History
Since its inception in 2008, LUME has been leading the conversation in St. Louis about the importance of the emotional development of children and that is the foundation for relationships and learning throughout life. LUME has been providing St. Louis teachers with the understanding and tools to create emotionally responsive classrooms reaching 1,500 teachers last year alone. LUME's sustainable professional development model gives teachers a deep understanding of the emotional development of children and makes them more effective at understanding children's behavior in order to guide children's development. Our experience runs the gamut from home day cares through early childhood centers to public and charter schools.
Specialties
LUME Institute works with teachers, families and communities to foster a more holistic understanding of young children from the inside out. LUME Institute offers systemic and comprehensive approaches to early childhood education that engage, impact, and transform communities. We are dedicated to promoting innovative thinking, exploration, and knowledge sharing, while developing methodologies that deepen understanding of how children learn and grow. Our belief is that the power to change society lies in changing the way young children are taught and develop. Our vision is a world in which all children are emotionally, socially and academically ready to succeed. Our mission is to educate and develop teachers and families to nurture each child and strengthen families while using the LUME Approach and integrating the local community. The Institute is a catalyst for individuals who think, research, develop, enhance, and replicate early childhood concepts in their respective centers and broader communities. The LUME Institute evolved from the values, philosophy, and methodologies embodied by University City Children's Center, a non-profit, early childhood education center in St. Louis that for 40 years has served as a transformative model of quality early care and education.