15 Years of Just Like Angels: Leadership, Growth & the Teachers Who Make It Work

 In this episode of the Just Like Angels Podcast, host Janna Johnson, owner of Just Like Angels Childcare Center, sits down with Sherika Iverson, JLA’s assistant director and one of the center’s longest-standing team members. Sherika shares her journey from starting at Just Like Angels in 2016 as an infant room teacher to working through every classroom in the center and eventually stepping into administration. After once being told elsewhere that she would not be a good teacher, Sherika found a professional home at JLA, where her love for children, patience, and commitment to early childhood education continued to grow. The conversation explores what it takes to move from the classroom into leadership. Sherika discusses the difference between managing one classroom and helping oversee an entire childcare center, including supporting teachers, communicating with parents, assisting with paperwork, stepping into difficult classroom moments, and helping the facility run smoothly day to day. Janna and Sherika also talk about the importance of supporting childcare staff so they do not feel overwhelmed or burned out. Sherika shares why regular conversations, team-building, and understanding each teacher’s individual journey can make a major difference in the workplace. Together, they reflect on the kind of environment Janna wanted to build at Just Like Angels — a place where teachers can grow, be themselves, and feel supported by leadership. This episode also highlights JLA’s upcoming 15-year anniversary celebration, including a summer field day with water slides, bounce houses, and appreciation for the parents, volunteers, former teachers, and community partners who have helped support the center’s journey. The conversation also offers helpful guidance for parents choosing childcare. Janna and Sherika encourage families to pay attention to teacher-child interactions, tone of voice, body language, safety, and the overall feeling of the environment. They also discuss the importance of directors being aware when a teacher may need a break, extra support, or may no longer be the right fit for the classroom. Sherika also reflects on her passion for working with non-verbal and autistic children, emphasizing the importance of adapting to each child’s level, understanding what may be bothering them, and finding the right strategies to help every child feel safe, happy, and supported. At its heart, this episode is about growth, leadership, teamwork, safety, and the people who make Just Like Angels what it is. It is a warm look at how a childcare center becomes more than a business — it becomes a community. Learn more about Just Like Angels Childcare Center at www.justlikeangelscc.com. Sponsored by Juming Delmas Studios.