Meet LaTisha Corley of The Joy of Learning Academy and Prepping for Excellence Academy

Born in Maryland, raised in Rialto, California and moved to Atlanta to attend Clark Atlanta University as a Speech Communication major graduate. I met my now-husband (Aaron Corley) and was anxious and ready for my future. However, I was not ready for the life-changing event of losing my mother-Joy to breast cancer in 2010, it took a toll on my life and made me scared. I was scared that I would change who I was because of losing my mother, so I prayed, prayed that God keeps me and give me the strength to get through this hard time. And, I did, my first job was in a childcare center where I enjoyed working with the children because I always had a passion and love for kids.

After leaving the childcare to pursue other career opportunities, I worked at a non-profit in inner-city Atlanta as an Academic Coach for 2nd graders. That experience changed my life, it really humbled me and made me realize how blessed and fortunate I was. I then got into adult education and worked at universities and colleges as an Academic Advisor, Success coach, Learning Resource Center Manager, and an Enrollment Representative. It was not until I gave birth my daughter (Tylan) when I realized how critical the early education stage was to a child’s life. This is when I realized I wanted to get back into childcare, but not only work in the early childhood education field but ultimately own my own childcare center.

I started with my traveling childcare services for big and small events called, The Joy of Learning Academy. This service is needed and caters to weddings, bridal showers, adult parties, teen parties, company events, and even babysitting. I simply come to your wedding, take all of the children at the facility and watch them on site. This allows for grandma or auntie to enjoy the special day worry-free. September 3, 2019, I opened my physical childcare location with my business partner (Angela Grant) called Prepping for Excellence Academy- “We make sure your scholar is prepped for excellence” and is located at 677 Old Alabama Road, Mableton, GA, 30126.

Opening my childcare center was one of the hardest things I have ever done in my life. I was full of so many emotions: excitement, fear, doubt, hope, anxiety, and so much more. What I thought would take six months turned into almost two years to open my childcare center- Prepping for Excellence Academy. I thank my mother for the strength she instilled in me, seeing her fight stage 4 cancer and not complain or cry just taught me so much and I thank her for that.

This process of opening a childcare taught me so much about myself, it taught me how to keep going no matter what, and to”find a way or make one.” Entrepreneurship is not for everyone, but it takes a special person to really follow their dreams and to get back up after they are knocked down. This process took countless hours of writing policies, reading manuals, learning new codes, time, money, sweat, tears and the list goes on and on. But it was all worth it! I thank my support system who never let me give up, as much as I wanted to- my amazing, supportive husband and kids. My father, sister, and niece, I love you all.

Prepping for Excellence Academy, which I co-own with my business partner, Angela Grant- “We make sure your scholar is prepped for excellence:” Our childcare prides on safety, academics, and lifelong learning for our scholars. We serve children 12 months to 12 years of age and are open Monday-Friday from 6:30 am-6:30 pm. What sets us apart is that we have an amazing staff who believe in teamwork and we value and love not only our students but our parents as well. We have an Open Door policy and a Clean Hand and Face policy, which cuts down the spread of germs.

The Joy of Learning Academy specializes in childcare for big and small events like weddings, bridal showers, adult parties, teenage parties, company events and gathers, and babysitting. I come to your event and babysit on-site, I provide the games, educational resources, fun, activities, and even food it need be. Parents can drop in and check on their children at any time because we are in the same facility- I transform any space no matter how big or small.

I believe that everyone has their own definition of success as it pertains to their life. Success for me is the ability to show my children that consistency and dedication pay off when YOU are proud of the results from your hard work. Rather it is learning how to drive a car, getting your dream job, meeting your weight loss goal, etc. success is something that you should be proud of and it does not matter what other people may think or say. Especially with the global pandemic currently with the Covid-19 going on, I believe that this time was my opportunity to revamp, refresh, and put in the work to be more successful then before!

My measurement of success is graduating from Clark Atlanta University with over a 3.0 GPA, earning my Master’s degree while pregnant, opening my childcare, being a full-time entrepreneur, and most importantly being an amazing wife and mother. Being a wife and mother is the biggest accomplishment in my life, I pour so much love, time, and hard work into this calling of my life. I have so much more success I plan to overcome in 2020 that it makes me excited just thinking about it!