Today we’d like to introduce you to Mandy Watson
Hi Mandy, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Eighteen years ago my husband, Daniel and I began The Restoration House, a nonprofit that walks alongside low income single mother families. In serving and living in community with these families for many years the lack of accessibility to excellent and quality early education became glaringly obvious. Most people are unaware that in Knoxville & Knox County 48% of people live in a childcare desert and in the last ten years the number of early education centers as decreased and less than half are licensed facilities. Furthermore, 45% of a single parent’s income goes to early education as does 13% of a married couple’s income. In response to these numbers and my firsthand experience as an educator and for my husband as a the KCS School Board representative for District 3, we launched Olive Tree Early Learning Academy in September of 2023. Within our census tract at Olive Tree there are no other childcare providers so our school is filling a deep need in the area. As a nonprofit early education center Olive Tree’s main goal is to offer both accessibility and excellence in early childhood education. We accept state certificates and do not charge above what the state provides for low income families. We are a trauma responsive school in that our teachers are trained professionals who know how to accommodate children who have experienced varying degrees of trauma. Additionally, we seek to become a therapeutic hub for families by offering an open door policy to all therapists so as to create a therapeutic web around children where teachers, parents and therapists are all teamed up and working together for the good of the child. Offering affordable access for 70 families, Olive Tree works to empower confidence in families as they learn to navigate the ever changing landscape of education. Our mission is to is to partner families together with exceptional educators in a whole child approach to high-quality early education that provides a creative, safe, and inclusive environment where children grow to love learning.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I don’t think any journey in education could ever be characterized as smooth. If it is, maybe you’re doing something wrong! It is no secret that opening a school is a work of the heart that requires perseverance, determination and a whole lot of grit. The shifting maze of policies, procedures, requirements and recommendations is muddled with lots of gray area that is up to the interpretation of whoever is in charge at the time. While the families were basically lined up out the door to enroll it took nearly an act of Congress for our playground to pass inspection, not because it was dangerous but because it is different. It’s an outdoor playscape that encourages imaginative and risky play where children aren’t locked into one certain type of play or movement. Olive Tree is set on 16 acres of mostly wooded property with an acre pond that our Learning Communities have learned to hike around and explore. Teaching a solid respect for nature and safety, we’ve never had a single child make a break for the water. Instead we hear learner’s explain to each other, “That’s not safe.” Our little communities really take care of each other!
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
My husband Daniel and I met when we were just teenagers. We are high school sweethearts that met at camp and have been married now for nearly 23 years. We’ve adopted three children together, not because we had to, but because we wanted to. We are gap fillers by nature. Driven by our nature to stand in the gap, when we see a need we get as creative as we have to in order to find a solution and meet the need. Sometimes the solutions require a whole lot of walk on water type faith but we have found that people are willing to support a cause when there is a real life story behind it and in our time as non profit leaders we have been privileged to witness story after story of resilient women and children who are willing to go above and beyond to break cycles and start fresh. When Daniel and I started Restoration House we never imagined an entire neighborhood of families journeying together and when we opened Olive Tree we never imagined the privilege of journeying with 70 families with a 225 family waiting list. What we have found is that anytime you journey upstream to the root cause of why people are falling in the water to begin with the work becomes a little bigger. Addressing the systems and causes behind the problem requires so much more of us.
So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
What matters most to me is that my actions and future legacy are an authentic reflection of my values. The mission and vision of all that Daniel and I have worked to bring to life is based in 5 important values; restoration, dignity, collaboration, community and reciprocity. I’ll forever work for those values to be reflected in my faith, my family and my life’s work.
Pricing:
- For further information about The Restoration House www.therestorationhouse.net
- For further information about Olive Tree Early Learning Academy www.olivetreelearning.org
- If a parent is interested in enrollment visit our website & fill out the interest form under the enrollment tab
- We offer discounts for sibling, low income families who don’t qualify for state certificates, single parents, immigrants and foster families
- We offer a gap care program for foster families who need immediate but non permanent care.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://olivetreelearning.org
- Instagram: @olivetreeknox
- Facebook: olive tree early learning academy
