Smart Start Pre-Prep

In honor of our heroes! 🇺🇸

Congratulations to our 2026 VPK graduates! We can’t wait to see you all spread your wings and soar to new heights in Kindergarten this fall! 🎓❤️

Wishing a very Happy Teacher Appreciation Week to all of the incredible teachers at Smart Start, and to every educator who makes a difference each day. We are so grateful for the passion, dedication, and care you pour into shaping young minds!

Happy Earth Day! 🌎

Happy Saturday! What a fun morning in our community! We were happy to see some familiar families and meet new ones! 🏃🏃🏼‍♀️🏃‍♂️💨

Happy 30th Work Anniversary Tina!

I just wanted to take a moment to tell you how much you are appreciated.

Thirty years of dedication to Smart Start is such an incredible accomplishment. That kind of commitment speaks volumes about your character, your passion, and your heart for children and families. It’s rare to see someone devote so much of their life to one place, and it truly shows in the stability, leadership, and care you bring to Smart Start every single day.

But to me, you are so much more than a director — you are family.

Through the years, we have grown together. We moved from a small facility into a large building and watched Smart Start flourish. With that growth came challenges, changes, and yes, storms — but you weathered every one of them by my side. Your loyalty, strength, and steady guidance carried us through times that could have easily overwhelmed us.

For the past ten years, I’ve been able to “retire” with peace of mind, knowing you have been right there beside Vanessa, giving her the same wisdom, encouragement, and unwavering support that you gave me for so many years. That kind of faithfulness is rare, and it means more than I can ever fully express.

There truly are no words to say how grateful I am — for your partnership, your friendship, your leadership, and your heart. Smart Start would not be what it is today without you.

With all my love and deepest appreciation,

Pamela Mace ❤️

The time is now to enroll in our high-quality VPK program! We offer part-time and full-day options! Let us prepare your child for Kindergarten!

We love being able to support all families looking for affordable early childhood education for their children! We accept ELC from Hillsborough, Pinellas, and Pasco and are currently enrolling for all age groups! Thank you for allowing us to be a part of this!

Child care costs are rising, and Tampa Bay families are feeling the impact.

Kathy Castor visited Smart Start Pre-Prep to highlight how increasing costs are affecting working families and the need for stronger support systems.

The Early Learning Coalition of Hillsborough County is here to help, connecting families with resources and financial assistance to make quality early learning more affordable and accessible.

Learn more about available programs and support on our website!

We are prepared to launch into the summer season! Although it is still a few months away, it will be here before we know it. To secure your child's spot, register them for summer camp as spots will begin to fill up as we get closer to June. Our full day camp program caters to current kindergarteners through sixth graders, offering flexible enrollment options to suit your needs, whether you require a week or a full summer experience. A full week of camp includes field trips, meals, activities, science experiments, culinary experiences, arts and crafts, and more. We invite you to contact us or schedule a tour to discover more about what we have to offer!

We were overjoyed to be asked again this week to meet with dedicated leaders who share our passion for igniting a brighter future in early childhood education. Through powerful discussions with U.S. Representative Kathy Castor and Dr. Fred Hicks, CEO of the Early Learning Coalition of Hillsborough County, we shed light on the critical necessity for resources and support that fuels our mission and uplifts our community. A special thank you to Pablo Flores for sharing the importance of funding for families of young children as well as being a part of our Smart Start family! Grateful for another wonderful experience!

As we nurture the minds of tomorrow, we're reminded of the countless children who lack access to affordable childcare, and with funding cuts looming, we want everyone to know how important early childhood education is. We're heartened to see our teachers and staff flourish with stipends, grants, and benefits, but recent cuts have taken a toll. Let's illuminate the path forward by prioritizing funding that empowers early childhood education, fostering a brighter future for young children and families in need!

Early Learning Coalition of Hillsborough County wants support from state leaders The Early Learning Coalition says it will head to Tallahassee to build support from state leaders to increase the education budget.