November 2026 · Life at SBA
Our Director and Lead Teacher just celebrated 11 years at Smart Beginnings Academy. She was here when we had one school. She helped us open the other two.
Eleven years ago, Smart Beginnings Academy was a single school. Brittney Lundeen was there.
She has been here ever since, through every new school year, every new classroom, and every family walking through our doors for the first time. This fall she celebrated her 11th anniversary with us, and we want to take a moment to say what that really means.
Brittney drives more than an hour to get to work. Then she drives more than an hour to get home. She has done that, day after day, for more than a decade.
And she is on time. Always. Her days often run eleven hours, and in all these years she has barely taken a day off. Families and teachers know she will be there in the morning, and that she will still be there as the day winds down.
Reliability is not a flashy quality. But when you care for young children, it is everything.
When Brittney joined us, Smart Beginnings Academy had one location. Today we have three: Oswego, Ogden & IL 59, and Kirk & Butterfield.
Opening a new school takes a lot of work that most people never see. Classrooms have to be set up, a team has to be built, and the first families have to be welcomed into a building that feels brand new. Brittney played a major role in opening both our second and third campuses. A lot of what makes each school feel like Smart Beginnings came from her.
Everyone at Smart Beginnings Academy is grateful for Brittney, and our owners most of all. Growing from one school to three does not happen without people like her: people who show up, who stay, and who care about getting it right for children and families every single day.
The best part of this story is that it is not over. Brittney continues to do her excellent work with us every day, and we are lucky to have her.
Happy 11th anniversary, Ms. Brittney. Here's to many more.