The construction team finally finished their work on Friday! (Only 3 1/2 months behind schedule!) We have been working since then to set up the store as quickly as we can. Carpeting is in. Shelving is up. And inventory will be arriving soon. I'll keep you posted on our progress and on the date of our official grand opening.

Well, I don't have an official opening date as of yet because we are STILL waiting on construction to be completed. We have had major delays with construction, but the end is now in sight!

We have been working as much as possible to have the store ready to go so that once the construction workers are out of there, we can start stocking shelves. The store is completely painted, the slatwall is up, and carpeting is being installed this weekend.

We are determined to open by the beginning of August because we know that there are many teachers out there who need to get their supplies before school starts. I will keep you updated as we continue getting the store ready for you. Thanks for all of your patience! We hope to see you soon!

And, we couldn't forget about the kids...

We will have a play area stocked with tons of things for you to enjoy while mom and dad are busy shopping. Try out some exciting computer games on one of our kid’s computer stations, or spend some time playing at the train or dollhouse table. Story hours will be happening every Monday morning with lots of stories, games and crafts that you won’t want to miss.

Parents, we haven't forgotten about you. Here are a few store details that will make your shopping experience a little easier...

Our knowledgeable staff can help you find the latest and greatest educational products for your child. We can help you bridge the gap between your child’s school curriculum and home-based learning. We will also feature parent workshops to help you make your child’s school experience the best it can be. Shopping carts with child seats are available for parents with small children to make your shopping experience effortless. Our easy to view play area will allow you to shop with ease while still keeping a close eye on your children. Transitions out of the store will be a breeze when you have your son or daughter visit the checkout counter for a special treat as they leave.

Here are a few things that we have in store for you....

We will be stocked with a wide variety of products from brands that you know and trust (Carson-Dellosa, Teacher Created Materials, Trend, etc.) and new brands that offer exciting possibilities for your classrooms. We will have everything you need for one-stop school shopping! Also, you will be able to demo a majority of our products so that you are able to choose the best items for your classroom curriculum. Teacher workshops will be featured throughout the year to help you bring new ideas to your students.

We have spent a lot of time planning every aspect of The Teachers’ Lounge in order to make life a little easier for our guests. We tried to look at our store from every possible angle – a teacher’s point of view, a parent’s point of view, and a child’s point of view.

Stay tuned to our blog over the next couple of days to learn about all of the surprises we have in store for everyone!

The goal for our store is simple. We want to provide quality educational products to teachers and parents that will help to instill a love of learning in every child.

But…. we don’t want to be just another generic parent/teacher store. We want to provide our customers with a welcoming, comfortable environment where everyone (teachers, parents, and kids) feels free to hang out, share new ideas, and learn something new. We want every guest to feel at home and to truly enjoy the time they spend with us.

Well, I guess that our plans for The Teachers’ Lounge have been in the works for a couple of years now. My husband, Scott, and I started throwing the idea of opening a store around soon after Classroom Connections in South County closed. As a teacher and a mom, I really felt the need for a parent/teacher store in our area. After several of my teacher friends also complained about not having a store near them, we took several months to research the idea and decided to jump in!

I definitely could not be opening this store without the tremendous support of my husband, Scott. He and I are true partners in this endeavor and we are so excited to be working together to make this dream a reality.

Scott is our “behind the scenes” guy at The Teachers’ Lounge -- our technical guru whom we would be lost without. His background is varied with degrees in music composition, physics, and electrical engineering. (This guy is one SMART cookie!) But, he is also a self-taught computer programmer. For the past several years, he has run his own business creating internet applications and websites for numerous companies, including The Teachers’ Lounge!

He is also a terrific dad who loves to pass on his enthusiasm for learning to our daughter. He is constantly looking for ways to help our daughter discover and explore the world around her. Whether he’s dragging the telescope out on a clear night to show her the moon, taking her to a concert at the symphony, or performing an impromptu science experiment in the kitchen sink, Scott’s devotion to our daughter’s education is already apparent. We are truly blessed to have him in our lives and at the store!

For as long as I can remember, I have always been drawn to teaching. When I had to complete service hours in high school, I chose to be a teacher’s aide in a third grade classroom, and that sealed the deal for me. I knew that teaching was what I wanted to do! So, I was off to Saint Louis University where I received a BA in education while working at a day-care center as a preschool teacher. From there, I taught fifth and sixth grade language arts for several years at a local school and truly enjoyed it.

But, when my daughter was born, I felt called in a different direction, so I decided to stop teaching to become a stay-at-home mom. Although I have not had a formal teaching job for the past couple of years, I have constantly found myself drawn to other teaching experiences like teaching religion classes and Sunday school at our church. Teaching is just something that I will always enjoy.

I always thought that I would return to teaching once my daughter reached elementary school, but my heart has taken me in a different direction once again… creating a teacher store! I truly feel passionate about this endeavor because it will allow me to reach so many more classrooms of students. I hope that the products that I choose for the store can help teachers create a joyful learning environment for their students. I now see myself as an advocate for all educators-- trying to supply teachers with the tools they need to continue the incredible work they are already doing in their classrooms.