Be Remarkable: Couple Launches Low-Tuition Preschool in College Station Church

Shining a Beacon of Hope Through Affordable Education

COLLEGE STATION, Texas – Recognizing that access to quality early childhood education can cause a substantial financial burden for families, Erika Montez, director of Bright Light Christian Learning Center, is striving to provide affordable education in Bryan-College Station.

Based in a modest church off Highway 30 in College Station, Bright Light Christian Learning Center has become a beacon of hope for local families seeking top-notch education at costs they can manage comfortably. The church also serves as the base for the Bright Light Free Will Baptist Church, pastored by Montez’s husband. Together, they are passionately committed to ensuring early childhood education remains accessible to all by keeping the tuition fees low.

“We started with 15 students,” Montez revealed. “We grew to 21 this year, and we aim at having a capacity of 30 students next year.”

From Unemployment to Trailblazing Community Leaders

The couple’s journey to College Station wasn’t initially in their plans. After being laid off from her job amid the COVID-19 pandemic in a Californian public school system, the couple used insurance money following the demise of Montez’s mother to start a low-cost private school. When they identified the opportunity to bring their mission to the Brazos Valley, they did so with fervour.

Parents like Julie Bailey, whose son has benefited from two years of education at Bright Light, are full of appreciation for what Montez has built. “I’m incredibly thankful for Erika. My son has grown so much academically, socially, and spiritually under her guidance,” commented Bailey.

Keeping the Lights on at Bright Light

The preschool also welcomes donations and has set up an Amazon Wish List. Remarkably, the Montez family has also dug into their personal savings to purchase learning materials and pay staff wages, further proving their dedication to this cause. Consequently, this strategic substitution of funding sources has allowed the school to maintain the tuition fee at an impressively nominal $150 per month.

Montez expressed her gratitude, saying, “God has provided, and we’re able to offer this education for $150 a month.”

Recognition for Exemplary Serivice

Recognized for their pervasive impact in the community, Montez and her husband are the deserving recipients of this week’s “Be Remarkable” award. Their commitment to serving the community presents a profound source of inspiration for many and is manifestly making a difference in the lives of many families across College Station.

The “Be Remarkable” award aims to celebrate individuals or groups making significant strides towards community development and positive change. Montez’s laudable effort perfectly illustrates this sentiment.