Laima Pačėsienė, who together with her husband founded a private lyceum that has been operating for almost a decade, says that she took this step out of the desire to provide the best academic education for her own children. At the school, a family-like environment is created, which she believes is essential for building a special atmosphere where students feel accepted as they are and feel safe. The idea, which has become her life’s work, also supports her personal life—when she feels tired, she simply goes to talk to the children, who give her the strength to keep striving for her family and for her “second family,” as she calls the school.

Why was it important to you that your daughter receive the best possible education you could provide?

We mothers can truly do so much for our children. Founding a school with my child in mind gave me strength. It is very important to me that a child receives a holistic education—a balance between academic knowledge and personal abilities. This idea has become the cornerstone of Erudito Lyceum’s educational philosophy.

Today’s youth are sometimes seen as giving up too quickly. Do you think this might actually be a positive trait—showing that, as a nation, we are moving away from the belief that one must suffer in order to achieve good results?

Modern youth tend to try as many new things as possible, to search for themselves, and to do what brings them joy. This is the right approach. To achieve high results, one must put in a lot of effort—sometimes even “suffer.” But if a child is doing something they truly enjoy, then even the “struggle” can feel rewarding. For them, it is very important to discover what is meaningful and where they want to grow. Our role is to help them—and that is the mission of our active, integral, and inclusive education.

How can one navigate between freedom and responsibility, discipline and the expression of individuality?

At school, we nurture free and independent children. A free person makes their own choices, takes decisions, makes mistakes, and discovers new things. We talk about mistakes, clearly identify them, analyze them, and aim for mistakes to become the best teacher. This shapes a responsible personality. Discipline is achieved through agreements in which students themselves are always involved. When inappropriate behavior occurs, we discuss it together, encouraging positive actions and a constructive mindset.

What measures do you take to ensure students feel safe and accepted, no matter who they are?

Each of us is unique. Our students are not afraid to be themselves and confidently express their ideas and creative solutions. Project-based learning is a great way to foster this, as it involves extensive teamwork. Students learn to accept others’ opinions, reach agreements, and collaborate. The Lyceum is characterized by its international environment—we have students and teachers from more than 30 countries around the world. This cultural diversity provides an even greater opportunity to understand differences and embrace them positively and uniquely.

How do you create an environment where every student receives attention, feels valued, and is noticed—especially when there are so many of them?

I feel incredibly happy because I receive so much positivity and good energy from the students. Whenever I get very tired at work, I go and talk with them. All the fatigue disappears instantly—children recharge me with energy.

How can we teach a child to love their body and make healthy choices for their well-being?

At the Lyceum, balanced nutrition is very important. There is a wide variety of food—from vegetarian to meat and fish dishes, along with a broad selection of vegetables. Children can choose according to their taste. On Fridays, we go to school without uniforms and allow ourselves to enjoy Italian pizza. We also encourage children to spend their breaks outdoors and to stay physically active as much as possible.

Why are your school and education in general important to you for the growth and development of both individuals and society?

Because it is the foundation, the very ground a child stands on. The environment in which they grow up and are educated shapes the values they carry into the next stage of life when choosing their studies. When faced with a different environment, they are able to discern, think critically, and continue planning their lives—because they already have a strong foundation formed at school.

Did your approach to children, their upbringing, and independence come from your own family and motherhood experience?

Constant learning while raising daughters of different generations has allowed me to stay up to date with educational trends. For our first daughter, Ieva, we looked for a school focused on personality development. At that time, we were among the brave few who chose a non-traditional school. Ieva started attending school, in grade 0, at the age of 5, because an upbringing oriented toward independence led to early maturity. Through singing and plenty of reading together, she learned to read at the age of 4.

Our second daughter, Liepa, inspired us to create a school that combines the best global educational practices with our own experiences. She has been attending Erudito Lyceum since its very beginning.

Our daughters belong to different generations, yet they share so much in common. Without them, we would not have had these experiences. I am an incredibly happy mother and woman.