013 with a dream of striving to serve our community as a high quality learning center. At Bright Futures, excellence is our standard and we provide quality care and educational opportunities for your children. We look forward to meeting you and to the possibility of you becoming a part of our Bright Futures family!
Meet our Directors:
Chelsey Steinlicht
Chelsey Steinlicht is the owner and operator of Bright Futures Learning Centers. Chelsey is an NDSU graduate in Business Administration with an emphasis in Management and Child Development. She has been in the education field for 17 years filling a variety of roles from teaching to tutoring to managing a variety education programs in both non-profit and for-profit organizations. Chelsey obtained the National Director Credential from McCormick Center for Early Childhood Literacy in February of 2013. She had the privilege of being selected for United Way’s 35 under 35 Program in 2014, FMWF Leadership Group in 2020, Women’s Leadership Program in 2021, and nominated for the YWCA’s Women of the Year in education in 2021. She enjoys spending time with her husband, Dan, and four children.
What inspired the opening of Bright Futures Learning Centers?
My parents will tell you that I had an entrepreneurial spirit from a young age. As the daughter of a business owner, I was given an early example of working hard, perseverance, and following your passion will help you accomplish your dreams. After college, I worked as a Child Care Center Director and learned a lot about the industry. After being in an environment which modeled different business values, I quickly learned that to have the quality of program I desired, I needed to create my own business. Creating Bright Futures allowed me to take best business practices and innovative child care concepts aspects of the program it allowed me to influence and make positive changes for the parent and child experience in the early childhood years.
What does your typical workday consist of?
Our Site Directors, Molly Oakgrove, Abi Harris, and I share many duties as enrollment and tours for both locations are always busy! No two days are ever alike. Our day could consist of government and regulatory compliance audits, meal planning, event planning, problem management, tours, enrollment questions, construction oversight, human resources, inventory control, transportation, curriculum oversight, lost mitten identification and hugs to all.
What is the most rewarding part of your business?
Hearing a teacher say they genuinely love what they do, a compliment from a parent about their appreciation of what the teachers has done for them, or the satisfaction of hearing a happy child tell their parent about their day.
What makes Bright Futures unique?
Anyone can establish a childcare center, but not everyone can create an environment that becomes an extension of the child’s family, with an emphasis on academic and social growth. The strength in our program lies with teaming team and relationships with the children and their families.
INTRODUCTION OF SITE DIRECTORS:
ABI HARRIS – ROCKING HORSE FARM SITE DIRECTOR
Hello! My name is Abi Harris and I am the Site Director at Bright Futures at Rocking Horse Farm. Before the Rocking Horse location opened in 2017, I began as a float teacher in 2013, quickly moving up the ranks to Lead Infant Teacher, then Assistant Director. Early childhood education has always been such huge part of my life, my mom operated an in-home daycare for over 18 years, and I was always babysitting, coaching, or working with kids in some capacity while growing up. One of the most amazing things about early childhood is getting the opportunity to see kids start with us when they are infants and watching the progress and development as they move through each classroom, all the way to graduating preschool. We are lucky enough to still see many of them through most of elementary school! Watching this development is one of my favorite things about early childhood.
A little bit of a background about myself, I grew up in Hawley, Minnesota and lived there my whole childhood. After high school, I moved to Fargo and went to Minnesota State Community and Technical College and graduated with a degree in Business Management, Marketing and Sales. In my free time I love spending time at the lake with my family and friends. I can’t wait to build a relationship with parents and families to create a positive learning experience for everyone!
MOLLY OAKGROVE – PRAIRIE GROVES SITE DIRECTOR
Hi, my name is Molly Oakgrove. I have my bachelor’s degree in University of Wisconsin Eau Claire in Human Resource Management and moved to Fargo in 2012. I first became involved with Bright Futures as a parent when I enrolled my then 8-month-old and 2 year old in July 2013. In July 2015, I took and the role of Site Supervisor of our Prairie Groves Bright Futures location. After seeing what a positive impact the teachers and staff had on my own children, I knew this was a company that I wanted to be part of. In February 2017, I became Site Director after completing my Aim4Excellence Director’s credential. My favorite part about this position is the relationships I have been able to build with children and families in our community. I currently live in Fargo with my 3 daughters (6,8, and 10) and my fiancé, Brian. I look forward to meeting you and your family!