Today we’d like to introduce you to Justin Smith.
Hi Justin, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I have been an educator for about 15 years now, from being a full time math and physical education teacher to coaching sports like middle school soccer and baseball from Texas to California and back. Back in 2018, my colleagues and I got together and collaborated to start our own private school which we launched our first campus in Tampa, Florida. From there, we have grown into 4 schools that teach K-12th (2 in Tampa, 1 in Jacksonville and 1 in Cleveland, OH).
My mom is also an educator and she initially launched a daycare back in 1998 when I was in elementary. Unfortunately, there were some setbacks that prevented her from keeping the daycare going so it closed down shortly after. Fast forward to today, with my heavy background in education and my mom’s educational background, we decided to relaunch the daycare in 2020 together.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
No, it has not. Compared to when the daycare first launched in 1998 and now, everything is online and there are way more stipulations and red tape when it comes to opening a daycare or preschool in the 2020s. For example, there are a ton of inspections that you have to go through to get your permit for your location. With that comes the time it takes to get pass those inspections and waiting on the city to approve all of your inspections. Then when you get pass the city inspections, you have to get through all of DHS inspections. By the time you look up, you are half way through the year if not almost nearing a year and you are already out of overhead costs and you haven’t even been able to open the doors yet for business. So, if anyone is considering opening their first daycare/preschool, be prepared for operation costs for up to a year before opening your doors.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a co-founder of 4 private schools. I serve as the Executive Director of our private school network. I am known for being ambitious, driven, pretty much a go-getter. I am most proud of never giving up despite all the obstacles or roadblocks I may be faced with. What sets me apart from others is that I deliver in what I say I’m going to do and I always re-evaluating myself to be better than I was yesterday.
Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
My advice would be to find a mentor that thinks along the same lines as you. I am a firm believer in surrounding yourself with people who you want to be like. I feel like, when you do, you tend to always talk about goals and things that you want to do and they normally happen.
I met my mentor in college and we pretty much have worked together in the education field since. I remember in college around 2011 or 2012, we were talking about starting a school and it came to fruition in 2018 from just a conversation.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://thelittlepeoples.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thelittlepeoples?igsh=bjVkeTVpdXlseGZm
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thelittlepeoples/
