For Katia Baker, education is more than a career—it is a lifelong calling rooted in love, patience, and purpose. As the founder of Edgewood Academy in Stamford, Baker has spent nearly two decades creating a nurturing, inclusive environment where children are encouraged to learn, explore, and thrive.
Her journey began in 2006 with a small, licensed family daycare serving just six children. It was her first time working with very young learners, and the experience was transformative. “I absolutely fell in love with it,” Baker recalls. “Watching children discover colors, numbers, and letters. Their excitement was contagious.”
Word spread quickly among families, and demand grew. With the help of her husband, a builder, Baker expanded the program twice—first to 12 children, then 16—while holding fast to her vision of personalized, high-quality care. That vision became Edgewood Academy in 2015, marking a major milestone in her dream to serve more families through a full early childhood education center.
Growth came with challenges, including pandemic-related delays, but Baker persevered. In 2023, Edgewood Academy completed a nearly 2,000-square-foot expansion, increasing capacity to 28 children, with plans for further growth once final city requirements are met. Support from CEDF (Community Economic Development Fund) helped Baker navigate this next chapter, providing financing and guidance to strengthen and sustain her business.
Edgewood Academy is deeply rooted in community. Families who enrolled in the early days still stay connected, and many former students are now thriving in college. The Academy welcomes children with special needs, partners with speech specialists, and offers parent workshops to strengthen family engagement, an approach shaped by Baker’s own experience as a mother of a child with a disability. Looking ahead, Baker hopes to expand outdoor learning opportunities, bringing children closer to nature through gardening and exploration.