MEET OUR LEADERSHIP
Director
Infant/Toddler Program Lead
Assistant Director
Jessica Meier is the Director of Tykes Academy and leads the program with a balanced focus on child development, operational integrity, and relationship-based care. Her leadership reflects both hands-on early childhood experience and the systems thinking required to build a stable, high-quality learning environment.
Jessica is the founder
Jessica Meier is the Director of Tykes Academy and leads the program with a balanced focus on child development, operational integrity, and relationship-based care. Her leadership reflects both hands-on early childhood experience and the systems thinking required to build a stable, high-quality learning environment.
Jessica is the founder of Tykes Academy, which began as a certified in-home childcare program (Kinder Tykes) serving families seeking consistent, relationship-centered care. As the program grew, she intentionally expanded it into a licensed Type I child care center—preserving the warmth of home-based care while adding the structure, staffing, and accountability of a school-based setting.
She holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a master’s degree in Legal Studies, and is currently pursuing a Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) in Interdisciplinary Early Childhood Education at Morehead State University. Jessica has completed her Child Development Associate (CDA) coursework.
As Director, Jessica’s professional focus includes curriculum development, staff training and credentialing, and the creation of clear systems that support consistency across classrooms.
Jessica believes that high-quality early childhood programs are built through intentional leadership, well-supported educators, and environments where learning is grounded in developmentally appropriate practice.
Favorite children’s book: Sometimes I’m Bombaloo by Rachel Vail
Assistant Director
Infant/Toddler Program Lead
Assistant Director
Melina Jackson serves as Assistant Director of Tykes Academy and brings over 15 years of experience in early childhood education. Her leadership focuses on staffing, team development, and cultivating a cohesive, supportive workplace culture that promotes strong community engagement and consistent care practices.
Melina advanced her career
Melina Jackson serves as Assistant Director of Tykes Academy and brings over 15 years of experience in early childhood education. Her leadership focuses on staffing, team development, and cultivating a cohesive, supportive workplace culture that promotes strong community engagement and consistent care practices.
Melina advanced her career through multiple roles within early childhood settings, beginning as an infant teacher, progressing to infant lead teacher, and ultimately moving into program administration. This hands-on experience across classroom and leadership roles allows her to support educators with a practical understanding of daily classroom realities while maintaining program-wide consistency.
Her professional background includes experience as a paraeducator with Boone County Schools, where her work emphasized special education, as well as nine years at Discover Zone and additional roles within licensed childcare centers. These experiences inform her deeply child-centered approach to care.
Melina is currently enrolled in the Director’s Credential Program at Morehead State University and is expected to complete the program in Fall 2026. She places strong emphasis on assessment and screening to support early identification of developmental needs and believes in understanding the whole child—including familial values, cultural considerations, and both seen and unseen disabilities, whether identified or not.
Favorite children’s book: Dragons Are Real by Holly Hatam
Infant/Toddler Program Lead
Infant/Toddler Program Lead
Infant/Toddler Program Lead
Alicia Yates brings five years of experience in early childhood education and a strong, child-centered instructional approach to Tykes Academy. Her background includes 3.5 years at Discover Zone, where she worked in the Infant Classroom under the leadership of Melina Jackson, as well as nearly two years at The Goddard School.
Alicia’s teac
Alicia Yates brings five years of experience in early childhood education and a strong, child-centered instructional approach to Tykes Academy. Her background includes 3.5 years at Discover Zone, where she worked in the Infant Classroom under the leadership of Melina Jackson, as well as nearly two years at The Goddard School.
Alicia’s teaching philosophy centers on the development of the whole child, with a particular emphasis on early brain development. She believes that while curriculum provides structure, meaningful learning happens when concepts are personalized. Alicia intentionally adapts lesson planning to reflect each child’s individual interests, strengths, and developmental needs—using curriculum as a foundation rather than a script.
She values clear, consistent communication with families and maintains strong parental partnerships by setting transparent expectations and providing thoughtful insight into children’s growth. Alicia views developmental milestones as benchmarks, not limits, and works intentionally to ensure children are supported in meeting—or exceeding—those milestones through developmentally appropriate scaffolding as they progress toward the next age group.
Alicia will begin her Child Development Associate (CDA) program through Morehead State University in the Spring, with anticipated completion in Fall 2026. Her commitment to professional growth reflects her dedication to intentional, informed early childhood practice.
Favorite children’s book: Baby Faces by Margaret Miller