By TONY GUERRERO
Hays Post
What began as an unexpected opportunity quickly became a calling as Krystan Stinemetz now leads a Hays school dedicated to nurturing young minds.
Owner Stinemetz of The Learning Academy first entered the child care field through her catering business, Grater Whey, which provided meals to several local child care centers. Before long, the academy’s founder, Crystal Lonsdale, approached her with a chance at something new.
"That's kind of how I became the owner of a preschool. It just all kind of fell together in a weird way," Stinmetz said.
The academy operates out of the Hadley Center, 205 E. 7th St., and plans to reopen its Via Christi site in early spring, bringing its total licensed capacity to 48 children.
Stinemetz said the Hadley location currently serves 12 children, with another 12 spots available.
Stinemetz manages the administrative and operational side of the business, while Lonsdale oversees the classroom. The academy serves children ages 2 1/2 to 5, with drop-off beginning at 6:30 a.m. and pick-up available until 5:45 p.m.
Stinemetz said she’s been in the child care industry for just two years and that navigating licensing and setup over the past year has been challenging as she works to make child care more affordable for local families.
"That really became one of my main focuses. Now that we are set up to really focus on being a community asset," she said.
Stinemetz said she’s offering discounts to employees of HaysMed, High Plains Mental Health Center, the City of Hays and other first responders to boost enrollment and reduce costs for families.
The academy also employs three part-time staff members who assist with child care. Its play-based curriculum focuses on social and emotional development, as screen time is nearly nonexistent at the center.
"We've taken the use of devices completely out. It really is back to basic learning where they're physically writing their name versus on a tablet," Stinmetz said.
Stinemetz said the academy also plans to offer summer care for school-age children.
Originally from Colorado, Stinemetz moved to Hays about 10 years ago and is a mother of five. She said she was both surprised and honored to be named October’s Child Care Champion.
"It's been very difficult to get going. I feel like it's slowly starting to become a full circle," she said. "We have a great program and I'm glad that somebody recognized that we can be part of this community and help however we need to."
You can follow The Learning Academy on Facebook and visit its website for more information.