Campus Ellenwood

Hello, my name is Lanitra Smith, and I am known in the Child Development industry as Ms. Nickey. I began my career in 1991 as a substitute teacher in a preschool classroom, not realizing at the time that I was stepping into my true purpose. After just three months, I advanced to a leadership role as third in charge, and from there my passion for early childhood education continued to grow.

I began caring for children in my home and later opened my first child care center as a director and owner in 1994. I went on to successfully operate Nursery Rhymes Child Care Center for 24 years, building a strong foundation in early learning, leadership, and program development. During that time, I also earned my Technical Certificate of Credit (TCC) and continued to grow professionally in the field.

In 2018, I made one of the most difficult decisions of my career and closed my business. I am currently continuing my education and have completed my Bachelor of Science in Business. I am also pursuing further studies in Business Management, with only a few credits remaining in my academic journey.

I bring over 35 years of experience in child care and 24 years as an owner-director. Beyond my professional life, I am a proud mother of one son and a loving grandmother. I enjoy my faith in God, dancing, spending time with family and friends, and watching sports.