Constance Had a Lil' Lamb
Clifton Park woman delivers 17 years of Christian education.
More Than a Director
Establishing Lil' Lambs in June 1998 from her home, Reynolds reached a level of success that placed her in her own full-sale daycare center 10 years later. The last year or running Lil' Lambs at home was in 2007. By then Reynolds had an enrollment number of 17 children.
When Reynolds started the program it began to progress quickly. However, it was not at all what she expected to do with her life.
"I never saw myself working with children. At the time I was struggling with two children who couldn't attend the same school and I needed to find a way to keep them together," said Reynolds.
It is because of Reynolds' Christian faith that she says God gave her the sign to open Lil' Lambs. Otherwise, she wouldn't have.
"One day I was driving through Saratoga and God told me to open a daycare service. I told him he must have me confused with someone else," said Reynolds.
After 3 months of coming up with ultimatums in prayer and thinking about the idea in church, Reynolds spoke to God once again.
"I told him [God] to give me a name by the time I got home and surely enough as soon as I started to slide my key in the door it hit me: Lil' Lambs Christian Daycare," said Reynolds.
The daily operations for Reynolds is an extensive list that involves more than just crunching numbers and making sure the money comes in every week. In addition to director and principal she often takes on the role of teacher, cook and nurse.
Reynolds obtained her LPN license from the WSWHE Boces program in 1993 and her degree in education from SUNY Plattsburg. Reynolds said that her work ethic is what keeps her active in all areas in her business. She added that this work is very consuming and sometimes impossible.
"It is insane and needs to be delegated," said Reynolds.
During the beginning of her time as a daycare director Reynolds was juggling that with her job as a LPN. According to Reynolds, the work was never-ending and the hours were tiring.
Reynolds would work at Lil' Lambs all day and then nights at the hospital.
"I worked the weekends and two or three days during the week at the hospital. I made $36,000 in 6 months from nursing on that schedule," said Reynolds.
The Pinnacle of Professionalism
Reynolds holds the staff of Lil' Lambs to a high standard. The aim was to offer the best service for what she would charge for tuition. This ideal began with the staff itself.
75 percent of the Lil' Lambs staff have either a bachelor's or a master's degree. Reynolds said it was important for the educators of the children to be properly qualified to teach.
According to Reynolds her facility was intended to be as safe and effective as possible. There have been times at Lil' Lambs where events caused extra security protocols.
Reynolds explained a time where a student had no mother on her pick-up form and one day had a woman show up to get her. Reynolds said for the safety of the child she did not allow the woman to take her. It was matters like this that drove Reynolds to bring in the Procare device.
The Procare device is a monitor that allows parents and guardians to pay tuition, check child's attendance records and are required to scan your fingerprint to take your child in and out every day.
The Procare device is located next to Reynolds' office for parents to use and ask any questions if they are to arise.
The Future of The Program
With a long history of caring for and educating the youth in her community, Reynolds said that it is a matter of discipline.
"It is about adding structure to the day, being consistent, having expectations and meaning what you say," said Reynolds.
Reynolds said she has been developing a plan to keep the business going long after she is retired. She added that it her youngest daughter, Maddie will take over Lil' Lambs when she is of age.
"The most important lesson I can teach her [Maddie] is that you have to know how to lead. Don't ask someone to do a job you wouldn't do yourself," said Reynolds.
It takes a unique person to get up every morning at 6:30 and be fully prepared to take on all of the responsibilities that comes with taking care of 85 children. It takes an even more unique individual to do this consistently for almost two decades.
Constance Reynolds of Clifton Park is the owner and director of Lil' Lambs Christian School, a place of quality education and childcare. Reynolds built the organization from the ground up with the dream to deliver a source of safe and efficient childhood development for children in her community.
Apart from being the director, occasional teacher and cook at Lil' Lambs, Reynolds is also a LPN (Licensed Practical Nurse).