Today we’d like to introduce you to Rita Arballo.
Hi Rita, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I’ve been a small business owner since 2021, and I’m proud to be a Hispanic Mexican-American woman in business. My journey started long before ownership — I dedicated years to learning, growing, and pouring my heart into this work.
I began working with this company back in 2014, and after seeing my dedication and potential, the previous owner, Dr. Allen Seamons, took a chance on me. He made me a promise: if I stayed committed and helped build the business, I would earn ownership. And he kept his word.
In 2021, after his partnership ended, he honored that commitment and gave me 50% ownership of the company — a moment that changed my life and confirmed what I already knew: hard work, loyalty, and vision matter.
Since then, I’ve helped grow our center into what it is today: a high-quality program known for excellence, heart, and strong leadership. We are proud to be a Top Star center, a Nature Explorer program, and a trusted part of our community. We offer a strong preschool foundation with certified and associate teachers, and we’re committed to giving children the best start possible.
I’m a passionate daycare owner who truly loves what I do. I love building relationships with families, supporting teachers, and creating a safe, nurturing environment where children can grow, learn, and thrive.
This isn’t just a job to me — it’s my purpo
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Has it been a smooth road? No, not at all.
But I also believe nothing meaningful in this world comes easy or smooth.
One of my biggest challenges has been learning how to truly become a business owner — not just running a center day-to-day, but learning how to lead people, make hard decisions, create structure, and build systems that keep everything moving forward.
I’ve had to learn how to turn vision into action, how to stay consistent even when I’m tired, and how to keep showing up as a strong leader — not only for my team, but for the families who trust us every single day.
And through every challenge, I’ve stayed grounded in my purpose:
to be a positive influence in my community, to create a place where children feel safe and loved, and to build something that my family and my team can be proud of.
It hasn’t been easy…
but it’s been worth it.
We’ve been impressed with Discovery kids childcare, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
My business is a high-quality early childhood education center built on heart, structure, and community. We provide childcare and preschool services for families who want more than just a place to drop off their child — they want a safe, nurturing environment where their child is truly seen, supported, and prepared for the next stage of life.
What we do is bigger than daycare. We specialize in early learning, school readiness, social-emotional development, and creating a consistent, high-standard experience for children and families. We focus on building strong routines, meaningful learning, and a positive classroom culture where children can thrive.
What sets us apart is our quality, our leadership, and our consistency. We’re proud to be recognized as a Top Star, High-Quality center, and we’ve worked hard to build a program that is structured, intentional, and aligned with best practices in early childhood. We also take pride in being a Nature Explorer program, which means we value hands-on learning, outdoor exploration, and helping children connect with the world around them in a healthy and confident way.
We’re known for having a strong team, high expectations, and a warm environment. Our teachers are trained, supported, and held to a standard — because children deserve excellence. We believe in creating systems that keep our center running smoothly, but we also lead with love. Families feel that the moment they walk in.
Brand-wise, what I’m most proud of is that we’ve built a name people trust. We’ve become a center that families recommend, a team that staff feel proud to work for, and a place where children are genuinely cared for. Our brand stands for growth, safety, leadership, and a deep commitment to our community.
What I want readers to know is simple:
We are a purpose-driven program. We don’t just watch children — we help shape them. We support families, we build confident learners, and we create an environment where children feel safe, loved, and ready for what’s next.
Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
Growing up, I was quiet and shy. Honestly, I had a rough childhood — I grew up without my father, my mother wasn’t present, and I was raised by my grandparents. When they passed away, I became orphaned at just nine years old.
From there, life wasn’t stable. I spent years in survival mode, moving through foster homes and girls’ homes, and I was in and out of juvenile detention as a teenager. For a long time, I felt angry, guarded, and without direction.
But when I turned 18, something shifted. I made a decision that I wasn’t going to keep repeating the same cycle, and that was the last time I ever ended up in a courtroom.
Even back then, I found peace in simple things like long walks — just being alone, thinking, and trying to make sense of life. Looking back, my childhood didn’t break me — it built the resilience and strength that I carry into everything I do today.
Pricing:
- 315.00 ft
- 210pt
- 195.
