Discovering that several of them also needed dependable, safe care for their children, Taunya began providing child care in her home for $ 35 a week.“ I hadn’ t gone to college,” she says.“ I had a high school diploma.”

Owner, Jus Us Kidz Childcare and Family Services

Lansing, Michigan

“ I never want a young mom to feel like I did.”

When Taunya Sims began her career in early childhood education, it was strictly out of necessity.“ I was working at a convenience store, and I told my boss,‘ I have to quit. I have no one to take care of my son,’” she recalls.“ And she said,‘ Maybe you can talk to some of the other women here.’”

That was in 1995. Today, Taunya owns three early childhood education programs in Lansing, Michigan. These include a 24-hour family child care home that partners with Early Head Start; a preschool center; and a summer program that she offers in partnership with Ingham County and Delta Township, her local government. In 2021, she purchased a 14,000-square-foot building and plans to rebrand her business by adding apartment units and a family resource center. Recently, Taunya and her husband bought a 29,000-square-foot elementary school that will be transformed into a child care center with community resources housed inside the building. Plans are moving forward, with hopes to open this fall.

Taunya currently serves 88 children and employs 14 educators. She also is just a few credits shy of earning her master’ s degree in educational leadership. Following, she reflects on her career journey and the roles NAEYC and her Affiliate, the Michigan Association for the Education of Young Children( MiAEYC), have played.

You didn’ t plan to enter early childhood education. What led you to this career?

I was newly married, and I had a son. I took him to a child care program, and it wasn’ t pleasant for me. I was afraid to speak up as a 21-year-old

12 Educating Young Children

Fall 2026