Primrose grows up in its first decade

LAKEWOOD RANCH — Sharon Frank’s black stilettos click as she walks the wooden floors of Primrose School at Lakewood Ranch Town Center. The clicking sound suddenly stops as Frank pauses to watch teachers reading and acting out a story for students.

Although she has witnessed a similar scenario countless times, it brings her happiness knowing it represents a dream fulfilled for her and her husband, Brad.

In May, the school that the Franks co-own celebrated a decade in the Ranch.

“We’re honored to have been out here for this long,” Frank says. “We’d like to believe that we’ve helped children in our community be successful, well-rounded individuals who also have great character.”

The Franks built the local Primrose branch after visiting a franchise in the Tampa area, where they lived, more than a decade ago.

The couple sought a school for their 1- and 2-year-old children to attend, and Brad persuaded Sharon to tour Primrose. 

“The teachers looked happy and fulfilled with their work,” Frank said. “The children were engaged and happy about learning and the environment was warm. I immediately called Brad and said, ‘We have to do this; we have to open a school.’”

The first day of school in 2005 staff welcomed 90 students, and 80 other children enrolled within the first month.

The 2014-15 school year ended with about 200 students — the school’s capacity. It now has a waiting list.

When Primrose opened, its only neighbor was the Chili’s around the corner. The community was mostly retirement age.

Now, more families are moving to East County, specifically Lakewood Ranch, each year. 

Parenting is changing, too, Frank said.

“Parents want to be involved now,” Frank says. “They want to know what their child is doing and how they’re progressing socially and emotionally.”

“We’d like to believe that we’ve helped children in our community be 

successful, well-rounded individuals who also have great character.”

 

– Sharon Frank, co-owner of Primrose School

To accommodate parents’ questions and growing involvement, school staff members now ask parents questions at orientation and during tours to gauge their expectations of the school and their child’s education. The school relies heavily on community input and data from early-childhood experts, Frank says.

Other lifestyle changes have prompted additional changes at Primrose. As gluten sensitivities and other food allergies surfaced more over the last few years, the school has swapped Oreos and corn dogs for fresh fruit, vegetables and turkey sandwiches on whole wheat bread.

Although the school has grown, the Franks’ focus on the importance of learning at an early age hasn’t changed.

“We’re still just as committed to our families as we were 10 years ago,” Frank says. “Opening the school has been one of the most challenging and rewarding things we’ve done in our lives.”

Contact Amanda Sebastiano at [email protected].