Our Story
Rooted in care. Growing with purpose.
Growing Minds Collective is led by Jamie Torns, Founder & Director, and a mother of two, who brings both a personal and professional commitment to reimagining early childhood education. What began as a small, home-based program has evolved into a thoughtfully designed, woman-led collective grounded in connection, intention, and high-quality learning experiences.
At Growing Minds Collective, we move beyond traditional models of childcare by offering a private early childhood education program that blends the warmth of a home environment with the structure and standards of a premier learning setting. Our approach creates a natural, supportive transition from home into a community where children feel safe, seen, and empowered to grow.
Our team of experienced educators leads the day-to-day experience with care, professionalism, and a deep understanding of child development. With a low 1:4 teacher-to-child ratio and a mixed-age learning environment, we are able to provide individualized attention, foster meaningful relationships, and support each child’s unique pace of development.
At its core, Growing Minds Collective is built on the belief that early learning should be intentional, relationship-driven, and rooted in joy — giving every child the foundation to flourish.
Our committment to Quality Early Childhood Education
Growing Minds Collective is proud to be recognized by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), the leading organization dedicated to advancing high-quality early learning for children from birth through age eight.
NAEYC Recognition demonstrates our commitment to the foundational elements of quality in early childhood education, including thoughtful learning environments, strong program policies, and practices aligned with nationally recognized early learning standards.
This recognition reflects our ongoing commitment to providing children with a nurturing, engaging, and developmentally appropriate learning experience where they can explore, create, build relationships, and grow.
As part of our continued pursuit of excellence, Growing Minds Collective is currently working toward NAEYC Accreditation, the highest mark of quality awarded by NAEYC. Accreditation is a rigorous process that evaluates all aspects of a program, including curriculum, teaching practices, family partnerships, health and safety, and continuous program improvement.
We are proud of this milestone and excited to continue raising the standard for early childhood education in our community.
Jamie Torns
Director
Experience:
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Over 10 years experience in the corporate world & 3+ years in Early Childhood Education
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Seasoned Entrepreneur with a passion for Early Childhood Education
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MBA in analytics
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COO of a successful consulting firm, supporting small businesses during key stages of growth
What began as a spontaneous idea to homeschool my first child has grown into my greatest passion. As I explored homeschooling, I discovered just how much there is to learn—and how much is missing—in our current educational landscape, that's why I opened Growing Minds Academy in 2024. Now, I've reimagined the concept into Growing Minds Collective. My goal is to provide a better experience for my own children and develop a space that grows with them through their years in early childhood education, elementary education and beyond.
Experience:
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5+ years of professional experience in Early Childhood Education
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12+ years of experience, including volunteering, across 4 different childcare settings
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Bachelor's in English with a minor in Sociology
Role at Growing Minds Collective:
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Create a curriculum that meets the childrens' developmental milestones and interests in a mixed-age setting
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Encourage self-expression in the students through music, words, and physical movement
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Dedicated to nurturing a loving, attentive, and enriching learning environment for children
Miranda Connolly | Lead Teacher
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Experience:
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5+ years of professional experience in Early Childhood Education
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12+ years of experience, including volunteering, across 4 different childcare settings
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Bachelor's in English with a minor in Sociology
Role at Growing Minds Collective:
Lead Teacher in Discovery Group (Upper Learning Community)
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Create a curriculum that meets the childrens' developmental milestones and interests in a mixed-age setting
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Encourage self-expression in the students through music, words, and physical movement
-
Dedicated to nurturing a loving, attentive, and enriching learning environment for children
Brianna Elvir | Assistant Teacher
Shaonie Miller | Lead Teacher
Experience:
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5+ years of professional experience in Early Childhood Education
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2 years of paraprofessional/behavioral technician experience at the elementary education level.
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Bachelor's in Marketing Communication
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Pursuing degree in Elementary Education
Role at Growing Minds Collective:
Lead Teacher in Foundations Group (Lower Learning Community)
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Create nurturing, developmentally appropriate learning experiences that support each infant's individual growth, emerging milestones, and natural curiosity.
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Foster secure, responsive relationships through attentive caregiving, consistent routines, and meaningful one-on-one interactions.
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Encourage early exploration through sensory experiences, movement, music, language, and play while creating a calm, loving, and enriching environment
Brianna Elvir | Assistant Teacher
Miranda Connolly | Lead Teacher
Experience:
-
5+ years of professional experience in Early Childhood Education
-
12+ years of experience, including volunteering, across 4 different childcare settings
-
Bachelor's in English with a minor in Sociology
Role at Growing Minds Collective:
Lead Teacher in Discovery Group (Upper Learning Community)
-
Create a curriculum that meets the childrens' developmental milestones and interests in a mixed-age setting
-
Encourage self-expression in the students through music, words, and physical movement
-
Dedicated to nurturing a loving, attentive, and enriching learning environment for children
Brianna Elvir | Assistant Teacher
Shaonie Miller | Lead Teacher
Experience:
-
5+ years of professional experience in Early Childhood Education
-
2 years of paraprofessional/behavioral technician experience at the elementary education level.
-
Bachelor's in Marketing Communication
-
Pursuing degree in Elementary Education
Role at Growing Minds Collective:
Lead Teacher in Foundations Group (Lower Learning Community)
-
Create nurturing, developmentally appropriate learning experiences that support each infant's individual growth, emerging milestones, and natural curiosity.
-
Foster secure, responsive relationships through attentive caregiving, consistent routines, and meaningful one-on-one interactions.
-
Encourage early exploration through sensory experiences, movement, music, language, and play while creating a calm, loving, and enriching environment
Brianna Elvir | Assistant Teacher
Assistant Teacher
Brianna Elvir | Assistant Teacher
We're looking for an educator who sees early childhood education as more than a job—someone who is passionate about child development, values strong relationships with children and families, and is excited to grow alongside a program that is evolving.
As our program continues to expand from a family childcare program into a comprehensive early childhood education center, this position offers the opportunity to grow with us. Our long-term vision includes infant and preschool programs, companion & me classes, K–2 learning pods, and other innovative educational offerings that support children and families throughout the early years.
The Assistant Teacher is a collaborative member of our teaching team, providing support wherever it is needed throughout the day. Rather than being assigned to a single classroom, this role works alongside both our infant/toddler and preschool educators, helping ensure each classroom operates smoothly while maintaining consistency in the children's experience.
The ideal candidate is flexible, proactive, and enjoys working with children across a variety of developmental stages. They understand that every day looks a little different and are excited to contribute wherever they can have the greatest impact.
Position Details:
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Position Type: Part-Time (with the ability to grow into full time as our program continues to grow)
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Start Date: September 1, 2026
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Hours: Monday–Friday, 7:30am to 2:00pm (for the month of September, the hours will be 9:00am to 2:00pm
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Location: Norwalk, CT
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Occasional staff meetings, professional development opportunities, and special events may be required.
If you're looking to build a meaningful career in early childhood or elementary education and want to be part of shaping something special from the ground up, we'd love to hear from you.
Click here to apply.
Floating Teacher
Brianna Elvir | Assistant Teacher
We're also seeking a Floating Teacher to provide end-of-day support for our program. This role is ideal for someone who enjoys creating organized, welcoming spaces and wants to play an important behind-the-scenes role in supporting our educators and children.
Our Floating Teacher will assist with classroom coverage as needed, help maintain a clean and organized learning environment, support end-of-day routines, and ensure classrooms are prepared for the next day. This role is a great fit for someone pursuing early childhood education, a college student looking for meaningful experience, or someone seeking a part-time opportunity within a growing early childhood program.
Position Details:
Position Type: Part-Time
Hours: Monday–Friday, approximately 4:30 p.m.–6:00 p.m.
Start Date: October 1, 2026
Location: Norwalk, CT
If you're looking for a meaningful way to support young children and be part of a growing early childhood education program, we'd love to hear from you.
Click here to apply.
Our Philosophy
Our philosophy is inspired by the work of Howard Gardner and his Theory of Multiple Intelligences, which recognizes that children learn and express understanding in many different ways.
We intentionally create opportunities for children to explore and develop through a variety of strengths—whether through language, movement, problem-solving, creativity, social interaction, or connection to the natural world. This approach allows each child to build confidence in how they learn best while developing a well-rounded set of skills.
At Growing Minds Collective, learning is never accidental. Every experience is designed with purpose—to spark curiosity, encourage independence, and support both academic and social-emotional development. We balance structure with child-led exploration, allowing children to take an active role in their learning journey.
ADDRESS
2 Rampart Road
Norwalk, CT 06854
BUSINESS HOURS
Monday - Friday 7:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Closed for:
Federal Holidays
Summer Break (1st week in August)
Winter Break (Christmas to New Year's Day)
CONTACT
(203) 658-7309