Special Touch College Preparatory was founded by Marena Simmons in 2011 after 18 years in the early childhood and education industry.

 

Although Simmons  had one natural birth she housed and raised several children throughout the years who still call her mom today.  In 1989, Simmons injured her back while at work and was faced with not knowing which direction her life would be headed.  Remembering to keep her faith, Simmons strong belief and favorite word's  "aversities  lead us to our destiny" she kept in mind. God's purpose will unveil itself as  another chapter in her life set forth. Simmons returned to school and earned two Criminal Justice degrees one in Law and the other in Corrections.

 

While attending college Simmons learned her struggles in school stemmed from Dyslexia, and it was not because she was doing something wrong during her earlier years in school but she had a learning disability. Knowing this fact changed her life, and Simmons decided to help young children become their best. That same year she had the dream that would change many people’s lives including my own.

 

It was in 1994 Simmons had a dream of owning a Day Care School which would expand into a large school one day. It was called Special Touch and it was full of color, excitement, structure, early learning, confidence building, and early college preparation later to add, music, sports, Christian character building, team work as well as togetherness, as it enriched young children’s lives.

 

Supporting her dream she pursued a career in Early Childhood Development, and  earned a associates degree and certificate in the field. She became more interested in providing a structured learning environment for the children and found an overbearing love for wanting to provide a healthy learning environment for all of the children who would become a part of my life. Here is where she had a flash back of her first baby-sitting job at the age of eight continuing through age fifteen. By this time she had babysitted for several families even bringing home a friend's baby which she watched for days at a time.

 

 Special Touch would not just be for baby-sitting; it would be an early learning school preparing children in many ways for their future educational needs. Simmons vividly remembers awakening from that dream, and realizing she had found her purpose in life. After sharing her dream with her sister and together using an encouraging foundation and entrepreneurship attitude from their mother they launched Special Touch Day Care #1 teaching Preschool -3rd grade.  About 9 years later  she founded Special Touch Home School #2 also teaching Preschool through 3rd grade. Combined produced  successful businesses which has served her community for over 19 years.

 

In total Simmons has earned as Associate in Science of Criminal Justice- Law Enforcement and Corrections, Certificate in Early Childhood Development, Bachelors of Business Administration in Management, Masters of Education in Leadership Organizations and currently working on Doctorate of Education.