SAFETY FIRST We're taking extra measures to ensure your children are safe in our nursery. Learn More
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Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it. Proverbs 22:6
About Just Like Home Academy
Where Every Child Feels at Home
The Founder
Sharon Yvette Lewis is the owner/operator of Just Like Home Day Care Development
Center and Just Like Home Academy with over 28 years experience in Early Childhood
Education.
Her parents, Moses and Sallie Gaines encouraged her to pursue her professional dream through academic excellence. Ms. Gaines-Lewis is a 1983 graduate of Jess Lanier High School.
She went on to receive an Associate of Science Degree in Early Childhood Education
from Ashworth University. She furthered her education and received a Bachelor of Arts
Degree in Early Childhood Education from Ashford University.
She was born in and for the last 60 years she has been an integral part of First Baptist
Church 9th Street.
In August 1990 Ms. Gaines-Lewis married Andrew Lewis and they are the parents of
Andreas, Ciarra and Jeremiah Lewis.
Sharon founded Just Like Home Day Care; Development Center on May 13, 1998, and Just Like Home Academy on September 17, 2021. Since the beginning of these institutions, she has educated over 1000 students.
Ms. Gaines-Lewis has aggressive business acumen and is a member of the Bessemer
Chamber of Commerce. Ms. Gaines-Lewis is the recipient of numerous awards including the Black Achievers Award which she received in 2011.
Ms. Gaines-Lewis is a powerful force in the Early Childhood Education world and uses
her positive attitude and tireless energy to encourage others to work hard and succeed.
She is motivated daily by the inspiration of her parents, husband and children.
Our History
In May 1998, a small house on South 32nd Street became the home of Just Like Home Daycare. Just Like Home Daycare opened its doors with a staff of two employees and a cook, however My vision and my faith in God, the home daycare began to grow. The expansion developed to Just Like Home Day Care Center and I was licensed to keep up to 20 children.
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God allowed me to have the "state of the art" equipment and the A beka teaching system. The Infant room is large enough to feed, sleep, play and change all the children and is fully staffed to accommodate all the children's needs. During this growth, I am licensed to keep up to 276 children and serve breakfast, lunch, snacks, and dinner from 6am-11:30pm.
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Just Like Home Day Care Center embodies the "homey" atmosphere because of the love the teachers and myself have for the children and their parents. In 2004 and 2006, Phase II and Phase Ill was developed.
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Today, Just Like Home Day Care Center has evolved into an expansive educational organization with three locations, offering infant, preschool, pre-Kand school-aged education and care. After 25 years in business, and updating the curriculum, the vision expanded to a new name in which Just Like Home Academy was founded.
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We take pride in the relationships we have built and express gratitude for the opportunity to make lasting, positive impacts on our children, staff, families, parents, and the broader local and global community. We love hearing how their lives have been shaped in meaningful ways. These legacies, nurtured through lessons of self-empathy, community well-being, eco-stewardship, and resiliency, that fuel our educators' dedication to continuing the good work.
Vision Statement
We provide a home like environment where children are encouraged to develop at their own pace.
Health & Safety Commitment
Ensuring the well-being of the children at Just Like Home Academy is our top priority. We maintain stringent health and safety standards to create a secure and hygienic setting. Our staff is trained in emergency preparedness, and we adhere to strict sanitation practices to provide a clean and safe environment for all children.
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Federal law requires states and territories to ensure that all licensed child care programs meet minimum health and safety requirements to operate. Here are some of those health and safety requirements:
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Sanitation requirements help stop the spread of germs and include handwashing, diapering, toileting, and general cleaning.
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Healthy practice requirements keep children physically active and support rest, including infant safe-sleep practices.
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Children’s health requirements include physicals, immunizations, and how the program must handle sick children and store and give medication.
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Program staff health requirements include physicals, tuberculosis testing, drug screening, and required vaccinations.
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Building safety requirements include inspections to make sure the building structure, outdoor play space, and playgrounds are safe, meet fire safety codes, and are free of hazards that could hurt children.
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Emergency planning requirements ensure programs are prepared to keep children safe during an emergency.
