I started loving teaching at a young age. I remember around seven, I remember playing school with my dolls, bears, and sometimes my imaginary friends. I would set myself aside on the side of the room I shared with my two sisters and one brother, and I would set it up like a classroom. I assigned my inanimate students homework, taught my imaginary students how to add/subtract, and created lessons for writing and reading. My dad was the principal, and my mom was the vice principal; I remember this like yesterday. I would sometimes take control of the bathrooms for hours, reading and writing inside the bathrooms, just teaching myself how to add and subtract and doing fun, cool science projects.
I remember in middle school having trouble with English and Math, and as silly as it sounds, I went back to teaching my imaginary class. I passed my English and Math tests when I returned to teaching my imaginary students to laugh out loud.
I loved playing sports in middle school, so to continue playing sports, I had to
keep my grades up.
Fast forward a little to when I spent six years working for a childcare provider. I enjoyed so many different aspects of my class, from helping the parents understand the importance of breastfeeding and watching the little ones grow. All my infant parents loved me watching over their little ones, and one of the parents I continued to keep in touch with to this day always reminds me that her child was shown so much love and was taught so much under my care.
After being in the infant room for over 4 years, I moved up to assistant director with no formal training at all. To help me understand and adapt to the new role, I spent a good bit of time learning what I could off the clock. I created a binding system for that company, which they still use today. I understood God put me here for a reason.
When I left this job, I lost my passion for children. I changed jobs a few times, and I finally thought I found a job I would love and stick with for a while, was being a sales merchandise, I had 13 stores I would have to go to, and all I could talk about was saving money to invest into my own childcare business. I will never forget my last day working there. I went to work with a sharp pain in my side, and I immediately scheduled a doctor's appointment. The doctor scheduled a CT scan to look at what was going on inside my body after getting
the bad news that my hernias had returned, but this time it was three massive hernias that could kill me if I continued working the job. I looked at my husband with tears, wondering what we would do for funds and have two kids to raise and bills that were piling up.
Three days after being home, a knock at my door. One of my parents from a job I left a long time ago asked me to watch her two beautiful children. And my home daycare journey begins with my love for children returning. My daughter and two other students started Tiny Tigers Family home daycare. Three kids turned into seven kids, seven kids turned into 24, and before I knew it, we were growing.
I opened Tiny Tigers Learning Center in 2017 with eight kids and ended up with 50 before my 30 days of being open.
Tiny Tigers Learning Center has been nominated two times in a row for best daycare in Chattanooga, TN, and we serve on three different boards that help support early education. We have opened a new business titled The EDU Station, where we are making education fun. After you make your first purchase, please enjoy your discount at the end of checkout.
I enjoy teaching other educators how to bring fun back into their classroom programs, changing the way we think about education and making it more enjoyable for the students and the educators.
Special thanks to my wonderful and supportive husband, L.C. Carter, for supporting me over the years. We won some and lost some, but through it all, you never stop believing in me. I want to thank you for loving me and encouraging me to go for what I love. You have done so much for our family, and I love you, and I am so excited for what is in store for us.
To my children, Jashawn and La’Mya, you continue to push me to become a better mother. Thank you for sharing me with the world. I thank you for always helping me; even when you could be playing video games, you take time to support your mother. Continue to use wisdom and guidance throughout life. I love you, and mama will always support you.
To my parents and sister and brothers, thank you for your support and for dealing with my messy room at times, and for being hard on me when I need it. I love you and thank you again for your support.
To my family and friends and Tiny Tigers Staff, I love each, and one of you, and thank you for your support.
LaShon Carter
“With God, all things are possible.” Luke 1:37