About KALE
Kids Academy of Learning & Excellence (KALE) is a STE(AI)M™-focused early childhood education center at 601 Southlake Blvd in North Chesterfield, VA — operated under the CORE Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.
Our Mission
KALE was founded on the belief that early childhood education is the most important investment a community can make. Our mission is to provide every child — from 6 weeks through 12 years — with a safe, nurturing, and intellectually rich environment where they can grow into confident, curious, capable human beings.
At KALE, we teach children who they are before we teach them what to build. Social-emotional development, empathy, integrity, and resilience come first — then come the academics, the technology, and the innovation.
We don’t teach children to chase grades. We teach them to love questions. A child who is genuinely curious will outperform a child who memorizes every time.
By the Numbers
A fully licensed early childhood education center serving North Chesterfield and the greater Richmond area.
Licensed seats across 10 classrooms
Square feet of dedicated learning space
Youngest age served — through 12 years
Early learning domains in our framework
Our Team
KALE is led by experienced educators and administrators who believe deeply in the power of early childhood education. Every teacher, director, and staff member is here because they love children — and it shows every single day.
Faterah is a PMP®-certified leader with 25+ years of experience spanning federal IT, early childhood education, and nonprofit management. She founded KALE through the CORE Foundation to bring STE(AI)M™ enrichment and high-quality child care to North Chesterfield families. She is also President & CEO of Binary-Code, LLC and a Best-Selling Author.
Ms. Branch serves as KALE’s on-site Director, overseeing daily operations, classroom quality, staff development, and family relationships. She brings deep expertise in early childhood education administration and a genuine commitment to every child and family in KALE’s care.
Our Curriculum
KALE uses nationally recognized curricula and enrichment programs across all age groups.
Relationship-based infant curriculum built on 23 foundational skills for children birth–18 months.
Research-based toddler curriculum supporting 36 foundational skills through play, exploration, and storybooks.
Open-ended preschool investigation labs covering science, technology, engineering, arts, and math.
KALE’s proprietary framework layering AI literacy, robotics, and computational thinking into everyday learning.
Real-time family communication platform for daily updates, photos, activities, and developmental milestones.
Breakfast, lunch, and afternoon snack included daily through the Child and Adult Care Food Program.
Licensing & Compliance
KALE operates as a licensed child care center under Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) and Virginia Department of Education Child Care Services (VA DECS) oversight. We meet all Virginia child care licensing standards for health, safety, staffing ratios, curriculum, and facility requirements.
KALE holds a current Virginia child care center license issued by VDOE. All classrooms, staff credentials, ratios, and safety procedures are subject to regular inspection.
KALE operates under the CORE Foundation, a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization committed to accessible, high-quality early childhood education in underserved communities.
KALE is an approved Virginia Child Care Subsidy Program provider. Vendor ID: 511075420. Eligible families can use state subsidy at KALE.
KALE accepts military child care fee assistance. Provider ID: 9250493. Contact Child Care Aware® of America at 1-800-424-2246 to begin your application.
Words can only do so much. Schedule a free tour and see the classrooms, the curriculum, and the team that makes KALE what it is.