May 13, 2026 by Shannon Gunderson
VERMONT — Inside Spark Academy on a recent morning, backpacks hung from cubbies labeled with children’s names, scrambled eggs were served for breakfast and small hands tugged at sleeves as teachers helped children get ready for the day.
One child cried after learning rain would keep the class from going outside. A teacher knelt beside her, held her close and helped her settle back into the rhythm of the classroom.
For Vickie Gratton, co-owner of Spark Academy in Swanton, those moments show why early childhood education is more than watching children while their parents work.