Today we’d like to introduce you to Ms. Dee.
Hi Ms. Dee, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself
I have been a registered nurse for the last 13 years; however, I’ve always had a passion for early childhood education. I received my chance to pursue my passion for education once I had my son. When he was 2 years old, I was given the opportunity to own a residential daycare. I had 5 little people under 4 whom I was able to educate every day. I did not run my “daycare” as a daycare. I ran my “daycare”, as a preschool. Each day was crafted with well-thought-out lessons and intentional learning opportunities. I soon had to go back to my trade for financial reasons, and my family moved to Atlanta. I again worked as a nurse for some years. I placed my son in a small private school for prekindergarten. He was bored silly and began to have behaviors in class. I decided to homeschool him throughout preschool and the rest of kindergarten on my 4 days off from work. It was at this time; I grew to love early childhood education even more!!! Fast forward to present, I was again given the financial opportunity to pursue my passion and I grabbed the bull by the horns! I opened my Online Kindergarten Prep class. I service ages 2.5-5 years for one hour per day virtually. Currently, we have one afternoon class and one evening class. The program focuses on both math and literacy. In October, I was blessed to find a space to utilize in order to make an in-person impact. Spectacular Start has expanded its reach, by providing a learning pod in McDonough, Ga. A learning pod is a small group of children who learn and socialize together. Due to the pandemic, many families were faced with having to find educational alternatives. Both of these programs reimagine the way children are able to learn.
In my quest to provide a high-quality early childhood educational experience for my families; I was faced with a problem. I had a hard time finding culturally relevant learning materials. There are many amazing educational resources, but none of them look like my students. I decided that providing my students with images that look like them, would be my next task. I created preschool workbooks with brown characters.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has not been a smooth road. The pandemic through a monkey wrench in my original plan to open an early learning center. As a result of the pandemic, the online program was birthed. Additionally, providing high quality takes money. I did not want a mediocre experience for my families who were all affected financially by the pandemic. I was blessed to secure funding for my online students. I am so proud to say, I was able to offer scholarships to families in need. This has been my biggest accomplishment to date.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Spectacular Start provides both in-person and online Kindergarten Preparatory classes for children ages 2.5 to 5 years. Additionally, we sell preschool workbooks with brown characters so that brown children can see representation of themselves in their educational materials. Our focus is on literacy and math. What sets us apart is our commitment to excellence. We do not merely teach the basics. Our children receive advanced preparation for kindergarten. I am most proud of providing scholarships this past fall for families who otherwise would not be able to afford the quality of program that is provided.
Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
The two things in life that make me happiest are children, and palm trees. Children put a smile on my face instantly with their positive attitudes and bright smiles. I find palm trees calming; they remind my of my favorite place, which is the beach.
Contact Info:
- Email: Spectacularstart@gmail.com
- Website: www.specstart.org
- Instagram: Specstart
- Facebook: Spectacularstart
