Member Spotlight

Interview with, Wayne and Mary Sue Watson

1. Names/locations of Centers and when you opened them or bought them. Your background and how you got into child care.

We opened our first center in 1971. We currently own, Children’s Campus ( opened 1982), Children’s Campus Too (opened 2002) and Premier Children’s Center (opened 1999).

I have always had a great love and respect for children. In grade school I helped my mother with her Sunday school classes. I became a mother at the age of 17 and our second son was born two years later. In 1964, while at home with our little ones, I started doing childcare in our home.

In 1966, I went to work for a pre-school as the four year old teacher. Back in those days the ratios were 1:25 for 4’s. However, owners didn’t go by state ratios and most days I had 30 pre-school children by myself. Over the years I have told my staff that I survived by deciding: 1. those little children would not get the best of me and 2. I needed a job. So I loved and played with all 30 of those children. Every day at nap time I would crawl over to each cot and tell each child how much I loved them. I made sure that several times a day each child got individual attention from me, while still supervising the whole group.

When Scottsdale Christian Academy opened in 1968, I was asked to teach their pre-school class. I was there for two years. Then while having delays in building our first school in 1970, I was asked to be the Director of one of the All Season day care centers. This center was open 20 hours a day, 6 days a week and had infants through school age children.

I had the privilege of working with and for two wonderful people who became my mentors. By the time our center opened in 1971, I had experienced working in many types of schools, with a varied age of student enrollment and I had observed many styles of management.

Wayne gave up his career to join me in our endeavors in 1990.  At that point we started a management company that did childcare staff and owner training and on site center management.

Over the years I have taken college classes and attended much training. I have my CDA, CCP, NAC, and currently I am working on finishing my college degree in Early Childhood Ed.

2. What ages do you serve?

Children’s Campus                    ages 1-10 years
Children’s Campus Too            infants-10 years
Premier Children’s Center       infants-10 years

3. Tell us of a “Touching Moment” you have had w/ a child or their family.

I remember well, the day a desperate mother called saying that her son, John, had been “kicked” out of three different pre-school/childcare centers, all this by the age of three. I found that he was a typical three year old, reacting to the recent divorce of his parents and all the trauma that goes with that scenario, plus changing schools so many times in his young life. She had told me that he was a discipline problem and she was right, John’s actions were awful. I told my staff that we were going to expect great behavior from John and that every day they were to praise John for something positive. One day I overheard his teacher saying to him, “John, great buttons on your shirt!” Some days we had to be very creative in finding something positive to praise! I pulled John aside and told him many times every day, “John, you are the best kid in the whole world.” After a few months, I walked passed the boys bathroom and observed John leaning into the mirror and I overheard him say to himself, “I AM the best kid in the whole world!” With tears in my eyes, I whispered in his ear, “Yes John, you are right and don’t ever forget it!”

John’s story is a long one (I have the scars on my shins to prove it) but eventually his mommy remarried and they moved. Before they left, I went to the crystal shop to buy his mother a wedding gift. I thought to myself, “I need to buy something special for John. Surely, I must go to K-Mart because there was nothing in this shop for John!” Then I thought, “John is as precious as this crystal, he is transparent and fragile and he is worth more than this whole shop!” I purchased a crystal cup and had it engraved: “To John, The best kid in the whole world.” Many years later I ran into John’s mother. She gave me a big hug and shared this anecdote, “John is now in high school and Mrs. Watson, you would be so proud of how well he is doing. I know when John has had a bad day, because he comes home and gets out his crystal cup and drinks some milk from it, knowing that to you, he will always be the best kid in whole world!”

4. Why do you do what you do?

God gave us the talent, passion, resources, and a gift to work with children and their families, because of this, our schools have always been a ministry. I have always wanted to do something that would have lasting impact.

When I was 12 years old, I read an article in LIFE magazine, “Twelve Children Nobody Wanted.” It was about a family that adopted 12 kids, some with disabilities, and all of different ethic backgrounds. When I was young, I always thought, “I’ll adopt many children!” My husband is so very happy that we have had thousand of children and that I could send “most” home every evening by 6:30 p.m.!

When I wanted to open our second school, Wayne said to me, “I think it is a good idea, but no one else is moving in with us.” And there was only one more.

5. Does your school have a learning philosophy or mission statement? If so, what is it?

Learning Philosophy
The “3 R’s” of CHILDREN’S CAMPUS AND PREMIER CHILDREN’S CENTER RESPECT, RESPONSIBILITY, and REVERENCE!

• If all people, everywhere, had only one code to live by, RESPECT, no doubt our world would be a much different place! It is our philosophy and desire to teach and live respect for our fellow man and ourselves. By showing RESPECT, people also use good manners.
• By having age-appropriate expectations and by being consistent with, and encouraging children, they learn to be RESPONSIBLE. We believe that children need to be a part of a team, as well as, becoming self-motivated as individuals, eventually reaching one’s own potential!
• We believe in having REVERENCE for the principles that America was built upon: PATRIOTISM, we do salute the American flag. We say a prayer of gratitude before lunch and snack.

Our Mission Statement:

To serve children, their families, and our staff with respect. To provide a healthy, safe, educational, and fun environment that is nurturing to “our” children, their families, and staff.

6. How long have you been a member of ACCA?

Forever!

Just a note: In 1971, ACCA was in the beginning stages. (I don’t remember the name at that time) Back in those days the association had a bad reputation and the “acting” members and officers were extreme and radical in dealing with government agencies. I agreed with their principles but not their methods, so I didn’t want anyone to know that I was a member! I always paid my dues, but did not hang my membership plaque!

We have seen and experienced ACCA’s growth. Sometimes it was exhausting and discouraging. ACCA’s success has come with conscience and dedicated work coupled with good leadership from ACCA members. Once ACCA could realize the dream of hiring professionals to administer the operation of the association like a business (since the members were all busy running their schools/businesses) the association developed into a profession organization with a respectable and outstanding reputation.

We are now, very proud and grateful to be a member of the Arizona Child Care Association!

Any other comments:

Our schools have served many different nationalities. Currently, we have children from 10 different countries, many are refuges. The most fun is to have one of “our children” come back as a parent and enroll their child with us. We have one family that has been with us for 20+ consecutive years.