We recently connected with Sabrina Baker and have shared our conversation below.
Sabrina, we’ve been so fortunate to work with so many incredible folks and one common thread we have seen is that those who have built amazing lives for themselves are also often the folks who are most generous. Where do you think your generosity comes from?
My generosity stems from my childhood. I’ve always found enjoyment in seeing others smile, laugh, or overall feel confident. Being that I was raised in a single parent home and at a very young age having to ensure that my younger siblings were cared for was always important to me. Since I began my childcare business I continuously strived for families and children to always feel appreciated, loved, and supported.
Naturally, I have always been generous, but I have learned to ensure that my generosity is not taken for granted.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
Hi there! My name is Sabrina Baker. I am the owner/founder of Creative Xpressions Preschool for the Arts. My passion is being committed to helping young children explore and learn through an art-based curriculum with hands-on play-based activities that teach students positive social and emotional interactions.
As a veteran educator, for the Lehigh Valley & Pocono Mountains regions, It has been a dream of mine to own and operate my own Early Childhood Center. In August 2021, I made that dream into a reality by opening the doors to my art, music, yoga, and play-based preschool at the Day Street Community Center in East Stroudsburg, PA. Currently, I am a licensed child development professional. I hold a license in early childhood from the Council for Professional Recognition of Washington D.C. and from Penn State University.
As of September 2023, I have moved my Preschool program into my home and have also begun offering families a free Community art and playgroup for toddlers as well as preschoolers. A one-of-a-kind program new to the Poconos!
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
I would have to say that after looking back on my journey as an entrepreneur. I feel the most important qualities or skills to have is ambition, confidence, and organization. During the very early days and even occasionally as a business owner, you have lots of tough days.
Currently, I work alone in my program so often times a lot of the work that needs to get done falls on me. It’s important to remain calm and get organized in both your physical environment and your mental psyche. Be sure to always remember why you began your business. Keep that ambition throughout your experience and remember that help is available when needed, it does not make you a failure to have bumps along the way. Confidence is key to success. Also, realize what your strengths and weaknesses are so that as you build your business you can fill in those weaknesses with future employees or volunteers who are skilled in those areas.
Is there a particular challenge you are currently facing?
The number one obstacle I am currently trying to work around is finding a larger physical location for my Preschool and Playgroup programs to grow into. The area in which I reside does not have many commercial buildings that can be zoned for a childcare program. To build a new facility from the ground up would cost lots of money that I don’t have as a small business. I am certain I would qualify for childcare grants and scholarships to help aid in the cost, but I know that it just wouldn’t be something feasible in this current state of the economic climate. I also want to make sure that I can maintain keeping my cost affordable for parents who don’t qualify for childcare assistance.
I am currently looking into possibly buying a home so that I could then either convert one of my living spaces into a full in-home preschool program or I could partner with a local church to see if I could use their Nursery school space during the weekdays.
I am hoping that with my continuous networking within my community, I can make this challenge into a new successful experience.
Contact Info:
- Website: cxartspreschool.wixwebsite.com/cxpa
- Instagram: cxartspreschool
- Facebook: cxartspreschool
Image Credits
All photos have been taken by Ms.Sabrina Baker and have been approved by the parents/guardians of CXPA students to be displayed here.
