All in the family: The ABCD family is all-in for the kids

It’s not often you see a room full of pre-K children working quietly.

But maybe at ABCD Daycare it is.

On a weekday morning last week, no fewer than 10 kids around age 5 were quietly working away – minus a few questions for “Miss Ashley” of course.

Working on collaged paper-plate hats in honor of Dr. Seuss’s Cat in the Hat or playing with blocks, the pre-K classroom was calm enough to conduct an interview, with “Miss Ashley” herself comfortably fielding questions from journalist and student alike.

“Miss” Ashley Lenz is the lead teacher at the Hayden location of ABCD Daycare, and childcare is in her blood.

“I love these guys. They’re basically my own.”

Like parents Andy and Chris Bjurstrom, Lenz began working in daycare as a teenager, helping out at ABCD after school. She has been teaching pre-K for over 20 years.

“I have a passion for kids,” said Lenz. “So far, I love it.”

“Ashley is such an amazing teacher,” her mother Chris said.

Lenz’s grandmother Berta Bjurstrom opened ABCD over 50 years ago with husband Fred in 1969. The daycare’s name is more than a fitting word association for young children. It was named for Andy and siblings Barbara, Clayton and Dan: making ABCD with the first letter of each name.

In 1994 the torch was passed to the younger Bjurstroms, who had been working with ABCD already for four years and who’ve been running the business since. But it took time to convince Berta to retire.

“She wouldn’t leave. She was committed to the kids, committed to the community – it was her job,” said Andy of his mother.

Lenz makes the family’s third generation to continue work at the center – and she may not be the last. Her own daughter Miley, a 5th grader at a local elementary school, already has the family gift.

“She comes in [after school] and she reads stories to the kids,” said Lenz. “She’s got a talent.”

“That girl’s gonna be working here before you know it, “said Chris.

Other members of the family have also worked at the daycare in the past and many continued to work in education or with children. The Bjurstroms’ son Nikolas teaches at Lake City High School.

“It’s definitely in our blood,” said Chris.

It isn’t just the Bjurstrom-Lenz family that keeps coming back, either. Former students come back to visit the school often, even as college students. Many grow up to send the next generation of their own families – or in some cases the third.

“I’ve got third generations [of families] starting here at school,” said Chris. “These families have truly become life-long friends.”

Chad Oakland is one of those former students.

“All four of my kids went there. They’re fantastic people,” said Oakland, who attended kindergarten at ABCD in the late ‘70s and who remembers “Mr. Fred and Miss Berta” well.

“Me and my sister went there, so when it came time [to send my own children], I was comfortable. My wife was comfortable. There was never any question.”

Oakland said his familiarity with the school and the people running aided his decision to enroll his kids.

“You kind of feel like you’re sending them off to family.”

“I think it speaks volumes about who we are and our true dedication to these children,” Chris said. “And I think parents appreciate that.”

The center has a noticeable impact on its students – as a room of quiet youngsters at 10 am suggests. Many start at age two and stay until they begin first grade.

“These kids are very well prepared when they get to public school,” said Chris. All of her kids (the whole family refers to the students with a familial belonging), know the Pledge of Allegiance, the ABCD Daycare pledge, and learn the alphabet – in sign language, no less. “Even the two-year-olds.”

Chris also says local kindergarten and first grade teachers tell her “they can always pick our kids out” by their behavior and the skills they have.

“If you’re not able to keep kids’ attention then you’re not engaging the right way. You need to change the program.” Consistency and routines are invaluable for kids, she added, but the daycare is sure to add fun so kids are “excited to learn.”

Like the Bjurstrom family, some students are excited to inspire that excitement to learn in others, coming back to work for the daycare.

Five teachers between the two locations of ABCD are former students.

Shaina Byers, the lead pre-K teacher at the Coeur d’Alene location, is one of them.

Already an experienced daycare teacher, Byers said she couldn’t resist applying when a position at the center opened two years ago.

“Home is where the heart is,” Byers said. “I always wanted to be like my teachers there.”

Byers’ brother, sister, and three cousins all attended ABCD as well. Her children Zaidin and Zariyah are now enrolled.

“Miss Chris was actually my teacher when I went there. Our families knew each other,” said Byers. Likewise, director of the Coeur d’Alene location Betsy Oberrich was her brother’s teacher – and is now her colleague.

“It’s literally [a] family, even as employees,” said Byers.

Chris spoke of the center the same way. “We’re a family and I feel like we’re a team,” she said.

“We’re a really strong unit. We have that to fall back on,” said Lenz. “You’ve got to have a good bond.”

No kidding. Not every family works smoothly together and some thrive with a little more distance.

The Bjurstroms, who also spend their weekends together, are not one of those families.

“We’re a very tight, close family,” said Andy. “[Chris and I have] worked together 29 years. It was harder when we worked at two [different] centers.”

Perhaps it’s no coincidence the interviewees were so enthusiastic about each other and their work. Byers said working with 5-year-olds gives you the perspective to “just add a little glitter glue” when life gets you down.

Giving children the skills they need to succeed in school and later in life is rewarding for the crew as well. Many everyday skills we may take for granted are taught before kindergarten, Byers said. Being able to hold a pencil is “monumental” when a child first accomplishes it, and other skills like problem-solving are also first learned early on.

“I’m glad to do what I do. I dearly love my job,” said Byers.

Lenz says there’s a real need for educators of young children, but the ABCD family may have to rely on the younger generations to keep the flame going.

“I’m ready to step down,” warned Chris. “I’ve done [childcare] for 32 years.”

But like her mother-in-law, Chris may take some convincing. When she does get around to retiring –she’s been hinting at retirement for a while and hasn’t announced formal plans yet – she doesn’t plan to stay away forever.

“We’re gonna be long-timers,” Andy agreed.

Chris smiled. “I’m not ready to give up my kids.”