CEO and Co-Owner
Grant Urken
Grant runs Little Wonders day to day and works directly with school leaders. Before starting Little Wonders, he helped lead and grow a veterinary urgent care business and helped lead an adult education company.
A FAMILY-OWNED EARLY EDUCATION COMPANY
Little Wonders is a family-owned company that supports great local schools.
Grant, Grace, and Grant started Little Wonders to buy and support great local schools. We're building an organization where each school runs independently under local leadership and keeps the same name, caring teachers, and educational programs that families trust. Little Wonders provides shared support and resources that enhance what makes each school special. We own one school today and will grow only when we can give every school the time, attention, and support it deserves.
From left to right: Little Wonders’ owners, Grant McClure (holding Henry) and Grace McClure, CEO and Co-Owner Grant Urken.
Who we are
Meet the owners of Little Wonders.
Little Wonders is owned and led by Grant Urken, Grant McClure and Grace McClure. We’re a small team of active owners that works directly with local leaders to help each school succeed.
Why we do this
We exist to nurture children’s curiosity, confidence and lifelong love of learning by helping teachers build meaningful, lasting careers.
Our values
Put children first
Children’s safety, development and school readiness come first in every decision.
Be kind and honest
We assume good intentions and communicate with warmth, honesty and clarity.
Grow every day
We ask for feedback, reflect and keep getting better.
Set the bar high
We set clear standards, take responsibility and hold ourselves accountable.
Earn trust
We do the right thing, follow through and choose long-term trust over short-term gain.
Co-Owner
Grant McClure
Grant is an active owner at Little Wonders, where he focuses on pedagogy and operations. He also supports a professional education company through Brightleaf Holdings. Grant is married to Grace.
Co-Owner
Grace McClure
Grace is an active owner at Little Wonders where she focuses on parent relations and hiring and supporting great teachers. She is married to Grant McClure.
How we help
We help families thrive by supporting the teachers who care for their children every day.
Your local school
What stays the same at your school
The school’s name and identity
Families continue to know the school by the name and character it has built in the community.
Teachers and relationships
We do not plan to replace the teachers who already know the children and families.
Tuition
Tuition does not change because of the sale.
Teaching approach and programs
The school keeps its existing approach to teaching and its educational programs.
Little Wonders’ role
How Little Wonders supports the school
Keep and support great teachers
We recognize the good work already happening and look for ways to improve benefits, training and opportunities over time.
Make administrative work easier
We take on work that does not need to happen in the classroom, giving directors and teachers more time with children and families.
Be there for school leaders
We give directors practical help when they need it while keeping day-to-day decisions close to the school.
If your school recently joined Little Wonders
Here is what a change in ownership would mean for your school.
We know change can raise questions. When a school joins Little Wonders, we do not change the school’s name, tuition, program or approach to teaching. We are there to support the teachers and protect what families already value about the school. Over time, we hope to bring new resources that delight families and teachers and parents by protecting and enhancing what makes their school special.
What is not changing because of the sale
- The school keeps its name and identity.
- Tuition is not changing.
- The school keeps its teaching approach and educational programs.
- The school will continue to have leadership on site every day.
- Children remain at the center of daily life at the school.
What you can expect from us
- The three of us (Grant, Grant, and Grace) will stay directly involved and maintain an active local presence.
- We will care deeply about the families and teachers who make the school special and honor that responsibility.
- We will ask you what makes the school special to you and how we can best protect and improve it.
- We will explain changes before they affect families or teachers.
For school owners
Thinking about what's next for your school?
We talk with owners who care about what happens to their school, teachers and families. We buy strong schools because we want to support what is already working, not replace it.
We plan to own each school for the long term. Conversations are confidential, and there is no pressure to move quickly.
Start a confidential conversationContact
Contact Little Wonders.
Your school director remains the first person to contact about day-to-day questions. You can also write to us directly.
Send us a message
Prefer email? Write to hello@littlewonders-education.com.
We will use your message only to respond to your inquiry.