Part Two: Spotlight Interview With Jessica De Jesus Acevedo owner of Little Star of Ours Family Child program in Cambridge, MA
Last year we did a Spotlight Interview With Jessica De Jesus Acevedo owner of Little Star of Ours Family Child program in Cambridge, MA . You can read that interview that this link:
Today, we post part two of interview with Jessica De Jesus Acevedo who gave more insightful and inspiring responses
1: You Recently, Started Parent Education Classes, What Motivated You To Do that?
At my business, Little Star of Ours Daycare, most of our families are first time parents so I work closely each day with small infants/toddlers and working parents. As an effort to provide additional educational opportunities to families in our community Little Star of Ours Daycare has started a FREE Parent and Child Development Education Class for new, current, and preparing parents. This one-day class will provide more information on topics such as child development, child care options, as well as hands on Infant and Child CPR & First Aid training. I as a Licensed Educator, Trainer, and Emergency Care Instructor, my class will also focus on the concerns and topics in which the attendees have about parenting in a safe space.
Free Parent and Child Development Education Class Link: https://www.facebook.com/events/527441284541429/
2: What Advice Would You Give to Someone Who Wanted to Start Their Own Early Childhood Center or Family Child Care Center?
Since I was in daycare myself I have wanted to be a teacher. I was amazed and forever impressed on teachers’ abilities to provide a group big or small with opportunities and strategies to learn. People would ask me what I was going to do after college, and I would always say “I’m going to take over my aunts’ daycare program.” I began Little Star of Ours Daycare at the age of 23 years old. I had no money, no degree, and no business experience.
I had three part-time jobs before I started my business. All the part-time jobs I had were to gain experience to one day open a business. I strategically worked as a bank teller at TD Bank to learn about business accounts, money handling, and customer service strategies. And while working part-time at a bank I was working with my aunt, Alba DeJesus, who was the owner and teacher at Alba's Daycare for 20+ years in Cambridge, MA.I worked as her Regular Assistant making less than $100 a week as an Independent Contractor. I was overworked and underpaid after college, but it provided me with the experience to see that I wanted to build a child care business for myself, my family, and the community.
When I began the business, I was struggling to pass my Massachusetts Teacher Education Licensure (MTELS). The licensing process is vigorous, costly, and time consuming. I cried more than once when I failed several times; but it was crucial for my business and future. I finished my bachelors while running a business with the support of my sister/business partner. Then immediately enrolled at Cambridge College for my Master’s in Education to continue my education that I had been delayed on pursuing because of a test.
Every big step in life is a transition. Transitioning from an employee to a business owner of a Family Child Care or Center-Base Program is a great and endless responsibility. Therefore, all individuals who are interested in opening a program I highly advise doing their due diligence, market analysis, professional development, and research before doing so. The cost, location, employees, ratio, and enrollment are areas that potential Providers or business owners must think about prior to leaving an employment position with benefits and a set pay. Being a child care owner has allowed me to create a community, curriculum, and culture that welcomes families of all backgrounds in an inclusive safe learning space.
As a Minority Woman Owned Enterprise, Little Star of Ours, is serving the community of Cambridge by providing families quality child care with bilingual educators. If starting a child care business is your goal increase your education and experiences daily, create a business plan, talk to someone in the business (feel free to email us LittleStarofOurs@gmail.com), and start building your child care brand.
3: How Do You Stay Up to Date About What Is Happening in Early Education?
I stay informed on the current happenings in the early education system by continuing my higher education, articles, networking, professional development, and active involvement. I take as many trainings in person and online that I find for free or little cost that interest me, improve the business and finances, or our curriculum monthly.
One of the reasons, I enjoy being a fellow of the PMC program at UMass Boston is the ability to be in a classroom with diverse experienced and knowledgeable educators in the private and public early education sector. It allows us to share our ideas, areas of concerns, improvements, and the opportunity to hear from current teachers in the field.
4: What Type of Trainings and Learning Opportunities Would You Want to Have for You and Your Staff?
Free classes on entrepreneurship, money management, building a client base, and on-line marketing for business owners and entrepreneurs While, also offering Regular Assistants and staff in the early education field with more free trainings focused on effective teaching strategies of young children, child development, and how to support children who may need early intervention, experienced trauma or homelessness, or additional support in the classroom.
5: What Are Some of The Long-Term Goals You Have for You and Your Program?
I aim every day to learn and improve myself to be the best business owner and teacher I can be. My goal is to complete my doctorate studies in early education while running a child care business. Be a trainer for early education teachers and one day work in higher education. Be an advocate for Family Child Care owners who wish to serve the community but struggle to stay in business due to income, ineffective regulations and inconsistent systemic changes, and underrepresentation.
Little Star of Ours is a learning space for all ages. We are in the process of increasing our class offerings with Infant/Child CPR & First Aid for teachers and parents. We will be conducting free Parent and Child Development Education Classes as well. And actively working in the local community and in Guatemala to support the development of early education for young children and families.
Little Star of Ours is devoted to serving the community and working with families as a part of their child care team. We wish to continue serving young children (3 months to 5 years old) in our full day program. We aspire to expand our program space and capacity to provide after school services for school aged children in the same building. By increasing our capacity, it allows our small business to create new employment opportunities for aspiring early childhood educators and support diverse families raise the stars of the future.
