Today we’d like to introduce you to Adrienne Shawn Jitta-Donaldson.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Adrienne. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I was the middle child of five children. I started working in the childcare field when I was ten years old when I began tutoring children in the classroom and volunteering at summer camps. I decided to work with children because at the age of 10 my parents conceived my little sister and on the account that we had several dogs, birds, and fish that all died or ran away, my 10-year-old brain was convinced that they would not be able to take care of my sister. Now just to clarify, my parents had four healthy and happy children at the time but I could not look past that and wanted to take care of my sister. I have served in the education field for 16 years! I have worked or volunteered in 32 different swim camps, aftercare camps, public schools, charter schools, private schools, child care centers, and family child care homes in Miami-Dade County.
I am the proud owner of Jitta Bug Learning Center which is a Family Child Care Home in North Miami, Florida and Jitta Bug Professional Development which is a service for teachers, directors, and those inspiring to enter the childcare field. I am currently en route of earning my Bachelor’s in Early Childhood Education. I earned my Associates in Arts for Pre-Elementary Teaching, Associates in Science in Early Childhood Education, College Credit Certificate for Infant and Toddler Specialization and Preschool Specialization, National CDA, and Advanced VPK Endorsed Directors. This is my first time hosting a workshop outside of my preschool. I have hosted parent workshops on financial aid for home owners, water safety, internet safety, Early Literacy, and many other topics. I am part of several professional affiliations including South Florida Home Child Care Association (SFHCCA), Florida Family Child Care Home Association (FFCCHA) where I am the Area Rep for Area 31 and that is comprised of all the family child care homes in Miami-Dade and Monroe Counties, National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), South Florida Association for Young Children (SFAYC), Southern Early Childhood Association (SECA), Florida Association for the Education of Young Children (FLAEYC), and National Association for Family Child Care (NAFCC).
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Smooth roads are only for dreams of infants. My road was bumpy from the day I opened my school but thanks to my parents, Denise and Shawn, I was able to keep pushing and make it past some amazing obstacles and I was able to see the light at the end of the tunnel. A few struggles included enrollment and keep my numbers of students at a good amount to keep afloat. Another struggle was angry parents making false reports and sending The Department of Children and Families to my school for nothing other than they were upset. Another struggle was getting support from the community and government to support my dream and goals. But with this being a family business, all my support was always behind me, next to me, and right in front of me!
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Jitta Bug Learning Center – what should we know?
Jitta Bug Learning Center is a family child care home that provides services to children of all walks of life no matter their ethnic background, religion, race, gender, or disability by creating a safe, nutritious, and loving environment for young children to be taught in, developing an educational system that will monitor and record the children’s progress and keep the parents involved and treating our students with the love and respect and taught self-help and independence. The school also has a mission to reach out to help families in need. We specialize in care for children 3 months to 12 years old as well as tutoring and evening care. We are known for being the FIRST Eco-School in Florida, The FIRST Preschool in the whole country, and we made the top 10 ECO Schools as well. I am most proud of our family connection and unit that keeps this company flowing. Most of the parents that enroll their children here begin to feel like family and we all connect on a loving and united level. My parents have helped elevate my business and grow professionally and really created a school that runs off grandparent’s love!
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
The four people that deserves credit is Jehovah God for helping us stand strong for four years and counting and truly making a difference in so many young children’s lives. My little sister, Alicia “Kitty” Jitta who is the reason why I work with children and she is an inspiration to me as well. She helped me grow into the teacher I am today because she was always my test student and she really helps me improve my school and lessons with helpful art tips and she even teaches art classes to my students. The next person that deserves credit is my Mother, Denise Jitta, she is my backbone and heart! When things get rough and I need to step away she is always there to keep my school going and keep me strong. She is wise beyond years and experience and has a mother love so think that it is unsliced able. My father, Shawn Jitta, is the last person that deserves credit because he was the muscle to the creation and continued operation of this school. When I want to give up he is the one that pushes me back up and to keep moving forward. The students in the school call my mom and dad Grandma and Grandpa and my sister Aunty Kitty and they all feel like they are family and truth be told they are!
Pricing:
- Weekly Day Time Care starts at $150.00 a week
- Weekly Night Time Care Starts at $175.00 a week
- Tutoring and Aftercare Package is $75.00 a week
- Saturday Care Monthly is $100.00
Contact Info:
- Address: 1530 NW 124th Street,
North Miami, FL 33167 - Website: www.jittabug.org
- Phone: 786-274-2519
- Email: [email protected]
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JittaBugLC/
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/jitta-bug-learning-center-north-miami
- Other: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtu0NctmlxalJnWA5I_AVpg
Image Credit:
Alicia Jitta
Charles Ingraham
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