Black Women Breaking Ground: Alisha Ramsey on creating a nurturing learning environment
In honor of Black History Month, we are launching a Black Women Breaking Ground series, to highlight just a few of the many inspiring Black women making a mark in our cities.
Hard-working, passionate women paved the way for Alisha Ramsey to become a trailblazer of her own. Inspired by her grandmother and witnessing her own mother earn a Master’s Degree while teaching full time, Alisha has always felt motivated to set goals and make them a reality. A teacher herself, she draws upon her skills as a communicator and educator in her current role as the founder and director of the Fishers Tot Spot: a family-oriented, early childhood development center “that feels like home.”
As we get to know Alisha through her own words, you will find a woman of multitudes who is not only passionate about children’s learning and growth but who seeks to help and inspire others to go after their goals with confidence. She is an entrepreneur, a leader, and an educator breaking ground in the childcare world.
Alisha Ramsey, the owner and founder of the Tot Spot Early Education Academy.
You started this daycare in response to not finding what you were looking for in care for your daughter. What was it that was missing for you in other daycare centers - and how does the Tot Spot meet that need?
I was young, and we were the first people in our friend group to have kids; we didn’t have family nearby to help or people to talk with about their daycare experience. As a teacher talking with other teachers with kids in daycare – the only experiences I heard from them were negative. I was terrified to put my child in a daycare center. I wanted a small environment, with someone I could talk to and feel comfortable with, like family. I wanted to provide parents with a sense of security. I didn’t want parents worrying about if [their kids] are loved or if they are learning. I wanted to take that worry away.
I love my first-time moms because they make me feel that they appreciate what I am doing; when they ask me questions, I thrive on the fact that they care about what's happening in the classroom. Most people think you are just babysitting and this is more than just babysitting.
How did you decide to move from the in-home daycare model to the larger, nationally accredited model?
For the in-home daycare, which was accredited and licensed – you are limited to the number of kids you can have in your home. The moms of the kids in our care were getting pregnant, and I realized I would not have been able to take those siblings right away [due to size restrictions]. I hated the thought of those kiddos starting somewhere else. So, I opened up a second home. [With this second home, the Tot Spot then had space for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers]. I found myself running back and forth between two places, two homes, and that was difficult. I knew it would be easier to be in one location.
Alisha breaking ground on the new Tot Spot location with her family.
Why did you decide to open a second location for the Tot Spot?
We decided to open the new location before the pandemic. The new location will allow us to serve more kiddos and will increase the financial resources to do more of what I want to do with the Tot Spot.
We imagine the pandemic has really impacted your center and your plans! Tell us about the impact you are facing, especially as you open a new center.
The beginning of COVID was very stressful. Daycares were closing because no kids means no funding. But, Indiana has been an amazing state in responding [with funding] so that our daycare stayed open the whole time. We were able to stay open even with just 30% of our kiddos attending.
Another one of the COVID impacts is that the cost of supplies has increased. I didn’t want to have to ask families to pay more to respond to this increase, especially when we weren’t running as smoothly as we do during usual times. But, Indiana has a stabilization grant to provide funds so I didn’t have to do this. Staffing is also difficult due to illness and COVID. [The] staff gets nervous when there is a case [in a classroom], or staff with kids are out because of a COVID outbreak [in their child’s class]. Staffing is the biggest obstacle right now.
One of the hardest things about COVID is making decisions for everyone - when I make a decision there are 350 people (staff, parents, children) affected - [and] not everyone is going to like the decision I make. So in general, I just want to tell people “Be kind.” COVID is affecting everyone’s world; the kids are going through a lot socially and emotionally; teachers are showing up every day - just be kind to them.
Tot Spot founder Alisha and the kids of the class of 2021.
Tell us about your dreams for the Tot Spot. What will the additional financial resources as you expand help you do?
It’s tiny things. Our current building, which was built in the 1980s, needs a new HVAC system. And I want to do more with the playground. The building came with a playground, but I have dreams of doing more of an outside adventure land. I really believe in being outside and think that more of the indoor learning can take place outside. I want to do more in the outdoor space.
I want to pay teachers more – they deserve it, and I don’t want to put the financial burden on families in order to increase teacher pay. I want to pay people what they’re worth. And I want this to be a place where women succeed. Teachers who want to move into director roles or move up – I want to provide the space [and resources] for that to happen.
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What advice do you have for women, and Black women in particular, on breaking ground in an industry that they may not feel well represented in?
From a business standpoint, coming from having no background in business, I always felt intimidated. My advice is to get out there in the business community and make a connection; it does not necessarily have to be within your industry. I had to learn that I bring a lot to the table and to have confidence in what I bring. My advice to others is to have that same confidence in what you bring to the table. Find a group within your industry to discuss what others are doing. I visited other daycares, and I was able to find a daycare group to share and learn from.
As an African-American: find someone else you can connect with to help you; in general you feel alone so you need to seek out connections; get out there and don't be afraid to talk to people; invite someone to coffee and pick their brain; most people are willing to help other people–you just have to ask. I enjoy helping others navigate starting a small business. It’s so important to be willing to ask the questions.
Do you think of yourself as a mentor in this space?
I do now because people have told me how I have impacted them. I may not have been aware that I was mentoring but I realize now that I have helped others. I like to talk and share knowledge, and I just want for others to be happy.
Alisha with a Tot-Spot-kid on graduation day.
Tell us about the women who paved the way for you to take this step in your personal and professional life. How did they prepare and inspire you to do this?
My grandma raised 12 kids. Knowing how well she raised her children (from seeing how my mom interacts with her siblings, for example) - that is motivating. I grew up with my mom being a social studies teacher. I got to see her make connections and make a difference and a change in the world. I also saw her work hard because she was in school getting her Master’s while I was in first or second grade – I saw that hard work as a young child.
My best friends. We went to school and IU together – one has a business degree, and the other is a nurse. I saw [my friends] go after what they want, work hard, and get it done. I also have a group of women in the daycare industry; being able to share and bounce ideas off of them is very helpful. [Not a woman] but my husband – it was his idea to start the daycare. His support was important.
What do you tell your children about setting goals and going after them?
Set goals and come up with a plan and come up with a backup plan to that plan! Do everything in steps. If you have a really big goal, break it down. I teach SMART goals. Break goals into achievable chunks, and have a backup plan to what you think will happen. It’s important to be prepared and be resilient in response to a plan that doesn’t go as you expected. You may have to find a different path. Because I love the outdoors, think about it like if a tree falls in the way of your path, you may need to climb over it or go around it [rather than letting it stop you from going down that path]. We teach our kids about fire exits - what happens if a fire pops up and you have to try a different door or a different exit? I always have lots of plans. It’s important to be aware that your plans may not always work out. I have lots of experience with this due to Covid!
Tot Spot kids, parents, and staff on a field trip.
Message from Alisha:
I really appreciate parents who show their appreciation of the teachers right now. That helps so much with the stress level of COVID. Parents are sticking with us — they are right there with us – this helps all of our hearts and helps us continue day-to-day.
To the parents who are reading this, we appreciate you and your patience and being kind to our teachers. And to all the teachers out there, you are appreciated by your directors; they may not always be able to tell you that - but they do appreciate you.
Ready to learn more or enroll? We’ve got you covered with their inquiry form.
Alisha is resilient, creative, resourceful, and full of energy for watching children grow and thrive. Navigating small business ownership and a pandemic is no small feat. She does this with grace and care and the support of families who have found a home at the Tot Spot.
Find the Tot Spot online and via social media: ilovethetotspot.com | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest
