Jo Kirchner

In 1987, when I visited the first Primrose school, I immediately discovered an exceptional preschool unlike any that I had been able to find as a working mother. I knew there was a significant, untapped demand for this early education service. I also recognized it could be a new, premium category in an emerging care industry — educational child care, which combined high-quality child care and early education including a research-informed curriculum.

As the CEO of Primrose Schools, I am proud to have led the growth of our organization to more than 500 schools across 34 states, establishing Primrose as an industry-leading national brand. This achievement has been made possible through our organization’s people and culture, our replicable and scalable franchise model, innovation, unwavering perseverance, resilience, and a sharp vision for a brighter future.

One of my personal favorite quotes is by Michelangelo, who at 87 years old said, “I am still learning.” This quote resonates deeply with me because it captures the essence of our culture at Primrose. We have cultivated an environment that embraces continuous improvement and encourages the exploration of innovative ideas, enabling us to stay ahead of industry trends and meet the ever-evolving needs of the families and children, our franchise owners and staff. As a strong believer in giving back, I established the Primrose Children’s Foundation® and initiated the Primrose Promise℠ corporate social responsibility program, which together has raised and donated more than $5.5 million to charities focused on supporting children and families in underserved communities.

I am passionate about creating and scaling public, private, non-profit partnerships that provide a unique scholarship model for high quality early education and care, like the West Lakes Early Learning Center. In my personal life, I enjoy quality time and travel with my extended family and friends, gardening and enjoying our horse farm with my husband, Rick.