In this episode of the Just Like Angels Podcast, host Janna Johnson, owner of Just Like Angels Childcare Center, sits down with Sherika Iverson, JLA’s assistant director and one of the center’s longest-standing team members.

Sherika shares her journey from starting at Just Like Angels in 2016 as an infant room teacher to working through every classroom in the center and eventually stepping into administration. After once being told elsewhere that she would not be a good teacher, Sherika found a professional home at JLA, where her love for children, patience, and commitment to early childhood education continued to grow.

The conversation explores what it takes to move from the classroom into leadership. Sherika discusses the difference between managing one classroom and helping oversee an entire childcare center, including supporting teachers, communicating with parents, assisting with paperwork, stepping into difficult classroom moments, and helping the facility run smoothly day to day.

Janna and Sherika also talk about the importance of supporting childcare staff so they do not feel overwhelmed or burned out. Sherika shares why regular conversations, team-building, and understanding each teacher’s individual journey can make a major difference in the workplace. Together, they reflect on the kind of environment Janna wanted to build at Just Like Angels — a place where teachers can grow, be themselves, and feel supported by leadership.

This episode also highlights JLA’s upcoming 15-year anniversary celebration, including a summer field day with water slides, bounce houses, and appreciation for the parents, volunteers, former teachers, and community partners who have helped support the center’s journey.

The conversation also offers helpful guidance for parents choosing childcare. Janna and Sherika encourage families to pay attention to teacher-child interactions, tone of voice, body language, safety, and the overall feeling of the environment. They also discuss the importance of directors being aware when a teacher may need a break, extra support, or may no longer be the right fit for the classroom.

Sherika also reflects on her passion for working with non-verbal and autistic children, emphasizing the importance of adapting to each child’s level, understanding what may be bothering them, and finding the right strategies to help every child feel safe, happy, and supported.

At its heart, this episode is about growth, leadership, teamwork, safety, and the people who make Just Like Angels what it is. It is a warm look at how a childcare center becomes more than a business — it becomes a community.

Learn more about Just Like Angels Childcare Center at www.justlikeangelscc.com.
Sponsored by Juming Delmas Studios.

In the first episode of the Just Like Angels Podcast, the owner of Just Like Angels Childcare Center shares the story behind the business, the mission that shaped it, and the lessons learned from more than a decade in the childcare industry.

Founded in 2011, Just Like Angels began with a clear purpose: to create a safe, loving, educational environment where children could grow, families could feel supported, and teachers could come to work feeling valued. Drawing from her background in education, the speaker explains why building a positive workplace for staff was just as important as creating a nurturing space for children. From the beginning, the goal was not only to open a childcare center, but to build a team and culture rooted in care, passion, and shared standards.

The episode also traces the growth of Just Like Angels from a small home-based program operating out of her parents’ dining room with 10 students into a larger childcare facility serving more than 80 children. She reflects on the hard work, resilience, and persistence it took to grow — from gaining early families through word of mouth to navigating finances, finding the right location, hiring aligned staff, using state funding programs, and pursuing accreditation to strengthen the business.

Listeners also get insight into the challenges that come with operating and expanding a childcare center. The conversation covers the reality behind the passion: managing revenue, creating systems, building a dependable team, and understanding that love for children must be paired with strong business structure in order to grow sustainably.

For parents, this episode offers practical advice on choosing the right childcare provider. The speaker encourages families to consider location, budget, facility size, accreditation, subsidy options, and, most importantly, whether the environment feels safe, welcoming, and like a second home. Choosing childcare is not just about convenience — it is about finding a place where children are protected, supported, and able to thrive.

As Just Like Angels approaches 15 years of service, the episode also looks toward the future, including plans for expansion and the possibility of opening an additional location. This debut episode sets the tone for the podcast as a place for honest conversations about childcare, business growth, parent resources, leadership, and the systems needed to turn passion into long-term impact.