Preschool & Daycare in Wendell, NC

Meet Our Leadership Team

Meet Tammy Hicks, Director of Education & Relations!

Tammy Hicks brings a wealth of experience and passion for early childhood education to Lightbridge Academy of Wake Forest. A Raleigh native, Tammy earned her Master’s degree in Birth-Kindergarten Education from UNC Greensboro in 2008 and has dedicated her career to nurturing young learners, supporting educators, and partnering with families.

As Director of Education & Relations, Tammy provides educational leadership and helps ensure that children receive an exceptional learning experience in a safe, nurturing, and engaging environment. She is passionate about developing highly skilled early childhood professionals who create warm, inclusive classrooms where every child can thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. Tammy also supports curriculum development, teacher coaching and training, classroom observations, and our ongoing commitment to quality and accreditation.

Meet Ashley Breshears, Center Director!

Ashley Breshears brings more than 17 years of experience in education to Lightbridge Academy, including over 10 years in early childhood education and seven years as an elementary school teacher. She holds an Associate of Science in Early Childhood Education and a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education, both from Liberty University.

Ashley is passionate about creating meaningful learning experiences where children feel safe, supported, and excited to learn. As Center Director, she is committed to supporting teachers, building strong partnerships with families, and creating a warm, welcoming environment where every child can grow with confidence, curiosity, and joy. Ashley is excited to lead the team opening Lightbridge Academy of Wendell and looks forward to building lasting relationships with children, families, and the local community.

Meet Shelby & Brian Kachel, Local Owners!

We’re Shelby and Brian Kachel, proud local owners of Lightbridge Academy. After opening our first center in Wake Forest in 2025, we’re excited to bring the Lightbridge Academy experience to the Wendell community with our newest center, currently under construction and targeting a summer 2027 opening.

With a combined 40 years of experience as IT executives, our passion for problem-solving, building strong teams, and making a positive impact inspired us to become Lightbridge Academy owners. When we moved back to the area in 2021 with our then 3-year-old daughter, Londyn, we quickly recognized the importance of high-quality early childhood education and the tremendous impact a nurturing learning environment can have on children and families.

Our experience operating Lightbridge Academy of Wake Forest has strengthened our commitment to providing families with a school where children feel safe, supported, loved, and excited to learn. We believe exceptional early childhood education is about more than preparing children for kindergarten—it’s about helping them build confidence, curiosity, independence, and a lifelong love of learning.

Family is at the heart of everything we do. Whether we’re cruising, visiting Disney, exploring North Carolina, or simply enjoying time together, we cherish the moments that make family special. That perspective guides everything we do as school owners and inspires us to create a warm, welcoming community where children can thrive and parents can feel confident knowing their little ones are in caring hands.

We’re thrilled to bring Lightbridge Academy to Wendell and look forward to serving families throughout Wendell, Zebulon, and other neighboring communities. Construction is underway, and we can’t wait to open our doors in summer 2027 and welcome you to our newest Lightbridge Academy community!