Testimonials
Testimonials
Ryleigh and Charlie
Both of my girls started at Partners in Learning when they were just 10 weeks old, and from the very beginning the staff felt like family. I always knew my children were truly loved and cared for. They stayed at PIL until they moved on to Junior Kindergarten at Salisbury Academy, and we even returned each year for summer camp.
My children learned so much during their time there—not just academically, but about people, inclusion, and understanding different backgrounds. Partners in Learning made such a meaningful impact on our family that I eventually joined the Board of Directors and served on the executive board for several years.
PIL helped give my children the educational foundation that shaped who they are today, and for that, we will always be grateful.
That foundation is still evident in who they’ve become. Both girls are thriving in school and enjoy soccer and the arts.
Our family will always be grateful for the role Partners in Learning played in their early years and the lasting impact it continues to have on their lives.
~ Heather Down
Ayden Ashley
There is no way to accurately convey the love our family has for Partners In Learning. PIL and staff have been with us through every facet of our son, Ayden’s, life. Most importantly, they saw us through his autism spectrum diagnosis. Without their guidance, that journey would have been much scarier and more unclear. Ayden is in his 10th year at PIL! They love him endlessly, and it is the one place where my fears as a parent of a special needs child are set aside because I know he is surrounded by people who know, understand, and love him. We look forward to many more years with PIL!
~ The Ashley’s
Micah, Myles, & Mariah
From the start, PIL became more than a school—it became our extended family. The teachers guided our children through countless milestones, shared their learning through photos and activities, and supported our family through both joyful and challenging seasons.
Each child left PIL exceptionally prepared for kindergarten—academically, socially, and emotionally.
Having moved on to elementary, middle, and high school, all three children are thriving academically, are active in sports and clubs, and have excellent social skills.
PIL helped shape not just our children’s early education, but who they are becoming. We will always be grateful for the role they played in our family’s journey.
~ Mandy Croshaw
Tegan
Taegan’s adventure began at Partners in Learning when she was 18 months old. She was very shy in the beginning, but the teachers, staff, and new peers welcomed Taegan into the Bee’s classroom with open arms.
With help from her teachers and her desire to learn, it didn’t take long for her to gain a sense of independence and self-confidence.
Taegan is currently in elementary school and has recently received awards for academics, arts, and good character. She is always willing to lend a helping hand and doesn’t shy away from an opportunity to make new friends.
The guidance and encouragement she received from Partners in Learning were sturdy building blocks that have helped mold her into the confident girl she is today.
~ Stephanie Ashby
Jackson Helms
PIL was a blessing from his very first day. He started in the infant room through pre-k. I 
never had to question if he was well loved or cared for. His rough-and-tumble boyhood was embraced, and he was always met where he was. Being a part of the PIL family equipped me to be the very best momma that I could be to him.
Now as a teen, he’s thriving in the classroom, on the football field, and in his relationships. I owe a lot of that to his early education and that foundation being laid very early on in his life.
~ Sara Helms
Cooper & Kensi
Both of our children started at Partners In Learning as infants—my son attended for five years through childcare and summer camp, and my daughter for about a year before we moved out of state. As a parent of a child with a disability, I also served on the board and participated in parent support groups.
What made PIL exceptional was how they truly met each child where they were. My son was fully included with his peers from the start. His therapists were welcomed into the classroom and collaborated seamlessly with his teachers. He was honored for exactly who he is. My daughter’s natural curiosity, confidence, and love of exploration were fostered every day.
PIL didn’t just care for and educate our children—they empowered us as parents to advocate confidently for our son’s needs and his rightful place alongside his peers.
Today, my son is thriving in an inclusive high school setting. He’s on the JV wrestling team, active in community sports and activities, and so much more. My daughter is an accomplished student, active in athletics and arts, a leader at her school, and has the courage and confidence to try new things. I know her kind heart and bold spirit were kindled from the very start by the caring teachers at the center.
PIL gave us a nurturing community, a foundation for advocacy, and a springboard for both our children to flourish.
~ Jill Wagoner
Matthew Pacheco
Matthew came to PIL when he was 8 months old after suffering a traumatic brain injury. He was severely bruised and suffering from seizures, and he couldn’t sit or hold his head up on his own. We were told that he would likely never walk or talk by the specialists that were treating him. He started at Partners in Learning, and they all immediately fell in love with him!!!!
Matthew was at PIL until he went to preschool. He passed through many classrooms (and many arms of employees) during his time at PIL. He got services from the DEC, and the things they were working on were carried over into his daily routine at PIL and at home. Before leaving PIL, Mathew was both walking and talking.
Today, Matthew is almost 17 years old and a sophomore at Salisbury High School. He has passed Driver’s Ed and will soon be getting his permit. The damage that he suffered as a baby is something he will always have to carry with him and find ways to overcome, but thanks to some special people who loved him and put a lot of time into helping him grow to his potential, he is a walking, talking miracle today!!!!!
~ Carolyn Morgan
Konnor and Karsynn
When our children started at Partners in Learning, they were just two years old—tiny humans with big personalities, big feelings, and so much potential. At the time, we couldn’t have imagined how deeply this place would shape not only who they would become, but who we would become as parents.
Konnor’s Story
Konnor is in high school and thriving—academically, socially, and personally. He aspires to become an electrician and business owner someday.
What Partners in Learning gave Konnor started long before academics. In preschool, he learned how to:
- Talk to anyone
- Engage confidently with peers and adults
- Problem-solve instead of shutting down
- Invest in himself and his abilities
Those early skills—communication, confidence, perseverance—became the foundation for everything he does today. Whether he’s on the football field, basketball court, golf course, or track, or interacting with customers and coworkers, Konnor carries the social and emotional skills he learned at Partners in Learning into every space he enters.
Karsynn’s Story
Partners in Learning has always been the place where Karsynn was allowed—and encouraged—to be uniquely herself.
She was the child climbing trees, racing kids across the playground, and showing us early on that she was strong-willed, courageous, and fearless. While she didn’t care much about “academics” at the time, Partners in Learning saw what mattered most: her spirit.
She had an entire team investing not only in her, but in us—helping us become the best parents we could be for a wild, determined little girl. Instead of trying to tame her fire, Partners in Learning harnessed it. They challenged her with curiosity, often asking, “What happens next?”—a question that shaped her confidence and willingness to take on challenges.
Today, Karsynn is passionate about helping animals, doing nails, and competing in softball, basketball, and track. She is fiercely competitive, always ready to try something new, and unafraid to push herself. She may not yet know exactly what she wants to do when she grows up—but she knows she is capable.
Partners in Learning didn’t just teach our children letters and numbers. They taught life skills. They supported us through parenting classes, counseling services, therapies, and—most importantly—relationships that turned into family.
Our lives have been forever changed by Partners in Learning. They believed in our children before they could fully believe in themselves, and they walked alongside us every step of the way. The impact of those early years continues to show up daily—in who our children are, how they see themselves, and how they move through the world.
We will always be grateful for the foundation Partners in Learning gave our family.
~ Cassie Karriker
Liam
Partners In Learning came into our lives at just the right time. Our experience here was one we will never forget. Liam still talks about the food Mr. Tim cooked, the hugs from Ms. Lesha, and the friends he made.
PIL fostered an environment for Liam where he could learn and grow and be prepared for kindergarten. But they didn’t just support him, they supported me too. I also made many friends, and eight years later they still check in and cheer on all of Liam’s accomplishments!
Liam is now thriving in middle school. He plays sports at school. He’s smart, funny, outgoing and has surrounded himself with a great group of friends!
~ Sonya Boone
ABA Graduation Success
Our ABA program provided structured interventions tailored to Alex’s individual needs. Through positive reinforcement, repetition, and targeted strategies, Alex learned crucial life skills, such as communication, socialization, and emotional regulation. Each small milestone achieved filled the family with hope and determination to keep pushing forward.
Kayla Spells
Partners in Learning is a jewel in the crown of the North Carolina early education system. We were fortunate enough to have Kayla enrolled in this incredible program from the age of two until she entered kindergarten. Each day, the wonderful educators exposed Kayla to exciting and intellectually stimulating activities in a setting of warmth and love. Every teacher knows the name of every student. The administration is supportive of the staff and personally invested in the success of every child. Just talking with Norma for a few minutes makes you actually FEEL how much she cares about the staff and children.
Kayla has gone on to have great success, which we can directly link to her early learning experience at PIL. The staff fostered a curiosity about the world, a deep love of learning, and taught the value of hard work. She is now a sophomore in high school and has maintained straight A’s throughout the years. She is a Duke Talent Identification Program participant and is planning to pursue a career in biomedical engineering. Kayla loves the sport of volleyball and has played on the highest team for her age level at Triangle Volleyball Club for the last two years. She currently leads her high school conference in hitting efficiency and has been contacted by multiple colleges, including MIT, Cornell, Cal Tech, and Emory, due to their interest in her as a student athlete.
Partners in Learning also instilled the values of empathy and altruism in Kayla. Children are taught to care for and support one another. The PIL administration and staff model this with their relationships with each other and each family. Kayla is constantly praised as a positive, caring person by teachers, coaches, and peers. She was voted the most outstanding student by her peers in three of her four classes last year. She has been made captain of her varsity high school volleyball team as a sophomore. Partners in Learning has managed to maintain or exceed its own standards of excellence in education over the years. We are so honored to have been a part of this incredible family.
Megan Honeycutt Berg
The first time I walked into Partners In Learning, I was an 8- or 9-year-old child being accompanied by my first foster mother. At the time, I didn’t know that I had met the woman who would eventually become my “forever mom,” the Executive Director. I didn’t visit Partners In Learning again until I was about 10 years old, except that time was different. I was walking in with my new foster mom, Norma Honeycutt. My first thoughts were that I loved what she was doing, and how she helped children and their families. I had heard of child care centers, but had never been to any others, so I shrugged it off as just a place where children are babysat every day. Needless to say, I was more wrong than I have ever been. From that day forward, Partners In Learning became my second home, and it became a part of me. I volunteered any chance I could get, and met so many amazing people that have changed my life in more ways than they could begin to imagine. The love that this place exudes as soon as a person walks through the door is one that I have not been able to find at another business. Without Partners In Learning, I would not have discovered my passion in life as quickly as I did. Partners In Learning has been so much more to me than a child care center. It brought me to my forever family, and has taught me the value of early education. I am forever grateful for Partners In Learning!
Aleshya Spruill
Partners In Learning has been my saving grace. Since I first started working here, my life has changed tremendously! I started out as a young, unexperienced high school student, who had a desire to work with children and grew to be a mature, professional, and qualified teacher (and mother of three now). I not only love being and working with the children, but I get great excitement and fulfillment from it. This is the reason I was put here on earth. I get to live my life’s dream every day I enter the doors at Partners. This will FOREVER be home for me.