Business Of The Year

Business Of The Year THE LEARNING TREE

BY | REGINA BUTLER

When Melissa Chavers, owner and operator of the Learning Tree Children’s Academy learned that her business was voted Business of the Year, “I was shocked, but thankful. I’m glad people feel that way. I’m grateful they think we work hard to help them.”

Chavers has been in charge of her second home since 2013 and it didn’t take long for the public to put their trust in her day care capabilities.

The Learning Tree Children’s Academy offers full time child care and after school for children from birth to 10 years old. And since she took the helm it has undergone renovations and additions to the site to accommodate more children and keep the environment immediately around them safe and secure.

“I am very picky about who is with my children,” she said and grinned broadly. “And I am also particular about who comes on the premises by making sure every child is as safe and secure as I can manage it, which is why I have cameras and a security system.”

She said her greatest challenge is keeping good people that meet her standards.

“In my baby room I have a mother and a grandmother working together. It makes it like family.”

Chavers was also voted woman of the year, but she said she was more proud of having the business of the year, because she has worked so hard to make it become something that people in the community would be glad to send their children to every day.

“When we first bought this, I was concerned about it being in a neighborhood, but now I like it. We have people who look after us and let us know if they see anything going on here that shouldn’t.”

And what has surprised her the most is how the community has come together to love and support her business. “The whole community has wrapped their arms around this and whatever we have needed they have been here to help. It means a lot to me. I moved here from California and you just don’t get this sense of community.”

And that includes those people who are here for safety and security.

“The police. Let me tell you when I say they take care of us. They do. If we call they are right here to help us take care of these babies. They are wonderful! They regularly patrol and let us know they are keeping an eye on us,” she exuded. “If the electricity goes out or a problem comes up with the water those folks are right here to clear up the problem as well.”

She said she also appreciates the interaction with the fire department. “They will come and bring their truck and talk to the kids about fires and how to prevent them. They are great.”

Chavers said her special joy is she has the freedom to do things for people since the business is hers. “I especially like to help foster moms when I can.”

And speaking of the business being a family affair, her daughter, Dallas, now works for her. “She does all the computer work and keeping the books, which leaves me free to go back and rock the babies.” She smiled sweetly. “It also allows me to get hands on with cooking and other things in the building. I can do the fun stuff, that’s where my heart is. I’d rather be rocking a baby than pushing a pencil.”

She glanced out her office window to the room across the hall where all the babies are kept. “That infant room is my happy place.”

“These children become my family and I get attached. I love the flexibility of it. We are a Christian School. We say the blessing before eating our meals. They have Bible time and we teach them about God and what’s important in life. They learn stuff that will stay with them for a life time.” She smiled thoughtfully. “You will be amazed at how much they are little sponges. They soak up a lot. The children that are ages two to five can learn a whole lot more than you can imagine. And they love structure.”

There are 30 people on staff that help keep children fed, taught and loved on throughout the day. “My morning starts at 6:30 or 7:30 and SOMETIMES I can go home at 4:30 and then some days it is 7:30. There are many things to do such as getting the scheduling done for the employee’s work hours, filling out orders for food delivery, and talking with parents who have concerns.” It is her personal touch that keeps parents clamoring to get their children in the academy. “My waiting list is long,” she noted. “But I keep my capacity limited so I can give quality care.”

And speaking of those people she relies on to keep her place going, Chavers said she couldn’t do it without them. “I have three ladies that have been with me from the beginning. I never have to worry about opening or if the meals will be cooked or if the garbage will be carried out. They take ownership as much as me and my husband, Scott, do; and that makes all the difference in the world to us.”

And she is broadening the horizons of her students. “We are going to start gardening. I want to teach them how to raise crops. Children don’t have the same family system we did growing up, where the grandmother and granddaddy were at home and the mom was in the home and a garden had to be raised to feed the family throughout the winter.”

And through it all, she hopes that the little seeds of learning she drops into the soil of their hearts will grow and teach them to be responsible students and adults.

“My favorite verse lately is Proverbs 22:6 ‘Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it.’ I just pray that when they do grow up, somewhere along the way what they learned will come back to them and carry them through life’s joys and heartaches.”