And the Clark Winner is...Featherbed Lane School

In the third edition of out Readers' Choice polls,

With 1375 votes cast, came out on top with 60 percent of the vote (a whopping 836 votes total). Other local favorites were (348 votes) and (139 votes).

Featherbed Lane School has been in operation for 59 years and owned by Thomas and Barbara Faria since 1988.

When they learned they had won, the Farias immediately credited the nurturing environment at Featherbed Lane as their greatest asset.

"We want our school to have a family environment," says Thomas. "And that's a feeling you get when you're here, but it doesn't come by chance. It comes by design."

"I love the kids, I love being here," says Barbara. "I always get a good feeling here and every child is special."

For the preschool, Featherbed Lane also puts the three- and four-year-olds in separate classes, which not every preschool does.

"When you combine them, you sometimes don't meet their individual needs," says Thomas. "And they're working on so much: fine motor skills, language development, shapes, numbers, sequencing and more. When they move on to kindergarten, we always hear the parents say, 'Yes, they were ready.'"

Thomas says that when working with kids you have to always be willing to adapt to their needs. "You have to be flexible," he says. "Every class is different and so you need to take the children where they are developmentally and move them along."

Thomas credits his staff for making the school what it is. "They're dedicated, loyal, they work diligently and the kids love them," he says. "And they love working here. We have a very low turnover rate of staff."

Our readers seem to agree that Featherbed Lane succeeds at building a family. "Featherbed Lane has provided an environment of quality academics while maintaining the most nurturing, family oriented surroundings," said one commenter on our poll. "The best decision I ever made for my children!"

Another said, "Featherbed Lane school is a child's home away from home. As a parent you want your child to be in a nurturing envioernment as they take their first steps toward independence. I have watched my daughter blossom since her first days at this facility. They are on the cutting edge of all early childhood education...My daughter comes home with a big bright smile on her face each and everyday, and Mr. and Mrs. Faria who run this facility with heart and great passion for education and love of chldren. This family run business is #1 in my book!"

"Educating an dducator's child has to be one of the hardest things to do," said another commenter. "Not only am I satisfied but hearing my three-year-old summarize her day, but watching her correct her older cousin's manners is priceless."

From the front of the school, you'd hardly know the deep, large campus that Featherbed Lane sits on with several buildings, three playgrounds and two pools. Thomas says the school works hard to upgrade the facilities and the grounds have undergone several renovations over the years.

In addition to the preschool, Featherbed Lane offers an infant/toddler program, daycare, summer camps and kindergarten to sixth grade elementary school. Registration for the preschool is ongoing, but fills quickly with about 90 students total, according to Thomas.

Are you a Featherbed Lane fan? Give them some love on their by posting a review.

Congrats, Featherbed Lane! Check back on Monday when we ask you to vote for your favorite place to celebrate St. Patrick's Day in the county.