By Meg Moss, Chamber of Commerce Executive Director
In an effort to support diversity, equity and inclusion in our community, I am taking this opportunity to celebrate Black History Month with you as we learn the story of one local African American business owner.
“Dreams do come true” states LaTasha Martin, owner of Education Station. Education Station is a four-star childcare facility in Sanford that offers NC Pre-K services to four and five year olds that are considered at-risk children.
The NC Pre-K Program is designed to provide high-quality educational experiences to enhance school readiness for eligible four-year-old children. The NC Pre-K program requirements are built on the National Education Goals Panel’s premise that to be successful academically in school, children need to be prepared in all of the developmental domains that are critical to children’s overall well-being and success in reading and math as they enter school.
Martin first became interested in Early Childhood Education when she was a student at Southern Lee High School. In her junior and senior years, she took parent development classes, which included completing an internship at Warren Williams School. Warren Williams offers NC Pre-K services as well, which gave Martin a real feel for the program.
She enjoyed it so much that she went on to receive her Associates degree in Early Childhood Education from Central Carolina Community College. When Martin received her Associates degree, she also earned a pay raise at her job. “I knew I could earn even more if I went on to get my Bachelor’s degree.” Martin went on to complete her education at Fayetteville State University before returning to Sanford and opening Education Station. “Once I completed my education, I knew that I wanted to open my own NC Pre-K facility.”
“Owning my own business was something new to me. Every day I have a teaching moment when it comes to running the business.”
Martin credits much of her success to the Partnership for Children and Families, who helped her along the process. They offered her the resources she needed to have a viable NC Pre-K facility. The Partnership for Children and Families builds partnerships to ensure that all children in Lee County enter kindergarten healthy and ready to succeed. For childcare providers, the Partnership offers a range of training and resources for the facilities and their teachers.
This month, and every month, we should celebrate and support the successful black owned businesses in our community. “I want to support other African Americans and hopefully inspire them by owning my own business” says Martin.
Black History Month, originally established as a week-long celebration in 1926 by Carter G. Woodson, the founder of the Association for the Study of African American Life and History, is an annual celebration of achievements by African Americans and a time for recognizing their central role in U.S. history. Black History Month was first recognized by President Gerald Ford in 1976. President Ford challenged the American people to “seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of Black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history.”
Education Station offers a holistic, inclusive, learning centered environment in which all children can experience learning through direct and creative exploration. Through stimulating situations and hands-on learning opportunities, children are free to develop into bright young minds. They are located at 1618 Deep River Road in Sanford. “We cater to a lot of Deep River Elementary School’s upcoming kindergarteners but are open to serve students regardless of where they live.”