PIT Parents Eager for New Childcare Center

A week after Michele Meanor was hired at the Allegheny County Airport Authority (ACAA), she found out she was pregnant. When her daughter River, turned 1, she started to worry about childcare.

Turns out her employer has the solution.

On Friday, Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT) announced it will soon open a new on-site childcare center called La Petite Academy, open to the children of ACAA employees and other airport campus workers. River is already enrolled.

Meanor, an Environmental Programs Administrator, said she was thrilled to learn about the new center.

“It will be fun for River to say, ‘My mom works at the airport, and I get to spend my day watching all of these planes.’ It’s exciting for kids,” Meanor said.

Although she looked into other local childcare centers, convenience and affordable cost ultimately swayed Meanor’s decision to enroll River in La Petite. The center’s fees are below market rates, and they accept state-supplied tuition assistance from those who qualify for it.

The center’s focus on a STEM curriculum (science, technology, engineering and math) was another bonus for Meanor.

“I was super interested when they talked about it being a STEM program. That was a big deal for me,” she said. “I think it creates a good foundation in many areas of development.”

The STEM curriculum helps children merge academic and real-world skills. As a science enthusiast, Meanor is excited for River to learn more about STEM and gain valuable cognitive skills—all before she reaches kindergarten.

Commercial Development Manager Graha