A CELEBRATION OF LOVE. LEARN. LEAD.
Wilcox Academy’s 20-Year Anniversary
Honoring a legacy of nurturing children, supporting families, and building a stronger community.
LOVE.
We create a safe, nurturing environment where every child feels valued and supported.
LEARN.
Through play-based, research-driven curriculum, children explore, discover, and build strong foundations.
LEAD.
We empower children to grow into confident, independent thinkers ready for school and life.
FOUNDER’S MESSAGE
To Our Teachers, Families & Community
To every teacher who has ever knelt down to meet a child at eye level, to every parent who has prayed over a small face sleeping, to every neighbor and partner who believes that the youngest among us deserve the very best—this letter is for you.
More than twenty-six years ago, I made a promise, first as a teacher, then as a small business owner in the community I love. I promised that every child, regardless of where they were born or the income their family earns, would have access to a place where they are seen, celebrated, and given every tool they need to soar.
“Every child who walks through our doors is not a problem to be solved—they are a purpose to be fulfilled.”
I grew up in Central City, a place still call the 3rd Ward. I know what it means to come from a neighborhood where potential runs deep, but resources run thin. I have seen brilliant children overlooked before they even reach kindergarten. I have felt the weight of that, and the responsibility to do something about it.
Science tells us that the first 1,000 days of a child’s life—from conception through their second birthday—are the most critical window of brain development. In that time, more than one million new neural connections form every second. Language is being wired. Trust is being built or broken. A child is learning, at the deepest level, whether the world is safe and whether they belong in it.
Wilcox Academy exists because that foundation matters. It deserves to be built with excellence, intention, and love. We are here to ensure that every child is known, every family is supported, and every beginning is met with the care it deserves.
Twenty years ago, I planted a seed. Today, it has grown into a community serving hundreds of families and thousands of children who carry a piece of Wilcox Academy into the world with them.
But this work is not finished. It is just beginning.
I invite you—teacher, parent, partner—to believe in what is possible and to build with us.
Because when children thrive, everything changes.
With love, faith, and an unshakeable belief in what is possible,
Rochelle Wilcox
Wilcox Academy Early Learning Centers, Founder & CEO
For Providers By Providers, Founder & CEO
20 Years of Growth
For more than two decades, Wilcox Academy has grown from a home-based family child care program into a trusted early learning organization serving children and families across New Orleans. Explore the milestones, challenges, achievements, and community partnerships that have shaped our journey and continue to guide our future.
A Community Built Together
To the people who make this work possible, this is for you.
TO OUR TEACHERS,
You Are the Heart of This Work
If you’re an educator searching for more than a job, and if you’re looking for a calling, I want you to know what kind of place Wilcox Academy is.
We believe teaching is a sacred act. The person who kneels beside a three-year-old learning to tie their shoes, who speaks gently to a child who is afraid, and who celebrates the first time a small hand forms a letter is doing some of the most important work on this earth.
At Wilcox Academy, you will be valued, not in the abstract, but in the ways that matter. Through professional development that invests in your growth. Through leadership that listens. Through a culture where your voice belongs in the room.
We are a team rooted in faith, guided by compassion, and committed to excellence. We laugh together. We pray together. We push each other higher.
If you want to do meaningful work in a community that needs you, and in a workplace that sees you, come home to Wilcox.
“We are not just preparing children for kindergarten. We are preparing them for life, and their life begins right here.”
TO OUR FAMILIES,
Your Child is Safe Here
I know what it costs, in trust, in vulnerability, and in resources, to place your child in someone else’s care. I know because I am a mother too. That is not something we take lightly.
When you bring your child to Wilcox Academy, you are bringing them into a place where they are loved like family, educated like scholars, and treated as the extraordinary human beings they already are.
Our teachers are not babysitters. They are trained early childhood professionals who understand development, read your child’s cues, and create environments where learning feels safe, joyful, and natural.
Our three centers are not interchangeable buildings. Each one is rooted in its neighborhood, shaped by its community, and committed to the families it serves.
We meet every family where they are and walk with you every step of the way.
Your child will leave here ready. Ready for school. Ready to ask questions. Ready to believe they belong in any room they walk into.
“We don’t just open our doors. We open our arms.”
TO OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS,
Let’s Continue Building Together
New Orleans is not just where we operate. It is why we operate. Its culture, resilience, and people are the reason Wilcox Academy exists. And no single organization changes a city alone.
If you lead a business, foundation, faith institution, government agency, or community organization, and you believe that investing in early childhood is one of the most impactful ways to shape the future, we should be in conversation.
We bring over twenty years of operational excellence, a proven track record of quality, and deep community trust. We bring leadership that advocates across classrooms, boardrooms, and policy spaces.
Most importantly, we bring partnership. Real partnership. Not transactional. Not performative. But rooted in shared purpose.
There is so much we can continue to build together. Let’s keep going.
Central City: A New Chapter
A look at the journey from groundbreaking to opening day, and beyond.
3D RENDERING
INTERIOR
GROUNDBREAKING
FRAMING
EXTERIOR
HARD-HAT TOURS
“We are building more than a center. We are building a place where children, families, and community can grow together.”
Wilcox Academy’s Central City location represents a continued investment in the community that shaped us.
From the first moments of breaking ground to the spaces now taking form, this new center reflects our ongoing commitment to children, families, and the future of early learning.
We look forward to welcoming families into this space soon.
Stories of Impact
For 20 years, Wilcox Academy of Early Learning has been a place where children have grown, families have been supported, and educators have helped build foundations that last a lifetime.
A REFLECTION FROM CHANELL JOHNSON, A PARENT OF ALUMNI
More Than a School, Part of Our Family
When I think about Wilcox Academy, I can’t help but smile. It feels like yesterday that I entrusted my little ones to Mrs. Wilcox and her staff. As parents, we always want the very best for our children, and Wilcox Academy became so much more than a school—it became an extension of our family.
The love, patience, guidance, and encouragement my children received during their time at Wilcox helped lay the foundation for the successful young adults they are today. The values they learned, the confidence that was built, and the genuine care shown by their teachers left a lasting impact on all of us.
One of my favorite memories was watching my children be crowned King and Queen. Those moments were so special and filled me with pride as a parent. Seeing their smiles, confidence, and excitement is a memory I will cherish forever. Wilcox Academy created so many opportunities for children to feel valued, celebrated, and loved.
Today, as I watch my children pursue their dreams—whether in college, nursing school, athletics, or other accomplishments—I often reflect on where their educational journey began. Wilcox Academy played a meaningful role in helping shape their character, work ethic, and belief in themselves. Those early years mattered, and the lessons learned there continue to shine through in the people they have become.
“As parents, there is no greater gift than knowing your children were loved, protected, challenged, and encouraged to be their best.”
— CHANELL JOHNSON
For that, I will always be grateful to Mrs. Wilcox and everyone who has been a part of Wilcox Academy over the years.
Congratulations on 20 years of service and a generation of impact. Thank you for pouring into the lives of so many children and families, including mine. We are proud to be a part of the Wilcox Academy story and grateful for the lasting legacy you have created.
With love and gratitude,
The Johnson Family
I’m both a current parent and an alumni parent. I first enrolled my daughter, JaLynn, at Wilcox in 2019. Everyone was so welcoming, and she instantly connected with her teachers. The teaching was phenomenal, and I knew my daughter would prosper here.
Once my son, Calvin, was of age, I instantly knew Wilcox was the perfect school for him. He has been attending Wilcox for almost two years now, and he loves it.
Thank you, Wilcox, for these continuous wonderful years.
— DONIELLE MYERS
Wilcox is a great school. The teachers are very good with my child, and Ms. Linda is a very good administrator. She welcomes everyone with a smile and cares for the students and parents of Wilcox. Ms. Web is also a very good teacher. She puts her all into every child.
I wouldn’t choose any other learning center because my daughter loves Wilcox Academy.
— ASHLEY LEWIS
Wilcox was a great school for my child. She had been attending since the baby class. She loved all of her teachers from each class and formed many bonds with the other children. I saw growth in my child every day. The staff there was amazing. They took their time with the kids, and that was a plus for me.
It takes a village, and I’m very thankful for everyone who has shaped and played a part in preparing my child for Pre-K!
To Ms. Jennifer and Dalonni’s previous teachers, we are very appreciative.
— KEIANCE WILLIAMS
Your Story Matters
The Wilcox Academy story is made up of thousands of moments: a child’s first classroom experience, a teacher’s encouragement, a family’s trust, and the memories created along the way.
We invite our families, past and present, to share their reflections and help us continue celebrating 20 years of love, learning, and impact.
Celebrate With Us
We’re bringing our community together to celebrate, connect, and honor 20 years of impact with events for families, partners, and friends of Wilcox Academy.
AUG 14, 2026 • 10AM - 12PM
2723 FRERET ST., NEW ORLEANS, LA 70113
Join us as we celebrate the opening of Wilcox Academy Central City, a transformational investment in children, families, educators, and the future of Central City. Together, let’s commemorate 20 years of changing a generation.
WAEL Central City Grand Opening & Ribbon-Cutting
Don’t miss what’s next. Stay connected for upcoming events, celebrations, and important announcements from Wilcox Academy and the WilReachOne Foundation.
Extending Our Impact
Through the WilReachOne Foundation, Wilcox Academy continues to expand its mission beyond the classroom by investing in children, supporting families, and strengthening the communities we serve.
The Foundation has played a meaningful role in making our Central City location possible, helping to bring high-quality early learning to more families and neighborhoods across New Orleans. This work reflects a deeper commitment to access, equity, and opportunity for every child.
In addition to supporting growth, WilReachOne provides resources that extend well beyond early childhood, including alumni scholarships and programs designed to support students and families as they continue their educational journeys.
Through this ongoing work, WilReachOne helps carry the Wilcox vision forward in ensuring that the impact of early learning continues long after a child leaves the classroom.