Owner's Story

Chris and Taylor Campbell are excited to welcome you to the Ivybrook community!

As the parents of two young daughters, Chris and Taylor started considering options for preschool and found their options were limited for an educational program that aligned with their values.

While studying abroad in Europe, Taylor became interested in the Reggio Emilia and Montessori approaches to learning. Education should be hands-on and consist of discovering the unique interests and learning styles of the individual, especially in early childhood. When their oldest daughter was born, they began employing a Montessori approach to learning and have continued to embrace the spirit of child-led discovery and learning for both of their daughters.

Thankfully, during their search, they discovered an Ivybrook Academy was being built down the road from their home. They started learning more about their unique approach towards learning and felt they had found the perfect match! At that same time, Chris was thinking about going into business on his own. When they found out that Ivybrook was a franchise, they were excited to explore the opportunity. They toured the Weddington campus and fell in love. The energy was calm but electrifying. It felt far from the chaos they had observed at other schools they’d toured. The environment was enriching, and you could tell the students were completely engaged with their teachers and peers.

Chris and Taylor believe that early childhood education is one of the most important decisions parents can make for their children. Their daughters are in their second year at Ivybrook Academy and are amazed by their growth each week. They are excited to bring another Ivybrook Academy to the Richmond community and provide a greater scope of options for education that places children at the pinnacle of success!