Today we’d like to introduce you to Shanika Preston
Hi Shanika, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
My journey into early childhood education began a little over five years ago when my husband and I made the decision to homeschool our children. We were deeply invested in their learning and found ourselves drawn to the idea of expanding that commitment to other children as well. When the opportunity to become preschool franchise owners came our way, it felt like a natural next step—a chance to not only support our own children’s education but to create a space where other young learners could thrive, too.
We quickly learned that while homeschooling and running a preschool both revolve around education, they operate in very different ways. My husband and I were determined to do it right. We made sure to earn all the necessary credentials and poured ourselves into every detail of preparing our first school for opening. It was a labor of love—grounded in purpose and fueled by the belief that every child deserves a strong start.
Just one year after opening our first school, the world shut down due to COVID-19. Like many small businesses, we were hit hard. But we didn’t give up. The following year, we were blessed with the opportunity to open a second school in DeLand, Florida. It wasn’t easy, but step by step, we continued to build—learning, adjusting, and finding new ways to offer a high-quality early childhood education experience.
Along the way, my academic journey led me to study some incredible women who inspired me to go even deeper into the field. Through research and study, I developed a unique educational approach that combines four to five different early learning methods. This blended program is now at the heart of our schools, helping children as young as three years old learn to read and build a lifelong love for learning.
Every part of this journey—from homeschooling my own children to leading two thriving preschools—has been driven by my passion for early childhood education. I truly believe that the foundation we lay in these early years shapes a child’s future, and it’s an honor to play a role in that process. This is more than a business to me—it’s a calling. And I’m committed to continuing to innovate, inspire, and prepare the next generation of learners for success.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Like many small business owners, I can honestly say it hasn’t been a smooth road—but it has absolutely been a meaningful one. Every step, whether challenging or rewarding, has been part of a continuous learning process. You grow through the highs, but you grow just as much—if not more—through the lows.
One of our biggest challenges has been staffing. The preschool field as a whole faces a tough reality: it’s not designed to pay educators what they’re truly worth. Coming out of COVID, we were competing with businesses across industries that were offering higher wages. But what we needed wasn’t just a workforce—we needed educators with heart. People who felt called to teach, who had a passion for early childhood education. That’s not always easy to find.
In addition, operating on limited funding made it difficult to offer competitive pay, especially when trying to maintain quality. But we made a decision: if we were going to build a truly high-quality early learning program, we had to start by investing in the people who make it happen—our teachers.
We reimagined what we wanted the inside of our schools to look like—not just aesthetically, but academically and professionally. Today, our teaching team reflects that vision. On average, our educators hold bachelor’s degrees, and nearly 40% of them have earned master’s degrees. We even have a college assistant professor on staff. Getting to this point wasn’t easy—it took sacrifice, strategy, and unwavering belief in our mission—but it was worth it.
These struggles taught us how to better navigate the early childhood education field, how to prioritize our goals, and how to advocate fiercely for our team. We’ve become relentless about finding grants, building partnerships, and doing everything we can to support our educators, because we know they are the heart of our program.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
As a creative thinker in the early education space, I’ve always believed that creativity is about designing solutions, building systems, and creating experiences that truly make a difference.
Over the past few months, I’ve immersed myself in the world of AI and automation, and it’s transformed the way I operate as both a preschool owner and a visionary leader. Through this journey—documented in my YouTube series—I’ve learned to use tools like Zapier, Canvas, and Slack not just as tech platforms, but as creative canvases that have allowed me to reimagine the way our two preschools function.
One of the first breakthroughs came with Zapier Interfaces. What started as a simple internal page for teachers and managers evolved into a public-facing interface complete with embedded videos and submission forms—a fully automated, beautifully branded Fundraiser Waitlist page that made us feel like we’d launched a commercial-grade campaign. That moment showed me that automation could be art—that design, function, and communication could live in one dynamic space.
Then came Slack, which we implemented with multiple custom channels, integrated apps, and Zapier automations. It turned out to be more than just a communication tool—it became a digital heartbeat for our school, keeping our teachers, management, and directors aligned in real time. Tasks that used to take hours are now completed in minutes, giving our educators the freedom to focus on what matters most—our children.
Across seven videos and dozens of automated workflows, I’ve integrated Google Sheets, Airtable, Gmail Add-ons, QuickBooks Online, and more—each one woven together by 16 Zapier automations that now run quietly in the background, streamlining operations with ease. These aren’t just tools—they’re part of a creative strategy that has pushed us into the future.
I took the time to learn, to test, and to implement systems that now allow our schools to thrive with greater efficiency, connection, and joy.
To me, being a creative professional means using your imagination to solve real-world problems. With AI and automation, I found a new way to express that creativity—and I truly believe this is just the beginning.
Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
I truly believe that no journey is walked alone, and I am incredibly grateful for the amazing people who have supported us every step of the way. At the top of that list is my husband—my biggest supporter, my business partner, and my teammate in life. We’ve been together for over 25 years, and building these schools together has been one of the most rewarding experiences we’ve ever shared. We complement each other so well and have found real joy in working side-by-side to bring our vision to life.
My family has also played a huge role. I come from a large, close-knit family, and I share just about everything with them. They’ve been cheering us on from the very beginning, encouraging us through every high and low, and always reminding us of how far we’ve come.
I’m also incredibly thankful for our corporate team at Kid City USA. From day one, they’ve shown up for us—not just in guidance, but in action. Whether it was painting walls, setting up classrooms, or providing hands-on training, they’ve been instrumental in helping us build a strong foundation. Their support has meant the world.
Of course, our children were and still are our greatest motivation. They were the reason we stepped into this field in the first place. We wanted to give them—and children in our community—something more: an early education experience rooted in love, purpose, and excellence. Our hope is that by pouring into this next generation, we’re honoring those who came before us and building something future generations can be proud of.
I also want to give a heartfelt thank you to every staff member and teacher who has ever walked through our doors—whether they were with us for a day or for five years. Every moment they spent nurturing and educating our children contributed to something bigger than themselves. Their time, energy, and love didn’t go unnoticed, and we are forever grateful.
Finally, to our friends, community supporters, and everyone who’s attended an event, lent a helping hand, or simply believed in us—we see you and thank you. Each person who has touched this journey has played a part in the success of our schools, and more importantly, in the success of our children.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sanford.deland2.kidcityusa/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KidCityUSASanford/
- LinkedIn: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Mrs-Bear/author/B0DNG9XXVD
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@BearsECEDen
- TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sanforddeland2kidcityusa
- Other: https://mrsbear.hearnow.com/welcome-to-success
