Today we’d like to introduce you to Jennifer Gauthier.
Hi Jennifer , can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I enjoy sharing my journey and the passion that drives my work in Early Childhood Education. Having grown up in a family of business owners, I have always been an entrepreneur at heart. After owning a coffee shop for almost 7 years and co-founding Blue Harvest Apparel with my sister, McKenzie, I realized that my favorite part of running a business is creating a sense of community and a space for collaboration.
When my son was born in 2014, my search for preschool options revealed a need for a program that matched my vision for early education. This inspired me to sell my coffee shop and establish my dream school. To fully commit to this goal, I returned to school to obtain my teaching qualifications and immersed myself in Early Childhood Education, a field I have truly fallen in love with.
I created this space to provide children with a multitude of ways to discover and learn about the world around them. Art is the core of our program, as I believe children learn best through art and play.
We use all forms of creative expression to encourage development, while weaving in academics to prepare children for kindergarten and the world beyond. My goal is for the time spent here at Arts and Imagination to be fun, creative, and open-ended through the power of a child’s imagination. I want children to be children for as long as they can through joy, love, and imagination.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Opening Arts and Imagination has been an incredible journey, far exceeding my expectations. While the initial stages of starting a business presented a significant learning curve and various challenges, working with the children has always been a joyful experience.
Creativity is the driving force behind my work as a business owner. My goal is to create for children, whom I view as capable, strong, resilient, and full of curiosity and potential.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Arts and Imagination is an art and play-focused preschool serving children ages 2.5 to 6 years old. Our school is built on the belief in child-led learning, where students determine their own path by initiating activities from a variety of carefully curated learning centers. These environments are designed by our teachers to spark curiosity and deepen understanding through hands-on learning, collaborative play, and cooperation.
I am particularly proud of the community we have built together. Most of our families join us through word-of-mouth and referrals from friends, creating a like-minded “village” dedicated to supporting children during these foundational early years.
Art is a core part of our daily curriculum. Having been passionate about art since I was a child, sharing this creative outlet with our students is a dream come true. We look forward to helping your child explore their knowledge and reach their fullest potential.
We now have two locations to better serve the community of Fort Collins
Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
I would like to credit my family for instilling these philosophies in me from a young age. Without my life experiences, I would not be here today creating a place that brings joy to so many children and their families.
My husband, Matt Gauthier, invested in my vision and helped expand the school to offer more to our community. As a co-founder of Arts and Imagination East, he is the best partner I could ask for. The children love him and have affectionately nicknamed him “Fix-it Matt,” as he serves as our school’s official handyman.
I would also like to thank my Director of nearly seven years, Dani Sherman. She is a wonderful person who pours her heart into our staff and the children. Her warm and loving approach is a vital part of Arts and Imagination.
Pricing:
- Full time – $1545
- MWF- $1062
- T/Th -$747
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.artsandimagination.com
- Instagram: artsandimagination
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com
