About IGA

A new kind of childcare, built by local educators.

Imagination Grove Academy is a new kind of childcare, built by local educators across Indiana and Kentucky. We are not a franchise. We are real schools designed around what early childhood actually needs.

Leadership & team

Meet our director.

Welcome! I'm a proud graduate of Oakland City University and the Director of Imagination Grove Academy. As both an educator and a parent in a family of four, I understand the importance of providing children with a safe, nurturing, and inspiring environment where they can thrive.

One of the greatest joys of my career is watching children grow, discover their unique strengths, and develop into confident, capable individuals. I believe every child deserves meaningful relationships, engaging learning experiences, and opportunities to explore their world through play and discovery.

My vision for Imagination Grove Academy is to create more than just a childcare center. I'm committed to building a welcoming community where children flourish, families feel supported, and educators are inspired to make a lasting difference every day. I strive to foster a culture of excellence, innovation, and genuine care, making our academy a place where everyone is excited to learn, grow, and belong.

I am honored to partner with our families as we help lay the foundation for each child's lifelong love of learning.

Emily Lee
Director, Imagination Grove Academy

Emily Lee with her family of four, all wearing Imagination Grove Academy shirts

Our philosophy

Kids build 90% of their brain architecture by age 5.

Language. Emotional regulation. Curiosity. Self-image. The adults in that window aren't just keeping a child safe. They are wiring the human that child becomes. That is a lot of pressure, and a lot of opportunity.

We do not subscribe to a single brand-name philosophy because we think each one gets part of early childhood right and part of it wrong. Instead, we combine play-based learning, teacher-guided structure, daily nature time, and relationships over programs.

What we don't do

Screens for under-3s. Limited educational video for 4-5s, rarely.
Worksheet-driven lesson plans, speed-focused flashcards, or rote memorization drills.
Rushing the developmental timeline.
Shame-based discipline. Ever.

What we do instead

Narrate emotions: "I can see you're frustrated. It's hard when..."
Offer choices: "Would you like the red cup or the blue cup?"
Respect the child's pace.
Teach conflict resolution explicitly.

Licensing & credentials

The details that actually matter.

Here is the paperwork you won't see on most childcare websites, because we think you deserve to see it.

Our licensing

Each IGA campus is licensed independently, and licensing is in progress at every campus ahead of its opening. Our Indiana locations (Bargersville, Fishers, New Palestine) license through the Indiana FSSA; our Lexington, KY location licenses through the Kentucky Division of Child Care. See each location page for capacity, licensing body, and other details. License numbers are available upon request once issued.

License type: State-licensed childcare centers (Indiana & Kentucky) — licensing in progress ahead of each opening
License number: Available upon request
Licensed capacity: Varies by location — see each location page
Inspection record: Public — look it up yourself. Indiana campuses are searchable on Indiana's Child Care Finder; our Lexington campus will be searchable on Kentucky's public child care search.
Health department inspection: Conducted at each location per state schedule

Staff credentials

Lead teachers: Minimum Associate's degree in Early Childhood Education or related field
Background checks: 100% of staff: FBI, state criminal history, sex offender registry, DCS
CPR & first aid: 100% of staff CPR and pediatric first-aid certified
Annual training: Hours exceed state-mandated minimums

Insurance

General liability, workers' compensation, and specialized child care liability coverage are all current.

Full health and safety policies, including cleaning schedules, illness procedures, emergency protocols, and medication administration standards, will live on the Resources page once published.

The fastest way to know if IGA is right.

Read this far and still not sure? That's normal. Tour the building, meet a teacher, and decide for yourself.

Schedule a Free Tour