B&aP Acad Website

At Bushel & a Peck Academy, the love for learning starts at the very beginning.

The Bushel & a Peck Mission

B&aP offers safe play-based care that promotes physical, social, emotional, cognitive, and creative development with love, respect, and positivity.

funny child girl draws laughing shows hands dirty with paint

Our Philosophies

At Bushel & a Peck Academy, we believe that, for younger children, play is learning.

Our Learning Levels

Infant

for children 6 weeks to a year

Caregivers balance your child's schedule so they gets the sleep they need, eat healthy food, move around, explores interesting objects, learn how to get along with others, and actively help with their own care as much as they can.

Toddlers

for children 1 to 3

Teachers provide challenges that are not too hard or too easy—something toddlers can do with a little help. It also means that when teachers choose materials, activities, and strategies to use with toddlers, they think about what most toddlers need, what individual toddlers need, and ways to support every child's family and culture.

Preschool/Pre-K

for children 3 to 5

Teachers set up the classroom, choose materials, and plan activities that support children's learning. They also provide materials and activities that interest children and challenge them, encourage children's efforts by making specific comments, set clear limits for children's behavior and explain the reasons

Meet the Core Team

Leah Dougherty

Founder/Director/Pre-K Teacher

Ms. Leah has been in childcare for 20+ years. She has a Masters of Education. Ms. Leah was the director of a daycare in Springfield for 13 years. The Bushel & a Peck name comes from her love of her 3 kids, Benjamin, Nora, and Quinn.

Shannon Barber

Assistant Director/Preschool Teacher

Ms. Shannon has been in childcare for 10+ years. She has held the assistant director position for 5 years at a daycare in Springfield. She has a CDA certification and has been working towards getting her Bachelor’s Degree.

Meet the Teachers