Founded by husband-and-wife team Donna and Rick Smith in May 2003, Stonebrook Day School is a local, family-owned early childhood learning and development center.
Donna Smith has more than 30 years’ experience in early childhood education and childcare center management. Raised in a family of educators, she first dabbled in teaching as a teenager, creating educational activities for her special-needs brother. Donna went on to study early childhood education in college, and directed several childcare centers in Dallas, Texas before opening her own facility there in 1993.
“While we try to teach our children all about life, our children teach us what life is all about.” — Angela Schwindt
In 2003, when an opportunity arose to start a childcare center near Donna’s Tennessee family, the Smiths moved to Murfreesboro and opened Stonebrook Day School. From day one they’ve run Stonebrook as a team. Both are involved in the daily activities of the school: you’ll often find Donna helping out in a classroom, or Rick working in one of the naturescapes.
Through Stonebrook, the Smiths have worked with the Child Advocacy Center of Rutherford County, the Rutherford County Food Bank, and various senior assisted-living centers in the area. Stonebrook Day School is a member of North American Reggio Emilia Alliance (NAREA), the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), the Southern Early Childhood Association (SECA), and the Rutherford Association for the Education of Young Children (RAEYC).
The school was founded on the philosophy that children’s innate curiosity is the natural doorway to their intellectual development, Stonebrook Day School offers educational experiences designed to encourage children’s social and creative growth in an inspiring, nurturing environment.