Miniature Minds Private Day School

Mrs. Booker is a servant leader and an inspiration to all. Kudus to you!

Meet Lakenna Booker, our Founder, and Head of School!

Mrs. Lakenna Booker, MAT, has an extensive background in STEM education with nearly 15 years in urban education. She's published The 5E's of Inquiry-Based Science with Teacher Created Materials, Inc. The Parkway Village community is home for Mrs. Booker, and where many of her childhood memories were made. 🏘️

She attended Goodlett Elementary School and graduated valedictorian from Sheffield High School in 2002, both located in the Parkway Village community. Through philanthropy from the Memphis Rotary Club, she attended Phillips Exeter Academy, a prestigious boarding school in Exeter, NH. The experience showed Mrs. Booker that education looked different in other places and that genius is relative.

After completing a Bachelor of Science in Biology with a concentration in Cell and Molecular Science from the University of Tennessee at Martin, she joined an alternative teacher licensing program through the University of Memphis. 🎓 Mrs. Booker quickly understood her purpose in life is to teach and unlock opportunities for others through the impartation of knowledge.

After almost a decade in the urban classrooms and schools, Mrs. Booker joined the Building Excellent Schools Fellowship to train, lead, and found Memphis Merit Academy in response to the literacy data in the Parkway Village community.

As the Founder and Head of the School of Memphis Merit Academy she oversees, sets, and monitors the overall instructional, operational, and financial direction of the school. Mrs. Booker has successfully secured more than $3 million in private, federal, and foundational philanthropy since the commencement of the organization to deliver on the mission of Memphis Merit Academy Charter School. 🤩 Mrs. Booker is unapologetic about the work of starting a high-performing charter school in her childhood community.

Mrs. Booker is excited to lead Memphis Merit Academy in accomplishing so much more in the future!

Today marks year 8. Elite 8: Eight symbolizes abundance, achievement, and wealth.

•Harvard certified
•Featured in Essence Magazine
•Featured in NHK- Japan media outlet
•Nationally Televised America's Funniest Home Videos
•Recognition from Waco Theater- Mrs. Tina Lawson
Top 100 fundraising preschool for St. Jude
Tri-State Defender
Local news stations highlights

As I reflected on my way home last night from visiting a former scholar who is now a second grader, the words IMPACT and INTENTIONALITY repeatedly flooded my thoughts. I thought she had forgotten about preschool and me, but her family assured me that wasn't the case, lol! As we know, memories fade over time, especially in primitive years. I shared with a friend how I didn't think scholars remembered me after a specific time due to not seeing each other daily, but he said it was the IMPACT you have on them. I began to think of the families who have come through the program. Business relationships are transactional, but what has worked for our program is those relationships have turned into a village consisting of mom, dad, scholar, grandma, aunts, uncles, and family friends, all with a common goal, the scholar's success.

I'm INTENTIONAL with everything about Miniature Minds Private Day School, down to their socks😂. I'm always thinking about the scholar's future, their accomplishments, and the challenges life will present them. I want them to be mentally equipped to handle situations, big or small. Some might say they are too young; however, I don't prescribe to the notion of what they can't do, only what they can do.

I pray that God continues to use me as a vessel to serve intentionally and impactfully.

Embodied Education: Using Movement To Support Early Literacy

Embodied Education: Using Movement To Support Early Literacy Join us to learn more about creating an embodied educational experience by using movement to support early readers. This workshop is created for educators who are looking to develop and reinforce successful readers and reading skills. This workshop will take place on via Zoom from 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM...

What's Wednesday without a smile?

Dramatic play: Construction workers hard at work. 👷🏾‍♀️👷🏾👷🏽

Happy 9️⃣0️⃣1️⃣ Day, 〽️emphis!

Thank you, and , and , for helping make today amazing!

What’s 9️⃣0️⃣1️⃣ day without your favorite 〽️emphis Scholars!

Thank you Party with Pickles Face Painting

Happy 9️⃣0️⃣1️⃣ Day, 〽️emphis!!!

What's better than one smile? Three smiles 😊

Early morning smiles from a few scholars...have a terrific day, friends and followers!

Utilizing technology while practicing writing our names📝

The first day of school can sometimes bring on anxiety. Thank you to for helping ease our scholars into the new academic year. Hillkitchendiariesies provided our parents with a mini charcuterie box at drop-off.
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Class of 2022🎓

Year 7 is complete: Our scholars will be walking into kindergarten confident, caring, and courageous. Thank you all for following our 2021-2022 scholars' educational journey. See you in August!


📸:Demarcus Bowser

Parenting doesn't come with a handbook and can be challenging at times, but it's the most rewarding. We love our parents!

📸: Demarcus Bowser

Picnic on a 🌥 partly cloudy day. Their last day together as a class. They have asked me a thousand questions about going to Kindergarten; I assured them they were more than ready for Kindergarten because... 😉.

Thank you .bych 💚🤍

👑Kings and Queens of Kindergarten👑

I love that they love reading and receiving new books. The excitement was real! 🥳

If you have soon-to-be Kindergarten, I highly recommend purchasing King/Queen of Kindergarten for your scholar, written by Children's Book Author Derrick Barnes and illustrated by Vanessa Brantley-Newton .

I can relate to Miss Lovingood; I like to play jazz or Sade at the end of the class day to unwind. 😊

Happy 75th birthday to the rock of our program, Mrs. Lorene! The sweetest lady you want to meet!

Mrs. Lorene keeps us in line and together.

We are so blessed to have you, and I hope we have shown you today how much you mean to us. We love you!

Graduation weekend! 🎓💚💙

Happy 3rd birthday to our hero and honorary scholar, 🧡🦸🏽‍♂️. We wear orange in your memory to celebrate you today and forever. Your earthly journey taught us bravery and strength has no age limit, love has no expiration date, and joy and happiness come from within.

"PJ Masks, we're on our way. Into the night, to save the day!" "Time to be a hero!" "It's time to be a hero!" "The PJ Masks!" "PJ Masks, all shout hooray, 'cause in the night we saved the day!"🧡🧡🧡🧡

Black Excellence: An Ode to the Harlem Renaissance

Hey Black Child by Countee Cullen

Hey Black Child,
Do you know who you are?
Who you really are?
Do you know you can be?
What you want to be?
If you try to be
What you can be.

Hey Black Child,
Do you know where you’re going?
Where you’re really going?
Do you know you can learn?
What you want to learn?
If you try to learn,
What you can learn?

Hey Black Child,
Do you know you are strong?
I mean really strong!!
Do you know you can do?
What you want to do?
If you try to do
What you can do?

Hey Black Child,
Be what you can be
Learn what you must learn
Do what you can do
And tomorrow your nation will be what you want it to be

Black Excellence: The Harlem Renaissance

Thank you, , for serenading our scholars while they enjoyed lunch.

Black Excellence Exhibition: Our scholars replicated portraits in the of painted by and , respectively.

Blackout Friday: Black Girl Magic ✨ Black Boy Joy



Thank you, Star Ree Designs & Creations for our sweatshirts!

ThrowBlack Thursday -Prominent figures in history.

Our scholars dressed as Black Characters.

Representation Matters: Growing up in the ’80s, I did not see cartoons or read about characters who looked like me. As the world SLOWLY progresses, we realize who else better to tell our story than Us! Many times black characters are portrayed on Tv as sports players or experiencing trauma. Having positive black characters that are relatable, influential, and inspirational allows young black children to dream differently. Now young girls and boys can see 8-year-old scientists like , superheroes like and veterinarians like on television.

HBCU -Historically Black College and University were established before the Civil Rights Act of 1964 in the US. HBCUs provided education to Black people, which was denied to us during slavery and segregation.
Founded in 1837, Cheyney University in Pennsylvania is the oldest HBCU.
There are 107 HBCUs throughout the US. Seven of those are here in Tennessee: LeMoyne Owen College ( Memphis), Lane College (Jackson), Knoxville College (Knoxville), Fisk, Tennessee State University, Meharry Medical, and American Baptist College (all in Nashville).

Happy Valentine’s Day❤️💞✨

From all of us to all of you, Merry Christmas! 💚❤️🎅🏾🤶🏽

-Miniature Minds Private Day School

Pajamas and Polar Express 🚂

Three cuties 💓❤️

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Tis’ the season for not so ugly Christmas sweaters and adorable smiles.

Little Turkey brunch 2021🦃🍳🥝🍇🍊🥓🥯🧇🍽

Thank you, My Sweet Pieces, for our place settings and Run Wild Creative Concepts for our adorable sweatshirts. 🥰

Thank you, , for providing preventive and post measures to ensure a safe environment for our scholars.

Happy Fri-Yay 🍂🍁

It's a joy to watch these three blossom individually as well as together. They wipe each other's fake tears, correct you if you mispronounce each other's names, and encourage each other not to be afraid to try new things. It's never a dull moment.🥰

What’s better than one scholar? Three!

Meet H3. Yes, four-year-old triplets. We are excited to welcome their family to our program.
I look forward to an academic year of growth and lasting friendships. 💙💚

Disclaimer: We do not enroll mid-year. We will begin our enrollment in January based on availability.

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Thank you, Torchy's Tacos Memphis!!!! 🌮🔥🥰

Congratulations, Lindsay Nicole from Miniature Minds Private Day School for being the winner for our DAMN GOOD teacher give away! Thank you for sharing the love of Queso, Tacos, and shaping the minds of our youth- We are in awe of our educators, the way they support our community with the incredible work you do each and every day. 😍🌮🔥

Don’t forget to have a laugh or two this weekend! 💚💙

Thursday smiles 😊

Happy first day of fall! We are growing and adjusting quite well to the new school year. 🍂🍁 💙💚

Grandchildren are a grandparent's link to the future, and grandparents are the child's link to the past.

📝✏️📓🖍 Proud is an understatement. I spend the entire first-month establishing routines, procedures, and expectations. Pictured are the results. These four-year-olds enter in the morning and complete their morning journal independently without me having to say a word. I don’t have to check to see if they are on task because they are focused. I was teary-eyed until one of them drew a picture of me expecting🤰🏽😳😴. Either way, they deserve a round of applause. Now, to work on my three-year-olds. 😫

Happy 〽️emphis! #901
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✏️🎓Our four-year-old scholars' morning work was to practice writing their color words in English and Espanol. 📝

Continuing with August Black Business Month, I'm grateful to call this man family. AJ’s clientele is extensive; however, he makes sure to fit our boys in his schedule. keeps our male scholars dapper with their handmade butterfly bow ties. is known for his style, handmade bowties, and custom suits. Thank you, . 🙏🏽
Please follow and support .

August is National Black Business Month.

My 2nd choice this month is none other than the cookieprenuer herself, Megan !!! Goodness Gracious Cookies began as a fundraiser for Megan’s brilliant and beautiful daughter to study abroad in Japan. Well, the orders took off into a business because, yes, her cookies were just that good! Our preschoolers and Ms. Lindsay love !

Be sure to [email protected] for [email protected] cookie needs!

August is National Black Business Month. You know I’m all about circulating my funds with other black-owned businesses, especially women. For the next four Friday’s I will be highlighting some of my favorites.

My first choice and today’s snack is provided by none other than Suga Mama SnoBalls !!! These New Orleans-style snowballs live up to their name. We are excited to have the future CEO, Honor, as one of our scholars.

Today is Family Friday. Buy three snowballs and get a small snoball free!
has two locations
East Memphis
7041 E. Shelby Drive
12-8 pm
Whitehaven
1717 E Holmes Rd
1-8 pm

These girls are a gentle reminder to stop and smile. 😊💙💚