Malia Riggs
Elmore Autauga News
AIM Academy held a groundbreaking in Prattville Thursday morning where owners Scott Cotter, Bob Moffett, soon to be director Leann Marion and Rachel Atherton director of Helena School and director of marketing and communications for AIM Academy were all present to commemorate the occasion, just in time for teacher appreciation week.
“Scott and Bob recognized that there were gaps within the childcare industry in Alabama. They’ve been doing this for a long time and our goal is quality equitable care for everyone in Alabama and beyond. One of our core values is play with purpose. We teach everything through play. Play is a child’s work, so we really lean into playful, authentic learning experiences. While children are getting quality care in a state-of-the-art facility,” Atherton said.
The new facility will be 10,000 square feet and have 10 total classrooms and will be able to facilitate around 167 children for daily operations, Cotter confirmed. The facility is projected to be done in early 2025, and enrollment will be an open enrollment policy that can be found on their website closer to the completion date. The new facility will be located on Boardroom Dr. next to Launch Trampoline Park in Prattville.
AIM is a childcare academy aimed at teaching children through play. With five locations throughout the state, and soon to be Prattville, all are licensed by the Childcare Services Division of the Alabama Department of Human Resources. As a licensed center, AIM meets rigorous health and safety standards set by state regulated inspectors.
“We believe it starts with the teachers, so honoring the teachers, paying the teachers, benefits for the teachers, it starts with our teachers and that’s really where our focus is as a company. It’s one of our core values and it’s one of our important missions,” Marion said.
In addition to meeting state licensing requirements, AIM Academy participates in Alabama’s Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS). The rating system awards STAR levels to early childhood education programs that meet a set of defined, research-based program criteria.
“In Alabama, with childcare as a whole, I’m proud to be part of a company that supports quality, that wants the best practice, and that gives us the tools to be able to give that to the community. For this new facility, I’m super excited for Prattville. Prattville’s grown a lot since I’ve lived here, the quality of Prattville is increasing and so is the need for quality childcare. I’m excited to bring that to this community,” Marion said.
With flexible enrollment options with full-time and part-time options for ages six weeks to 10-years-old, and before and after school childcare, AIM offers multiple programs for all ages of kids, Moffett confirmed. AIM breaks it down by program, early school, preschool, pre-K, school age and summer camp, all with a play-based curriculum geared at childhood development and learning.
“We want our staff to have as much fun as the students in their classroom because that’s what makes it work. We have a lot of high energy, high patience, and we want things to be exciting. I mean the creativity amongst our staff is just crazy. All of that combined makes for a fantastic, fun, safe learning experience for every age group,” Moffett said.
