Lionheart Children's Academy

Celebrating 25 Years of Businesstry: Honoring Stan Dobbs For 25 years, God has used the vision and obedience of Stan Dobbs to bring the love of Christ into everyday places—apartment communities, early childhood education, and summer camps. Today, we celebrate a quarter-century of businesstry, where business is not just a platform, but a mission field. Stan founded Apartment Life, Lionheart Children’s Academy, and Skylark with a singular purpose: to serve people where they are and share the Gospel in both word and deed. Whether it’s building biblical community among neighbors, providing Christ-centered care and education for children, or creating camp experiences where kids encounter Jesus, each of these ministries exists to make His name known. What began as a step of faith has grown into a movement that has impacted thousands of lives for the Kingdom. Today, we honor Stan’s unwavering commitment to the belief that business and ministry are not separate, but powerful partners in advancing the Gospel. Join us in celebrating 25 years of God’s faithfulness and the lives transformed through Apartment Life, Lionheart, and Skylark. To God be the glory! "Go and make disciples of all nations..." (Matthew 28:19)

Please join us in welcoming Mykeisha Williams to the Lionheart family! Mykeisha will serve as the Academy Director at our 22nd location, opening this May in Tomball, TX! With more than 15 years of experience in Early Childhood Education, Mykeisha’s journey started as an unexpected passion that quickly grew into a lifelong mission—one centered on building strong foundations and fostering meaningful family relationships. She holds an associate degree and is currently pursuing her bachelor’s in social work, a testament to her unwavering commitment to supporting children and families. Beyond her incredible heart for early education, Mykeisha has been happily married to her high school best friend for 13 years, is a proud fur mom to a morkie, and loves spending time with her two goddaughters. When she's not in a classroom or leading an academy, you will often find her hosting game nights, making candles, or enjoying the outdoors. But what truly makes Mykeisha special is her deep love for Jesus and her excitement to be part of a team that seeks the heart of God and shares His love with others. We are grateful for her heart to serve and look forward to the impact she will make in the lives of children and families in Tomball. Welcome to Lionheart, Mykeisha! We are so grateful to have you leading the way in Tomball and can’t wait to watch you shepherd this new academy with wisdom, joy, and heart.

We are thrilled to announce the promotion of Kyona Kilgore to Assistant Director at our flagship location in Arlington, TX! Kyona first joined Lionheart in 2023 as our Front Desk Administrator, quickly becoming a trusted and valued leader. Her compassion, optimism, and dependability made an immediate impact, and we are so excited to see her continue to grow in this new role. With eight years of experience in education and leadership, Kyona is dedicated to creating a nurturing, Christ-centered environment where children and educators thrive. As a certified life coach and ordained elder, she brings a heart for mentorship, faith, and personal growth to everything she does. Outside of the academy, Kyona loves spending time with family and friends, working out, reading, and discovering great food. She also has a passion for ministering and encouraging others to reach their full potential in Christ. Join us in celebrating Kyona’s well-earned promotion and her continued impact at Lionheart Children's Academy at Lake Church!

At Lionheart, we believe a thriving team means thriving kids! Our teachers foster a culture of care, joy, and excellence—creating classrooms where children are nurtured, loved, and ready to soar. 🦁💚

We are thrilled to announce that Carmen Alejos- Brooks has joined the Lionheart family as Academy Director at our Celina, TX location! With a Texas Director's License and degrees in Teaching (Associate of Arts) and Business Administration from Texas A&M Commerce, Carmen brings a wealth of knowledge and a deep passion for early childhood education. Her experience spans both public education and Montessori, making her uniquely equipped to lead with vision and heart. Carmen believes that all children are capable of learning and growing without limits—a value we hold close at Lionheart. Her dedication to creating impactful, transformative experiences for students inspires us all. Outside of the academy, Carmen enjoys spending time with her family and friends, trying out new restaurants, and playing board and card games. She and her husband also serve as youth pastors at their church, reflecting their deep commitment to serving their community. As a proud parent, Carmen is especially excited that her daughter will be joining the Lionheart family, making her journey here even more meaningful. Carmen, we're so glad you're here. Welcome to the Lionheart family! 

Please join us in (officially) welcoming Tiffany Briley into the Lionheart family! Tiffany joined us in November as our Academy Ministry Leader at our flagship location in Arlington, TX. She brings more than 17 years of experience as an Early Childhood Preschool Director, serving in both corporate and faith-based preschools across the Dallas/Fort Worth area. Her impressive career includes roles as a Children’s Pastor, Center Director and a Science Teacher with Dallas ISD. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Christian Education/Youth Ministry from Southwestern Assemblies of God University. Tiffany’s heart for ministry and passion for helping families build strong educational foundations for their children are evident in everything she does. Originally from Texarkana, TX, Tiffany has called the Dallas/Fort Worth area home for the past 25 years. She’s the proud mom of her teenage son, Joshua, and loves spending her free time at the beach, reading, traveling, exercising, and enjoying time with friends and family. Fun fact: Tiffany’s favorite children’s book is “Oh, the Places You’ll Go” by Dr. Seuss—a fitting choice for someone who’s inspiring so many young minds! Welcome to the fam, Tiffany! We're so glad you're here. 💚

🎉 Lionheart is officially open in Sylvania, Ohio! 🎉 We are thrilled to announce the grand opening of our newest academy, extending our mission of Christ-centered care and education to the Sylvania community. This marks another exciting step in our journey to serve families and children with love, excellence, and a heart for ministry. A special thank-you to everyone who made this possible—your support, prayers, and partnership have helped us expand our impact and reach even more families. Together, we’re building something extraordinary for His glory. 

We are thrilled to welcome Courtney Fox as the Academy Ministry Leader for Lionheart Children's Academy at our new Sylvania, Ohio location, opening in just two weeks! A native of Sylvania, Courtney has been shaped by the love and guidance of her parents, teachers, and Christ, who instilled in her a passion for learning and ministering to others. Her journey in education began in Georgia, where she taught at an early intervention child care program for two years. She later returned to Sylvania and dedicated the past decade to teaching in local elementary schools, both in the classroom and as a reading intervention specialist. Courtney and her husband, Andy, are blessed with three wonderful children: Teddy (9), Nelly (7), and Abby (5). As a family, they love spending time outdoors, traveling, attending their children's activities, and enjoying shared hobbies like golf and painting. An active member of Five Lakes Church, Courtney finds great joy and belonging in her church family. She also serves as a troop leader for both of her daughters' Girl Scout troops. Courtney feels blessed to join Lionheart Children's Academy as the Academy Ministry Leader and is eager to share Christ's love with the families of the Sylvania community. We are so excited for the impact she will make in this new role and can't wait to see how God works through her in this ministry. Please join us in welcoming Courtney Fox to the Lionheart family!

Our HeartHub team traded their laptops for hairnets this morning as they packed meals at Feed My Starving Children. FMSC is a Christian non-profit organization that provides nutritious meals to children and families in need around the world, and we were so glad to support them and serve together as a Lionheart family. Pictured below are some of this morning's warehouse crew.

We’re thrilled to announce Riley Smith's promotion to Assistant Academy Director at Lionheart Children’s Academy at Grace Church, just outside Houston, TX! Riley joined Lionheart in April 2022, inspired by our mission to equip children with education and biblical truth. Since then, he’s made an incredible impact, serving in various roles, including Trailblazer teacher, FDA, sous-chef, bus driver, and even stepping into interim leadership positions when needed. With his Texas Director’s License, Daycare Administrator Credential, and his contributions to securing GCH’s Texas Rising Stars accreditation, Riley exemplifies what it means to grow in leadership while living out Lionheart’s values. Riley shared, “Once I learned about Lionheart’s mission and vision, I quickly realized this was God’s calling in my life. The mission of education and Bible in young children made me fall in love with Lionheart as a whole.” Please join us in congratulating Riley as he steps into this exciting new chapter of service and leadership. We are excited to see how God will continue to work through him at Lionheart.