Ever since the first Kiddie Academy early learning center opened its doors in 1981 in Baltimore County, Maryland, the organization has grown rapidly across the United States. Today it comprises of more than 300 franchised sites and has been ranked among the top franchises in the country One of its locations, Kiddie Academy of Brier Creek in Raleigh, North Carolina, has provided care for infants to pre-kindergarten aged children since 2005. The team utilizes the Academy-developed Life Essentials curriculum, designed to build confidence, character and curiosity among its attendees.
As technology has become an increasingly essential part of delivering the best possible childcare and education, Kiddie Academy of Brier Creek found that its existing devices were becoming unreliable as they aged. The academy relies on its digital infrastructure to drive efficiencies in “just about everything”, according to staff, enabling parents to access key information, and using PCs to sign in staff and organize lesson plans for teachers, alongside payroll tracking and accounting. The leadership team also has very specific needs around safeguarding private data and sustainability.
The requirement to renovate its existing IT estate also presented the academy with the opportunity to streamline its workflows and communication, and cut the time spent managing equipment, leading it to turn to Lenovo as they embarked on the next evolution of their IT systems.
Cathy Cummings, Owner of Kiddie Academy of Brier Creek, said, “Technology is really the backbone of our business. We want to provide the best possible experience for our families and educators. We found that fragmented systems and manual processes were making it harder to focus on what truly matters, building a nurturing and educational environment for children.”
John Stamer, Vice President & General Manager, Global Product Services at Lenovo, says, “Kiddie Academy came to us with a challenge. They were spending too much time managing their technology. To make our solution as easy for the team as possible we worked with them on a package that could be implemented quickly and seamlessly with a focus on protecting the sensitive data they handle.”
Privacy first
Dealing with highly sensitive information about children and their families, Kiddie Academy of Brier Creek has to ensure that data cannot leak, particularly as devices approach end-of-life. The organization needed a partner that could not only offer assurances that these private records would be properly handled and deleted but could also manage device disposal in the most sustainable way possible. Kiddie Academy of Brier Creek also required the prompt resolution of any technical issues to avoid downtime, with expert assistance available whenever needed.
Tailored results
The Lenovo teams worked closely with staff at Kiddie Academy of Brier Creek to agree on a solution that addressed the organization’s challenges, while also delivering assurance around data and sustainability at the point of disposal. Lenovo took ownership of not only developing a solution for Kiddie Academy of Brier Creek but also installing it.
Kiddie Academy of Brier Creek opted for powerful and easily connectable ThinkPad T14 Gen 4 laptops, paired with ThinkVision M14t Mobile Touch Monitors, and a suite of Lenovo Professional Services to facilitate a smooth transition at the beginning and end of device lifecycles. The service facilitated customization, with laser etching the Kiddie Academy logo on the laptops.
To protect private details from exposure and minimize the impact of e-waste, Kiddie Academy of Brier Creek sought a solution for the secure handling of outdated equipment. Lenovo Asset Recovery Services provided a single-source solution that addressed both security and sustainability needs, ensuring the safe, documented disposal of IT hardware while enabling devices to be recycled or repurposed wherever possible.
The company also opted for Lenovo Premier Support Plus, which offers 24-hour support 365 days a year with direct access to trained technicians who can offer unscripted solutions to technical issues or arrange a next-day on-site visit.
Stamer explained, “Premier Support Plus is a key element to the solution that we put together for Kiddie Academy. It is proactive support, which means we’re actively monitoring and assessing devices to ensure that they’re always working.”
Cummings added, “Knowing that our technology lifecycle is managed by Lenovo in a way that aligns with our sustainability goals and our values as a community-focused organization gives us peace of mind. Premier Support Plus is worth its weight in gold.”
Delivering for families
The approach to security, new device deployment and end-of-life device management offered by Lenovo Professional Services has enabled Kiddie Academy of Brier Creek to focus on delivering for children and families, with teachers able to rely on quick, efficient systems to prepare lesson plans, and the whole organization able to operate in a streamlined, integrated way, paving the way for future growth.
Cummings said, “Lenovo has given us the confidence to know that we have systems running in place that will really allow us to stay focused on the children, their education and taking care of our families. Lenovo has helped us set a new standard for technology in childcare. They have been exceptionally helpful.”
Stamer said, “The greatest value we provide is peace of mind, allowing them to focus on their mission while we handle device management seamlessly.”
Click here to read more about Lenovo’s work with Kiddie Academy of Brier Creek
Click here to find out more about Lenovo Premier Support Plus
Click here to find out more about Lenovo Asset Recovery Services
LENOVO, THINKPAD, THINKVISION and TRUSCALE are trademarks of Lenovo. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. ©2025 Lenovo Group Limited.
