At Children’s Lighthouse, the fast-growing early education franchise, family has always been at the heart of the mission — not just in the classrooms, but in the ownership structure that drives the brand forward. Founded on values of care, connection, and community, Children’s Lighthouse empowers families to help other families by offering high-quality early education that fosters confidence, compassion, and lifelong learning.
As the holiday season approaches — a time of gratitude and reflection — stories from the network highlight a recurring theme: the power of family working together. Across the nation, spouses, siblings, and parents are finding new purpose as franchise owners, building legacies that merge their professional aspirations with their deepest personal values.
Children’s Lighthouse naturally attracts family teams who view their business as an extension of their values. The model allows parents and couples to invest in something meaningful — a business that supports work-life balance while contributing to their community’s educational foundation.
The franchise’s flexible structure and robust operational support make it ideal for families who want to collaborate, combining their skill sets and life experiences to build something lasting. And because Children’s Lighthouse is rooted in trust and purpose, family-run schools often flourish. As one leadership principle across the network reflects, when franchisees build with family at the helm, they bring stability, compassion, and a long-term mindset — all essential qualities for success in early learning.
For Ashley Hempton, opening a Children’s Lighthouse in New Braunfels, Texas, was more than a business decision — it was a calling.
“I am a mother of six; the last two we fostered and then adopted after two years,” Hempton said. “My husband is a mechanical engineer and worked in the oil and gas industry. I am a stay-at-home mom. We decided to open a Children’s Lighthouse because we wanted to set deeper roots in the community. The oil and gas industry has been great to us, but as our kids were getting older, we wanted to settle down and start something that was our own.”
Her firsthand experience as a parent inspired her to create something meaningful for other families. “As a mother of six, I have a lot of experience with quality early childhood education and how important that is,” she said.
For Hempton, the brand’s educational philosophy was the deciding factor. “What Children’s Lighthouse is doing with the curriculum is amazing,” she said. “There is a team constantly updating the curriculum with research to ensure we are the best in the industry.”
As she prepares to open her first school, Hempton sees her Children’s Lighthouse franchise as a legacy project — one that combines her passion for children with her family’s desire to make a difference. “We wanted to set deeper roots in the community,” she said. “This gives us the chance to do that.”
For Tyler and Madison Wiggins, owning two Children’s Lighthouse schools in Gardner and Olathe, Kansas, has allowed them to realign their careers around what matters most — family. After years in demanding corporate roles, the couple wanted to spend more time with their children while contributing to their local community.
“We were in this situation where we felt like we were going to miss our kids’ childhoods, for lack of a better word,” Tyler said. “We started looking for a way to give Madison a career but also be able to see our kids throughout the day — to have your cake and eat it too.”
Their journey led them to Children’s Lighthouse, a brand that aligned perfectly with their mission. “We were really interested in having that support from a corporate entity as we started our business journey,” Madison said. “That’s a major reason we chose Children’s Lighthouse, because of their corporate team, their franchisee team and the support they offer. It’s been reassuring over and over again that we chose the right franchise.”
Together, the couple balances their skills — Tyler brings business acumen, while Madison’s eye for detail and passion for education keep their schools running smoothly. And far from adding stress to their relationship, this shared venture has strengthened it. “This experience has shown us how to lean on each other,” Tyler said. “It’s made us more solid as a family unit.”
Now, they’re looking ahead to long-term growth. “The hope is that five years from now, we’ve established something meaningful here,” Tyler said. “We want to be viewed by our community, our families, and our staff as the benchmark for what premium childcare should be.”
Randy and Sandy Craft turned their own parenting journey into a thriving business. What began as a search for childcare for their first child has evolved into a 12-year franchise success story — one that reflects the lasting power of family and perseverance.
“When we were expecting our first child, we struggled to find quality childcare in our community,” Randy said. “Sandy said, ‘There has to be something better out there,’ which prompted us to start researching childcare options.”
That search led them to Children’s Lighthouse. “The franchise model meant we didn’t have to reinvent the wheel — there was always someone to guide us,” Randy said. “Children’s Lighthouse promised they would teach us to be successful operators, and they delivered on that promise.”
Now operating two thriving schools in Texas — one in Fairfield and another in Jordan Ranch — the Crafts have achieved not just professional success but personal balance. “The franchise has given us immense freedom, both financially and in terms of time,” Randy said. “We’ve been able to travel extensively and enjoy time with our family.”
Their advice to others is simple: trust the process. “Don’t try to reinvent the wheel. Be open to mentorship and follow the proven systems in place,” Randy said. “Children’s Lighthouse said, ‘Follow our script, and you will be successful,’ and they’ve kept that promise.”
In the world of franchising, family partnerships are becoming increasingly common and Children’s Lighthouse stands out as an ideal fit.
Operating a school together allows couples and families to play to their strengths, share responsibilities, and build a legacy that extends beyond profit. The emotional and business advantages of these teams — trust, alignment, communication, and long-term vision — are precisely what make Children’s Lighthouse communities so strong.
This holiday season, as parents across the country reflect on what matters most, Children’s Lighthouse celebrates the families who are shaping brighter futures — not just for their own children, but for generations to come.
For more information on franchising with Children’s Lighthouse, visit: https://1851franchise.com/childrens-lighthouse.
Children's Lighthouse
SPONSORED
Across the country, family teams from married couples to parent-child duos are finding purpose and prosperity as Children’s Lighthouse franchisees.
At Children’s Lighthouse, the fast-growing early education franchise, family has always been at the heart of the mission — not just in the classrooms, but in the ownership structure that drives the brand forward. Founded on values of care, connection, and community, Children’s Lighthouse empowers families to help other families by offering high-quality early education that fosters confidence, compassion, and lifelong learning.
As the holiday season approaches — a time of gratitude and reflection — stories from the network highlight a recurring theme: the power of family working together. Across the nation, spouses, siblings, and parents are finding new purpose as franchise owners, building legacies that merge their professional aspirations with their deepest personal values.
Children’s Lighthouse naturally attracts family teams who view their business as an extension of their values. The model allows parents and couples to invest in something meaningful — a business that supports work-life balance while contributing to their community’s educational foundation.
The franchise’s flexible structure and robust operational support make it ideal for families who want to collaborate, combining their skill sets and life experiences to build something lasting. And because Children’s Lighthouse is rooted in trust and purpose, family-run schools often flourish. As one leadership principle across the network reflects, when franchisees build with family at the helm, they bring stability, compassion, and a long-term mindset — all essential qualities for success in early learning.
For Ashley Hempton, opening a Children’s Lighthouse in New Braunfels, Texas, was more than a business decision — it was a calling.
“I am a mother of six; the last two we fostered and then adopted after two years,” Hempton said. “My husband is a mechanical engineer and worked in the oil and gas industry. I am a stay-at-home mom. We decided to open a Children’s Lighthouse because we wanted to set deeper roots in the community. The oil and gas industry has been great to us, but as our kids were getting older, we wanted to settle down and start something that was our own.”
Her firsthand experience as a parent inspired her to create something meaningful for other families. “As a mother of six, I have a lot of experience with quality early childhood education and how important that is,” she said.
For Hempton, the brand’s educational philosophy was the deciding factor. “What Children’s Lighthouse is doing with the curriculum is amazing,” she said. “There is a team constantly updating the curriculum with research to ensure we are the best in the industry.”
As she prepares to open her first school, Hempton sees her Children’s Lighthouse franchise as a legacy project — one that combines her passion for children with her family’s desire to make a difference. “We wanted to set deeper roots in the community,” she said. “This gives us the chance to do that.”
For Tyler and Madison Wiggins, owning two Children’s Lighthouse schools in Gardner and Olathe, Kansas, has allowed them to realign their careers around what matters most — family. After years in demanding corporate roles, the couple wanted to spend more time with their children while contributing to their local community.
“We were in this situation where we felt like we were going to miss our kids’ childhoods, for lack of a better word,” Tyler said. “We started looking for a way to give Madison a career but also be able to see our kids throughout the day — to have your cake and eat it too.”
Their journey led them to Children’s Lighthouse, a brand that aligned perfectly with their mission. “We were really interested in having that support from a corporate entity as we started our business journey,” Madison said. “That’s a major reason we chose Children’s Lighthouse, because of their corporate team, their franchisee team and the support they offer. It’s been reassuring over and over again that we chose the right franchise.”
Together, the couple balances their skills — Tyler brings business acumen, while Madison’s eye for detail and passion for education keep their schools running smoothly. And far from adding stress to their relationship, this shared venture has strengthened it. “This experience has shown us how to lean on each other,” Tyler said. “It’s made us more solid as a family unit.”
Now, they’re looking ahead to long-term growth. “The hope is that five years from now, we’ve established something meaningful here,” Tyler said. “We want to be viewed by our community, our families, and our staff as the benchmark for what premium childcare should be.”
Randy and Sandy Craft turned their own parenting journey into a thriving business. What began as a search for childcare for their first child has evolved into a 12-year franchise success story — one that reflects the lasting power of family and perseverance.
“When we were expecting our first child, we struggled to find quality childcare in our community,” Randy said. “Sandy said, ‘There has to be something better out there,’ which prompted us to start researching childcare options.”
That search led them to Children’s Lighthouse. “The franchise model meant we didn’t have to reinvent the wheel — there was always someone to guide us,” Randy said. “Children’s Lighthouse promised they would teach us to be successful operators, and they delivered on that promise.”
Now operating two thriving schools in Texas — one in Fairfield and another in Jordan Ranch — the Crafts have achieved not just professional success but personal balance. “The franchise has given us immense freedom, both financially and in terms of time,” Randy said. “We’ve been able to travel extensively and enjoy time with our family.”
Their advice to others is simple: trust the process. “Don’t try to reinvent the wheel. Be open to mentorship and follow the proven systems in place,” Randy said. “Children’s Lighthouse said, ‘Follow our script, and you will be successful,’ and they’ve kept that promise.”
In the world of franchising, family partnerships are becoming increasingly common and Children’s Lighthouse stands out as an ideal fit.
Operating a school together allows couples and families to play to their strengths, share responsibilities, and build a legacy that extends beyond profit. The emotional and business advantages of these teams — trust, alignment, communication, and long-term vision — are precisely what make Children’s Lighthouse communities so strong.
This holiday season, as parents across the country reflect on what matters most, Children’s Lighthouse celebrates the families who are shaping brighter futures — not just for their own children, but for generations to come.
For more information on franchising with Children’s Lighthouse, visit: https://1851franchise.com/childrens-lighthouse.
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