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Preschool's new director helps celebrate school's anniversary

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By PAUL CATALA THE FISHHAWKER

The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 30, 2009

Children who first entered this facility's doorways are now finishing up their elementary school educations. Soon, they'll be headed off to middle school.

But the next generation of pupils enrolled in "kids R kids," a pre- and after-school facility at 4321 Lynx Paw Trail, Valrico, are already gaining a foothold into education that will carry them into high school. For some, it may even springboard them into college.

Celebrating its sixth anniversary, "kids R kids site 8" has grown from about 100 pupils in 2003 to between 250 and 300 children.

In addition, the preschool has a new director of operations, Cara Munch, overseeing the day-to-day facility operations for children coming from FishHawk Ranch, Valrico, Brandon, Bloomingdale and Riverview.

During a recent staff meeting, Munch, director of education and staff development Stacy Richey and "kids R kids site 8" franchisees Ben Fernandes and Keith Balot discussed the school's past, present and future.

Balot, who moved to FishHawk Ranch from Long Island, N.Y., six years, said he and Fernandes met in New York 19 years ago, where their children attended the same preschool. They decided to move south, change careers and open up an educational facility.

"Coming from New York, we wanted to offer something for pre-schoolers that was a little more educational," he said. "We noticed a tremendous need for a quality learning center in this area."

The men contacted "kids R kids" headquarters in Duluth, Ga., and found the corporation offered a lot of support. Soon, they bought one of the more than 165 franchises nationwide. The corporation helped the men build the 14,000-square-foot school at the corner of Lynx Paw Trail and Lithia-Pinecrest Road.

"The reputation of 'kids R kids' has given us the opportunity to be very successful here and it's been very rewarding," said Balot, who ran an assisted living facility in Long Island, N.Y., for 16 years prior to moving to Florida.

Among the activities and curriculums offered at "kids R kids" is before- and after-school care for ages 6 to 12; learning curriculums for toddlers; free Internet viewing of classes for parents; family, charity and community support and involvement; and study courses to prepare children for national kindergarten standards in foreign languages, math, science, music, emergent literacy and creativity.

Anne St. John, parent of pupil Caden, 4, said "kids R kids" has been supportive to her and her son since he started there three years ago.

"If the kids need additional help with anything, it's identified early," she said, sitting in Munch's office. "It's been a good experience for me and my son."

Munch began at the school July 13 and said she's found the new job to be "rewarding" and comfortable. A resident of Riverhills just north of FishHawk Ranch - where she lives with her 6-month-old daughter, Sophia, her fiance, Brandon and his son, Noah, 6 - she said she sees a lot of familiar faces at "kids R kids."

"I know a lot of the families that have kids here. We know a lot of the parents personally," she said. "We focus on the children's needs based on what we learn about them here at the center."

Munch, who graduated in 1999 with a Bachelor of Science degree from Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, Conn., was raised in Milford, Conn., and moved to Florida to work at two large childcare facilities. She said the experience has been both challenging and rewarding.

"I do enjoy it here at the school and in the area," she said. "I like that everything is here, it's a good place to raise a family," she said.

Patrick and Janice Vinson opened the first "Kids 'R' Kids" in 1985 with a 47-year history in childcare development and management, which began with their very first preschool in 1961. Other locations are in Georgia, Kansas, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Puerto Rico.

For information, call (813) 657-6200 or see www.krkvalrico.com.

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