Kids World Learning Center: First center in the state of Georgia to be Quality Rated Accredited
STATESBORO, Ga. – As South Georgia Tormenta FC gears up for its Juneteenth theme night on Sunday, the club looks forward to highlighting local black-owned businesses for the entire month of June. This series is sponsored by Davis Bozeman Johnson Law.
First, up is Kids World Learning Center, owned and directed by Michelle Lank, who has provided the city of Statesboro with quality childcare since 2005. Lank was provided the opportunity to take over ownership of Kids World in 2005 with the desire to continue supporting her community while carrying on the legacy of Kids World Learning Center.
“Kids World was the first center in the state of Georgia to be Quality Rated Accredited, and we are nationally NAEYC Accredited in childcare,” stated Lank. “Only 9% of all childcare programs across the country are nationally NAEYC accredited.”
In 2020, Kids World was voted the best childcare center, afterschool care, and summer camp in the city of Statesboro. In 2021, Kids World was awarded Best of Georgia 2021 Regional Winner for Childcare Centers. They were considered Statesboro’s leading childcare program.
Q & A with Michelle Lank
What sparked your interest in the childcare industry?
Both of my children attended Kids World from infants through the PreK program. Years later, an opportunity to purchase the same program that my family was a part of became available. Within one month from the time the opportunity presented itself, I was the new Owner and Director of Kids World Learning Center.
Was this a passion growing up or did you gain this passion and desire for the childcare industry later in life?
Many of my family members are teachers, and I never found that to be my passion. Taking my children to childcare, I always wanted to be involved and make the program better. The desire and passion grew after becoming the Owner/Director of Kids World.
What were some challenges that you experienced when first stepping into the childcare industry? How did you overcome them?
Not knowing what teachers should know to set the foundation for education was difficult. It was then that I went back to school for Early Childhood Care and Education to learn what the teachers were learning, so I could be supportive and hold the teachers accountable for providing a higher level of care.
What is the vision behind the 3 core values family first, community, and quality matters?
The core values of family first, community partnerships and quality matters is what guides our program. When you join Kids World, you join our family and are a priority. We take being involved in the community as a priority and value that partnership. Quality is shown in our environment and in our accreditations.
Why was it important for you to extend your knowledge throughout the community by becoming an author teaching parents how to choose childcare?
I believe that parents should be educated on what to look for when searching for care for their most prized possession. Some may not know exactly what to search for or ask when they are finding childcare for their family. I wanted to provide families in the community with a free resource that would assist them in finding the right program for them and their children.
Being a sponsor for Tormenta FC, Kids World continues to provide community involvement in the Bulloch County area.
Lank stated that she will continue to strive to live by their core values and provide quality care for all children through their program while putting their families first.
Be on the lookout for more amazing local black-owned businesses during this month.
*Written by Coriana Middlebrooks.