OUR STORY
Little Learners Childcare Center LLC's story started over 30 years ago when the owners decided to work together in a corporate run child care center. Sandy was looking for a caring, compassionate teacher that believed in early education and involving the whole family in to the programs. She knew Jacki was the one for the job. Sandy and Jacki are the first and second oldest sisters in a family of 7. They share the same family values and work habits that was instilled in them by their Mom. The sisters discovered that the center they were in was missing a sense of family. Once the two sisters united to foster a familial atmosphere within the center, they quickly witnessed a thriving community emerge. When you can bring families into the early education process It became clear to them that they had created something truly special for the children, educators, and the families.
For nearly five years, they collaborated to cultivate a family-oriented culture, embracing the idea of extending their dining room table to all families and early educators who became part of their community. They organized numerous family events that fostered friendships not only among students but also between parents. It wasn't until this was taken from them that they truly comprehended how unique and invaluable their experience was. However, due to budget cuts and shifting company values, the sisters eventually pursued other positions both within and outside the organization.
As time passed, the sisters found themselves working separately and began to miss the sense of family values that were absent in their current companies and environments. By a stroke of luck, the Metamora center where Jacki was employed became available for sale. Recognizing a chance to nurture their beliefs of a high level of early education and passion for family togetherness, Jacki invited Sandy to join her as a partner. Thus, in November 2009, Little Learners Childcare Center was established.
They jumped right into action, and soon all the brothers and sisters joined in, along with their two sets of parents. Together, they painted the entire building, which they describe as a fun and entertaining experience, though they’re not eager to repeat it. They dismantled a large play structure, relocated it, and rebuilt it. Along the way, they acquired new skills such as stripping and waxing floors and fixing toilets. They constructed more shelves and toys than they could ever count, all while managing their six kids—two of whom were brand new, having been born just seven months after the opening. Their oldest child was 10, and all the kids contributed to the efforts! They created a early education program that built on self independence, kindergarten readiness in a learn through play environment where one classroom prepares the children for the next classroom making sure they are ready for kindergarten and establishing a love for learning.
.jpg/:/cr=t:16.67%25,l:0%25,w:100%25,h:66.67%25/rs=w:960,h:480,cg:true)
They dedicated themselves to building a vibrant community in the small town of Metamora, and upon reaching capacity at their center, they recognized a genuine need for such a facility—particularly in small towns where corporate childcare centers typically hesitate to establish themselves. Sandy and Jacki believed they could offer not only a structured educational program to support children's readiness for kindergarten but also create a welcoming "home away from home" atmosphere where everyone is invited to gather around their dining room table.
The sisters have a passion for hosting gatherings, which is why they eagerly organized events like Dinner with Santa, Parent's Night Out, Thanksgiving Luncheons, and Halloween Parties, among others. Their goal was to unite families, and they found that food was always a great way to do it! They actively participated in numerous community parades and enjoyed contributing to any local event they could. Realizing they had found their calling, the girls wanted to share this wonderful opportunity with others. When Sandy discovered Romeo, a small town in need of educational childcare, she and Jacki recognized the need to establish their next center there. After much searching, serendipity struck when the perfect building—a former Montessori Center ready for childcare—became available for sale in an ideal location.
Sandy and Jacki were at it again, painting and cleaning while building toys and furniture, this time with two-year-old twins in tow, as the others were now off at school. In January 2014, Little Learners Romeo opened its doors! A few years later, our Little Learners family had expanded again, bringing together many joyful families, children, and teachers into one large community. By chance, the opportunity to acquire another center, Little Learners Lapeer, arose. The owner approached the sisters, asking if they were interested in purchasing her location. Having built a family of her own, she recognized their outstanding reputation within the counties and understood the significance of family to them, making it a true honor for them to be invited to take over her cherished establishment.
Little Learners Lapeer opened its doors in September 2018, this time as a fully operational center that simply needed their unique touch and programming to thrive. Over the past 15 years, the company has experienced significant growth, and the passion that Sandy and Jacki have for creating a home-away-from-home atmosphere for children, families, and staff remains at the heart of their mission. They firmly believe in the importance of instilling early education with a strong sense of self independence and family, these values will never change. They do believe family is where everything begins.
.png/:/cr=t:10.44%25,l:0%25,w:100%25,h:79.12%25/rs=w:705,h:320,cg:true)