Daija

My name is Da’Ija Jackson, and I have over 10 years of child care experience. I’m 23 years old, and caring for children has been a natural part of my life for as long as I can remember. Even as a young girl, I loved helping with babies—holding them, changing diapers (even when I didn’t fully know how!), and supporting my family by caring for my younger siblings and cousins. That passion only grew over time. When I was in daycare myself, I would always want to help out in the younger classrooms. Later, during high school, I had the opportunity to work in our school’s daycare program that supported teen parents. I worked there during both my 11th and 12th grade years, gaining valuable hands-on experience serving children from 6 weeks to two years old. After graduating, I worked at a preschool for four years, where I deepened my understanding of early childhood development. During my time there, I served as lead teacher in the one-year-old, two-year-old, and three-year-old classrooms, leading daily activities, managing routines, and supporting each child’s growth and development with lesson planning. I then joined back with the child care program at Richmond Public Schools. Currently, I’m working toward earning my Child Development Associate (CDA) credential to further my professional development in early childhood education. In addition to my full-time work, I also provide babysitting services for former students and their families, offering trusted and familiar care. I’m passionate about creating safe, nurturing, and educational environments where children can grow, explore, and thrive.