Bev Yoakum Provides a Foundation for Children to Grow

Bev Yoakum doesn't want to keep the spotlight shining on her. After being recognized as a hero for her work in creating a unique early childhood education opportunity for the children in her community, she said she's grateful for the recognition it brings to the importance of early childhood education. "A lot of people think it's just baby-sitting, and it's not," she said. "It's about providing kids a foundation at the most important time of their lives." Her effort started in 1989 with The Academy for Kids and has grown and morphed over the years, first as the Academy of Early Learning and finally, now as the Wesley-Taylor Preparatory School to reflect the full compliment of services offered to the area's children. From infants who require day care while their parents are at work, to high school students who can further enhance their education before heading home, everyone is able to find the care and services they need. While we often think of heroes as people who save lives, people like Bev "give" life to the children and the people served by her passion. The bottom line is that Bev was nominated and chosen as a hero for her "hard work and dedication to the care and development of thousands of children in the community." That's no small feat.