Meet the Owners
Meet Kirk and Kim
Discovery Kids Learning Center is proudly owned by Kirk and Kim Huddleston, a husband-and-wife team who bring decades of business and early childhood experience to the families they serve. As parents of four children, they built Discovery Kids Learning Center from a genuine love for children, a strong belief in the value of quality early education, and a heartfelt commitment to creating a place where families feel supported and children feel safe, loved, and encouraged to grow. After opening their original Fruita location in 2004, they were honored to continue that mission by opening their Grand Junction location in 2015.
Fruita Directors
Destiny
Destiny is a Director at Discovery Kids Learning Center with a background in both classroom teaching and administration. She began her career in the Toddler-2 classroom before moving into a leadership role.A Grand Junction, Colorado native, Destiny holds her Child Development Associate (CDA) credential and Director Certification. She is passionate about supporting children’s growth and mentoring teachers to provide high-quality care and education.
Director
Kari
Kari is a Director at Discovery Kids Learning Center with a diverse background in education. She began her career in Early Childhood Education, later earning a Bachelor’s degree in Secondary English and a Master’s degree in School Counseling. She has experience teaching at the elementary level and spent many years working as a school counselor within the district. Kari is passionate about supporting both children and educators, with a strong focus on social-emotional learning and meeting the developmental needs of every child. She is excited to bring her broad experience back to the Early Childhood Education field.
Director
Ashley
Director
Ashley is a Director at Discovery Kids Learning Center at both the Fruita and Grand Junction Center. She has been a part of the team for 6 years. She started in a support role and worked her way up through teacher's aide, a lead teacher to her current position, gaining strong classroom experiences along the way. She has completed 5 college courses in early childhood education. Discovery Kids is especially meaningful to her because she attended as a child. She is passionate about creating the same positive, caring environment for children and families she serves today.
Grand Junction Directors
Tayler
Director
Tayler is currently serving as an Administrator at Discovery Kids Learning Center, where she has been part of the team for over 10 years, beginning as a teacher and transitioning into a leadership role nearly a year ago. Having also attended Discovery Kids Learning Center in Fruita as a child, she brings a unique, full-circle perspective and a deep commitment to fostering a nurturing, high-quality learning environment for both children and staff.
Shale
Director
Shale is a Director at Discovery Kids Learning Center. She began her career in early childhood education at Discovery in 2016 as an intern and quickly discovered her passion for working with young children and supporting their growth. Over the past 10 years, she has advanced from assistant roles to Lead Pre-K Teacher, where she spent six years guiding and preparing children for their next steps in education. Her dedication and leadership led her into administration, where she now serves as a Co-Director alongside a collaborative team. As both an educator and a parent, she brings a family-centered approach to her work, valuing strong relationships, open communication, and a nurturing environment for children, families, and staff alike.
Ashley
Director
Ashley is a Director at Discovery Kids Learning Center at both the Fruita and Grand Junction Center. She has been a part of the team for 6 years. She started in a support role and worked her way up through teacher's aide, a lead teacher to her current position, gaining strong classroom experiences along the way. She has completed 5 college courses in early childhood education. Discovery Kids is especially meaningful to her because she attended as a child. She is passionate about creating the same positive, caring environment for children and families she serves today.
Our staff is the heart of our childcare facility. Each teacher is dedicated to creating a safe, nurturing, and engaging environment where every child feels valued and supported. With a passion for early childhood education and a commitment to building strong relationships, our teachers work to help children grow, learn, and thrive every day. We take pride in the care we provide and the positive, lasting impact we have on the children and families we serve.
We Love What We Do
So, what will you find when you join the best child care facility on the western slope? Would you like the chance to impact the community you live in while building a career doing what you love?
Discovery Kids Learning Center has fantastic career opportunities for responsible, dedicated, and creative professionals. We offer competitive industry salary’s and benefits, as well as a friendly and creative atmosphere. Come be a part of a team of enthusiastic, caring, and skilled professionals.
Dedicated & Certified
We empower and encourage our employees’ to be enthusiastic about learning.
At Discovery Kids Learning Center we are committed to proving outstanding quality care in our centers, which is why we will help you enhance your skills through yearly staff development opportunities. You’ll also find awesome benefits and competitive salaries. Our teachers have some of the sharpest mind in the industry and they are inspired about bettering the live of the children around them. Our educators are proud of their role because we select individuals with special qualities, talents, and skills who are needed to make up a well-balanced staff.
Employee Benefits
At our organization, we support our team with benefits that promote health, financial security, and work–life balance.