Today we’d like to introduce you to Heather Faro.
Hi Heather, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
My journey in early childhood education began in 2006, where I spent over a decade advancing from a preschool teacher to an Assistant Director. While I loved the field, the birth of my children in 2017 shifted my perspective; I wanted the flexibility to stay home with them while ensuring they had a high-quality environment for socialization and growth. Driven by this vision, I opened Ohana Learning Center in June 2021. By combining my professional leadership experience with my heart as a mother, I’ve been able to create an in-home preschool that offers a nurturing, expert-led community for my family and the families I serve.
Today, I’m proud to operate a program that is Texas Rising Star 4-star rated, reflecting my lifelong commitment to excellence in early childhood education.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The road wasn’t always smooth; for years, my biggest obstacle was simply finding the right space. I had always envisioned owning my own school, but the logistics of finding a location that met both my professional standards and my family’s needs never seemed to align. That changed in 2021 when we finally purchased our home. Recognizing it was the opportunity I’d been waiting for, I opened Ohana Learning Center just one month after we moved in. It was a massive undertaking to launch while we were still settling into a new house, but I had an incredible support system. While I focused on the intensive licensing and curriculum paperwork, my husband worked tirelessly on the physical setup of the school space. Together, we turned our new house into a high-quality learning environment in record time, proving that with the right partner and a clear vision, even the biggest hurdles are manageable.
As you know, we’re big fans of Ohana Learning Center . For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
At Ohana Learning Center, we believe in the philosophy that ‘Ohana means family,’ and that is exactly how we treat every child who enters our doors. We are an in-home preschool that specializes in providing a high-quality, research-based early childhood education within a nurturing, home-like environment. What truly sets us apart is our Texas Rising Star 4-star rating, which reflects our dedication to exceeding state standards in teacher-child interactions, curriculum, and outdoor learning environments. We are known for our small group sizes, which allow for deeply personalized instruction that you often won’t find in larger centers.
Brand-wise, I am most proud of our reputation for excellence and the trust our families place in us. I want readers to know that when they choose Ohana, they aren’t just choosing a daycare—they are choosing a high-caliber educational foundation where their child is truly known, loved, and prepared for the next step in their journey.
In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
Over the next 5-10 years, I see the early childhood industry shifting toward quality over quantity. Parents are becoming much more educated on the long-term benefits of high-caliber early learning, and they are seeking out providers who don’t just ‘watch’ children, but actively prepare them for life. In Texas, we are seeing a massive push for quality rating systems like Texas Rising Star (TRS) to become the standard, rather than the exception. I believe we will see more in-home providers professionalizing their programs to meet these rigorous standards. Additionally, there is a growing trend toward personalized, small-group environments. Families want that ’boutique’ feel where their child gets one-on-one attention in a safe, home-like setting, especially as larger centers become more crowded. At Ohana, we are already positioned at the forefront of these trends by combining that intimate family feel with top-tier, 4-star-rated educational excellence.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.ohanalearningcenter.org
