About Deborah Sykes

Let me introduce myself

My name is Deborah Sykes and I enjoy watching children and adults explore and experience new things. There is something that enlighten the curiosity in me when I witness a light bulb moment; as I see body language and face expressions of people processing their thoughts and seeking that smile that indicates “I GOT IT”.

I have worked in the field over 20 years. I open my family home child care in year 2000 after losing my youngest child A.J. to a hit and run. This did have a great impact on me joining this field.

A.J. had plenty of cousins, siblings and friends that had a hard time dealing and trying to understand and process, that he was no longer going to be with us. Although this were one of the worst things that would happen to me, I had to Push through for my family and his friends. I quit my job and they all enrolled in my family child care (all except my children). I believe they helped me more then I help them. I enjoyed the field so much that after a year I opened three group child care centers and worked in them as a Director and Administrator. The experience change my life. I take advantage of the small things in life. I want to make a difference in children lives. I know to do this effectively, I have to reach the children, parents and the teachers.

To accomplish this task; I had to complete my Associate Degree and Early Childhood Education. I completed 2 Child care Credential (Infants and Toddlers and the Administrator). I also went back to school to finish my Digital Marketing degree. I became a CPR, AED and First Aid trainer in 2009. I did some level 1 and level 2 training soon after. I have been out of the field for 2 years now and I didn’t realize how much I missed it. I have came back in Early Child Care field full time as a trainer, instructor consultant and a coach. I like to tell my adult children I had in my first center over 20 years ago, although I can not be a teacher but I can be a coach. I give them the example that when an athlete can’t play any more they learn to teach the game and become coaches.