Longtime franchisee from Orange, CT, recognized for excellence in franchising

The International Franchise Association (IFA) named Kim Kick, owner of The Goddard School of Orange, CT, as a 2023 Franchisee of the Year. Kick was honored at the 63^rd IFA Annual Convention in Las Vegas for being an outstanding franchise establishment owner-operator.

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Kim Kick, owner of The Goddard School of Orange, CT. (Photo: Busines Wire)

The Goddard School of Orange is one of more than 600 locations in The Goddard School franchise system, the nation’s leading provider of premier early childhood education programs. Kick opened The Goddard School of Orange in 2006 with her father after 10 years of teaching at the elementary level. This location has become one of the system’s top performers in multiple categories including parent satisfaction scores (NPS), health and safety, teacher retention and profitability.

“I’m honored and humbled to receive the Franchisee of the Year Award and thank both the IFA and Goddard School for recognizing my commitment to and achievements in the franchising industry,” said Kick. “During my time as a Goddard School owner, I’ve had the unique privilege to provide care and education for thousands of children while watching them develop a lifelong love of learning. Owning a Goddard School has enabled me to give back to my community in ways I never thought possible, and I’m so grateful to be part of the Goddard family and the continued opportunities this provides, both personally and professionally.”

In accordance with Goddard’s mission to make the world a better place through early childhood development, Kick’s top priority is the continuous advancement of her school’s educational programming. At the height of school closures and faculty shortages during the COVID-19 pandemic, she led her school to earn accreditation from the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)—one of the industry’s most respected recognitions— for the third time. Kick is also committed to serving her community outside of her school, creating a scholarship in memory of her father to enable more children to receive world-class education. She is actively engaged in system-wide events and initiatives and serves as a franchisee representative to support collaboration and relationship building between the franchisor and other local school owners.

“With more than 465 franchisees in our system, this group of dedicated professionals is the backbone of our business, and Kim represents the best of the best in the Goddard family,” said Dennis R. Maple, chairman and CEO of Goddard Systems, LLC, and IFA board member. “Kim is proactive in providing quality care and developmentally appropriate education in a safe and nurturing environment, positioning her school as a premier employee destination and giving back to her community, all while never taking her eyes off maintaining and growing her profitable operations. Kim’s students and their families, faculty, fellow franchisees and all of us here at Goddard are grateful for her contributions and lucky to know her.”

The Franchisee of the Year Award recognizes leading franchise owners from IFA member brands whose outstanding performance and contributions help protect, enhance and promote the franchise business model. Nominated by their parent company, individuals are selected for their service to their communities, fostering a strong and vibrant workforce, opening the doors for career growth and entrepreneurship and supporting their fellow franchisees.

“Franchisee of the Year recipients represent the best in franchising,” said Matthew Haller, president and CEO of the IFA. “This is the highest honor IFA awards to individual franchisees, and local business owners like Kim exemplify the power of franchising and its positive contributions to communities around the world.”

For more information about The Goddard School, please visit goddardschool.com, and to learn about Goddard Systems and how to become a franchisee, go to goddardschoolfranchise.com.

ABOUT THE INTERNATIONAL FRANCHISE ASSOCIATION

Celebrating over 60 years of excellence, education, and advocacy, the International Franchise Association (IFA) is the world’s oldest and largest organization representing franchising worldwide. IFA works through its government relations and public policy, media relations, and educational programs to protect, enhance and promote franchising and the approximately 790,492 franchise establishments that support nearly 8.4 million direct jobs, $825.4 billion of economic output for the U.S. economy, and almost 3 percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). IFA members include franchise companies in over 300 different business format categories, individual franchisees, and companies that support the industry in marketing, law, technology, and business development.

ABOUT GODDARD SYSTEMS, LLC

Established in 1988, Goddard Systems, LLC, the franchisor of The Goddard School, is the acknowledged leader in the premium early childcare and education market segment. Headquartered in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, Goddard Systems has been consistently named one of the top childcare franchises in the United States by Entrepreneur magazine and one of the Top 200 Franchise Systems (in worldwide sales) by Franchise Times. Goddard Systems currently licenses 600 Goddard School franchises that serve more than 75,000 students in 37 states and Washington, D.C. For more information, visit goddardschoolfranchise.com.

ABOUT THE GODDARD SCHOOL^®

Learning for fun. Learning for life.^®

Children learn best through experience. The Goddard School uses current, academically endorsed methods to ensure that children have fun while learning the skills they need for long-term success in school and in life.

The distinctive structure positions schools to support the needs of families and helps ensure that children are known and appreciated for their individual talents and personalities. The Goddard School’s F.L.EX.^® Learning Program (Fun Learning Experience) helps children explore and discover their interests in a safe, nurturing environment. And a team of acknowledged experts in various fields of early childhood education guides the course of study.

Additionally, this program has earned AdvancED Corporation Accreditation and Middle States Corporate Accreditation for creating policies, programs and standards that help franchised locations meet high standards in early learning, child development and childcare. The Goddard School serves more than 75,000 students from six weeks to six years old in 600 Goddard Schools in 37 states and Washington, D.C. To learn more about The Goddard School, please visit GoddardSchool.com.

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