- March 25, 2026
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Ellenton’s Rennee Lux, a single mom seeking a daycare for her daughter, Willow, dove into the world of education 10 years ago with no prior experience.
A decade later, she is gearing up to take on the role of director for KLA (Kids Learning Adventure) Schools of Lakewood Ranch.
“There's an environment I'm wanting to provide to these children – something comfortable so they can thrive,” Lux said.
KLA of Lakewood Ranch, an early childhood learning center, is under construction at 5725 Lorraine Road. It will have a capacity of 200 students between the ages of 3 months and 4 years old. It hopes to be open in September.
The 12,000 square foot facility will consist of 10 classrooms (two per age group), an art room, and a light and shadow room. There will be a 3,500-square foot playgrounds on each end of the school — one for the younger children and one for the older children.
J.M. Sada is the director of franchise development for KLA Schools. He and his wife Kenia founded KLA Schools of North Bay Village in 2013, expanded to include KLA Schools of Lake Worth in 2019, and now are opening in Lakewood Ranch.
“Lakewood Ranch stood out for its growth,” Sada said. “There's construction everywhere and we did see that most of the premier preschools in Lakewood Ranch were full and had some wait lists. There certainly seems to be a need for more additional premium preschools or childcare.”
KLA Schools uses the Reggio Emillia approach, which originated in Italy. According to Sada, the classroom environment encourages creativity and discovery. Instead of a “rigid curriculum,” teachers base projects off the interests of the children.
“It is more effective than traditional teaching because it fosters critical thinking, independence, and a genuine love of learning,” Sada said. “Children are not just memorizing information, they are actively investigating ideas, expressing themselves in many ways and developing strong social and problem-solving skills that prepare them for lifelong learning.”
Lux said the philosophy is what sold her on taking the director's position. She appreciates how it is child led. She said she wants what is best for the kids — which includes learning to read and write — but she knows kids do not learn at the same speed.
“These kids have interests and they have imaginations,” Lux said. “Throughout my career, I've seen a lot of loss in that and I believe that this type of education will bring that back.”
Her daughters — 10-year-old Willow, 8-year-old Savannah and 1-year-old Piper are examples. She said Willow doesn't seem to have a love for education and tends to be scared to ask questions. She hopes Piper, who will attend the school, doesn't have that obstacle in her learning.
"I hope when my daughter (Piper) comes here, she's comfortable, able to express herself, and able to be curious," Lux said. "I hope she is able to be confident in her learning, because that's what these kids need when they go into the real world. They need to be comfortable and confident in decision making and asking questions."
Lux said the world of education and childcare can be difficult because it is a business. For her, it is less about numbers and more about preparing the children, who are the future of everything, to be prepared and rounded individuals.
“Money makes the world go round and we do have to run a business, but we need to be extra careful and delicate with how we run it due to the impact that we're going to have on these kids' lives.”
“For us, it’s not just about operating schools — it’s about creating environments where children feel inspired, confident and excited to learn,” Sada said. “Being able to build something that supports families and shapes the early experiences of young children is what continues to drive us to grow.”
