'Families Taking Care Of Families': Celebree School To Address Alexandria Child Care Need

ALEXANDRIA, VA — As new parents, Mohammad Ali and Ayesha Abdul understand the desire for more high-quality child care and early education. That's what they hope to provide as they open Celebree School at the Carlyle Crossing development in Alexandria.

Celebree School is a franchise providing infant and toddler care for children six weeks to 5 years old, preschool, before and after school care and summer camp programs up to 12 years old. The school at 2450 Mill Road in Alexandria is expected to open in the second half of February. Hours will be 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. on weekdays.

Ali, a Northern Virginia native who has worked in accounting and finance, will oversee operations of the school. Abdul co-owns the school but will continue her work as a physician with Virginia Hospital Center.

The couple welcomed their first child several weeks ago and plans to bring a family-oriented approach to Celebree School.

"I relate to the moms or dads, or anybody, any family member that's trusting someone to look after their child while they're at work or whatever it is that they do," Abdul told Patch. "You really want someone to look after your child as if they were your own, and that need for family which is what I really think that Celebree sort of brings to the table is just families taking care of families."

Ali said opening Celebree School allows the couple to give back and extend their impact beyond their normal careers. When they were considering a business to open, they learned that early childhood education often isn't given enough attention. He saw the challenge his sister went through to provide high quality early education for her child.

"Those early years for Childhood Development are critically important," said Ali. "Ninety percent of your brain development occurs in those first five years."

Ali and Abdul highlighted the need for more early childhood education and childcare providers in Alexandria. Ali said Alexandria's school district helps families by providing before and after school care.

"But for the younger ages. I think it's particularly difficult, especially when you have both parents working or a lot of this remote work now going back into the office, and so parents are struggling with how to manage that," said Ali. "So especially in Alexandria with DC being such a large workplace, they now need to be able to find reliable, quality care so they can go back to the office."

Abdul has seen the issue be discussed frequently by local families.

"I'm a part of all of the Facebook mom groups, and it's a very recurrent question that keeps coming up constantly," said Abdul. "You know, where they're asking each other, where do you go, where do you drop your kids off, or what's a good school, or I'm on this waitlist. I've been on this waitlist for six months, and they don't have a spot opening up and I'm starting work soon. So it's just it's constant."

Ali said Celebree School has an "interest-based curriculum" that incorporates academics and social-emotional learning in interest areas. The curriculum is individualized based on development levels rather than ages but will progress as the child ages.

"So as the child gets older and closer to kindergarten, we introduce more structure," said Ali. "We make sure what they see in kindergarten is what they've been doing for the last year."

Ali believes Alexandria is a good location to open Celebree School since it is a tight-knit, civically engaged and diverse community. For the Carlyle location in particular, Ali is excited to be part of the neighborhood's growth and fulfill its need for early childhood education and child care.

Celebree School will be led by School Director Jana Behm, who has almost three decades of early education experience and is a member of the National Association for Education of Young Children.

Supporting teachers will be a key priority for Ali. He noted the Celebree School franchise has seen assistant teachers advance to roles like lead teachers, assistant directors, school directors, district directors and even franchise owners. As owner, Ali wants to help teachers understand and achieve their personal and professional goals.

He also understands the staffing challenges early education providers have faced.

"it's always going to be a challenge for us and everybody else in the industry," said Ali. "But what really makes the difference is building a culture that helps each each employee feel respected and valued."

Ali and Abdul have also researched what teachers are paid in the area and what a true living wage looks like. The franchise location will pay teachers a living wage or above, as well as 80 percent of health insurance premiums and a 401K package.

"We have a vested interest in making sure our teachers personal goals are met, if their personal goals are met, and we are helping them professionally grow in our school, which we intend to do, then they will stay with us," said Ali.

Based on early pre-enrollment, Celebree School will open with at least three classrooms and potentially a fourth. Enrollment remains open as the school prepares to open.

Stay up to date on when Celebree School will open on its website, Facebook or Instagram.