Daycare owner knew her career dream as a teen
Deana Campbell started teaching daycare at age 16 and, from that moment, she loved it.
Today, she runs Deana’s Country Kids, just off Pondella Road at 879 June Parkway, a country-themed daycare for children 6 weeks to 12 years old.
It hasn’t been an easy ride, but through perseverance, has not only survived, but prospered.
After working at other daycare centers for years and getting the necessary credentials, Campbell, with the help of her husband, purchased the building.
“The toys were in Tupperware tubs and the windows had contact paper on them so you couldn’t see in or out,” Campbell said. “I brought in the country theme and the improvements and took over in 2004.”
Country kids grew quickly, and soon there was a waiting list. Luckily, the house next door was available. The Campbells bought the house, rezoned it and basically rebuilt it themselves to turn it into a VPK.
“It took us two years and we totally gutted it. The only things we didn’t do were the roofing, electric, parking lot and plumbing,” Campbell said. “It was a big gamble. If we couldn’t get it rezoned, we would have lost everything.”
The economy almost took care of that for her, forcing Campbell to temporarily close the new building for two years as enrollment shriveled to 12.
Not wanting to lose her six workers, Campbell proposed that she would give up her paycheck if they gave up their holiday pay.
They agreed, and Campbell still hasn’t drawn a paycheck, even though her husband was laid off 18 months ago from his county job.
Slowly, the economy improved, as did the fortunes of the daycare.
The second building has again opened and she now has 55 students.
Fees are dependent on the child’s age. Infants start a $145 per week, with afterschool children being as low as $50 per week.
The country theme goes beyond painting a house red and a white picket fence like an old-time school. Campbell, who was brought up on a farm, teaches “country manners” as a main part of the curriculum.
“In Florida, we don’t see a whole lot of that. Teaching a child to say ‘Yes, please’ and ‘No, thank you’ and having respect for their friends and elders,” Campbell said.
The daycare also features a playground and bike path, built through the generosity of the community, to teach youngsters “the rules of the road” so they can ride safely.
“I get texts from parents who say their child yelled at them for not stopping at a stop sign while riding,” Campbell said. “It makes me feel good to know I’m making a difference.”
Country Kids is open weekdays from 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information, call 995-2293.