Jackie Hicks is the kind of story that perfectly captures what Ducklings is all about—growing leaders from within and building something meaningful over time. Her journey began in 1995 as a teaching assistant while she was still in college, and from the very beginning, she brought both heart and hustle to the classroom. After earning her degree in Early Childhood Education, Jackie became a lead teacher and quickly distinguished herself as a natural leader, eventually stepping into the role of Center Director. Along the way, she developed a deep operational expertise and a true passion for creating high-quality learning environments for children and families.

Jackie’s impact expanded even further when she began working closely with founder Jody Thompson in site development, where her extensive knowledge of state licensing became an invaluable asset to the brand’s growth. She officially joined the Ducklings Franchise Support Team as Director of Site Development in 2020, helping bring new schools to life across the system. In 2023, Jackie took the leap into ownership herself, and by September 2024,she had grown into a multi-unit franchisee with three locations—stepping away from her corporate role to focus on building her own Ducklings portfolio. A true legacy story, Jackie is also a Ducklings mom—both of her sons started as infants and stayed through Kindergarten—making her commitment to the brand deeply personal as well as professional.