By Charity Maness Martin resident Charley (Ward) Sharp found her niche and her career by caring for children in her own day care.
“I’ve always watched children when I was growing up,” said Sharp, “and I thought I wanted to become a teacher. I substituted in few schools but didn’t really like being bound by the curriculum.”
“When COVID hit I was out of a job and started watching my sister’s children,” recalled Sharp. “Soon more and more parents that had to work and their kids didn’t have school called me to help.”
It wasn’t long before her growing business outgrew her first residence and soon her second.
“After growing out of the second home we rented, we decided to buy a house for day care and moved it into town,” said Sharp, thereby creating a lifetime commitment to her career choice.
As more of a free spirit and also one who likes to tailor educational needs to fit the child, Sharp found traditional schooling to be too confining yet uses a modified preschool program at her day care for her children.
“I adjusted the curriculum myself to do the crafts and some teaching, such as colors and numbers, just getting them ready for preschool so they know what they need to know before they start preschool.”
“I love watching the children grow and to see them reach their milestones,” said Sharp.
Yet there is a sad part to her line of work.
“It’s hard, watching them grow out of the program.”
While teaching the children in her care Sharp is also on her own educational path as she holds an associates degree and will receive her Bachelor’s Degree in Education this June. She hopes these degrees and tenacity will help her eventually realize her dream.
“I am currently licensed for 12 with a wait list, but my goal is to become a day care center and take on more kids and get a bigger building.”
“This will be my career,” she said, “I like being my own boss.”
For more information on Sharp’s day care or to be placed on her wait list call 605-441-0436.