Our Team

Equal Opportunity Provider

Our Team

THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTEREST IN THE CHILDREN’S ACADEMY

We have four locations located in Williamson and Maury Counties, respectively.
Please select a location to view more information or download enrollment forms below.

Bobette S. Thompson

Bobette S. Thompson

President/CEO

Bobette S. Thompson, President/CEO, is a founder of Child Care Systems of America, Inc. the parent organization of THE Children’s Academy. In 1982, CCSA began as one of the first child care management/consulting firms in Tennessee to help others provide quality early education programs. Over the years, CCSA has opened, managed, consulted with or owned over 30 programs throughout the country, primarily in the Southeast. Mrs. Thompson is the only founder still active with CCSA. She has served on the Board of Directors of the Association for Early Learning Leaders (formerly the National Association of Child Care Professionals) since 2010 and was President 2011-2012. Early Learning Leaders is the premier organization for the support and development of leaders in the industry. She is a national trainer, consultant and spokesperson in the early education field.

Mrs. Thompson has also been selected as the Tennessee Department of Human Services’ representative on the state Board of Review which hears cases of early education programs which have been cited for failure to uphold licensing standards. She is a member of the Waiver Advisory Committee for the State of Tennessee, the National Child Care Association and a former Board member of the Tennessee Child Care Association. Mrs. Thompson’s vision is to support and develop strong early education leaders and teachers who will successfully love, nurture and educate the children in our communities and provide high quality preschool care and education to the families.

Janie Kelley Richardson

Janie Kelley Richardson

Vice President, Operations

Janie Kelley Richardson, Vice President, Operations, has been an early education professional since 1979.

Mrs. Richardson has a deep love of young children and their teachers. From her first position as a two year old teacher, she has risen rapidly to leadership positions including assistant Director and Director. As VPO she oversees all of THE Children’s Academy locations and is part of the corporate leadership team. She has served as a mentor teacher and mentor site for teachers seeking their CDA credential and programs seeking national accreditation as well as nursing students in their young child rotation. She led all of THE Children’s Academy locations to national accreditation through the National Accreditation Commission.

She is past President of the South Central Association for the Education of Young Children (SCAEYC) and currently serves as a national validator for the National Accreditation Commission which grants accreditation to programs of excellence. She is a member of the Early Education committee at Columbia State Community College. She has also been selected as a member of the State of Tennessee Board of Review which hears cases of early education programs which have been cited for falling below minimum standards. She is a member of the Association for Early Learning Leaders.

Mrs. Richardson is happy and proud to have been given the opportunity to share such an important part of our lives by loving, caring, and learning with young children.

Come Visit Us

We welcome visitors! Parents, children, grandparents, and friends are invited to tour and learn about our program.

To allow you adequate time and attention, we ask that you schedule your tour in advance. Mornings between 9 and 11 are the best time to see our classrooms at their most active.

1219 Trotwood Avenue,
Columbia TN 38401

P: (931) 380-2920
F: (931) 840-8375

1721 Tom J Hitch Pkwy,
Columbia TN 38401

P: (931) 398-2323
F: (931) 398-2324

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