OUR WHY
Every child deserves a strong start.
KidzTown Academy was born from a shared calling to serve children and strengthen families. For Jueel, it is the continuation of a family legacy that began more than 30 years ago when his mother opened her first childcare center from their home. For Kelsey, it is the culmination of a lifetime surrounded by educators, serving children and families through nonprofit leadership, and advocating for greater opportunity.
Then we became parents. Like many families, we searched for the right place for our own children. We experienced in-home childcare, care from grandparents and aunts, neighborhood programs, large centers, and national chains. Each offered something valuable — but we rarely found everything we were looking for in one place.
We wanted the warmth of a family environment, the safety and trust every parent deserves, and the intentional learning experiences that prepare children not just for kindergarten, but for life.
Living and serving in Memphis, we've also seen the challenges too many children face before they ever enter a classroom. We believe a child's future should never be determined by their zip code or the opportunities they were born into. That's why KidzTown is more than childcare.
We exist to give every child a strong foundation through exceptional education, purposeful play, loving relationships, and meaningful opportunities that build confidence, curiosity, and character.
Because every child deserves to be loved. Every child deserves to be prepared. And every child deserves the chance to thrive.
At KidzTown Academy, we're preserving the heart of childhood while preparing children for the future.
Jueel Hardy
Jueel Hardy brings a lifetime of service, leadership, and a genuine love for people to KidzTown Academy. Raised in a family deeply rooted in early childhood education, Jueel witnessed the impact of quality childcare from an early age — watching his mother open her first childcare center from their home, where he grew up alongside many of the children she cared for.
Over the years, Jueel has helped lead the operations of multiple early learning centers across Memphis (TN), Mobile (AL), Ripley (MS), and Holly Springs (MS) — supporting the education and development of nearly 1,000 children and hundreds of families, while mentoring educators and cultivating high-quality learning environments.
Beyond early childhood education, Jueel spent nearly a decade with Comcast, developing expertise in leadership, innovation, customer experience, and team development — skills that continue to shape KidzTown's commitment to operational excellence and exceptional family service. He was honored as the 2026 Director of the Year at the Born to Teach Leadership Conference.
A proud Memphian, Jueel believes investing in children is one of the greatest ways to strengthen the city he loves. Whether he's cheering on the Memphis Grizzlies, the Memphis Tigers, or—on football Saturdays—his honorary favorite, the Miami Hurricanes, his passion for community runs deep.
— Jueel Hardy
Kelsey Hardy
For Kelsey Hardy, education has always been a family calling. She comes from generations of women dedicated to serving children and families — her mother taught kindergarten, other family members served as classroom teachers, special education teachers, and social workers, and her late grandmother worked as the cafeteria cook at the very Head Start program Kelsey attended as a child.
A proud Memphis native, Kelsey is a graduate of Whitehaven High School, where she served as Valedictorian, before earning a bachelor's degree in Psychology from Spelman College and a Master of Public Service from the Clinton School of Public Service. She is currently completing her Doctor of Transformational Leadership at Anchor Bay University, where her research focuses on healthy leadership, mentorship, and organizational culture.
Professionally, Kelsey serves as Chief Financial Officer for Communities In Schools of Memphis, and is a proud graduate of Leadership Memphis — The BEST Class of 2025. At KidzTown Academy, she leads strategic planning, finance, innovation, and the development of the academy's Leadership & Life Framework™, ensuring children are prepared not only for kindergarten but for a lifetime of leadership, learning, and opportunity.
— Kelsey Kenniel Hardy
Mission & Vision
Loved. Inspired. Empowered.
At KidzTown Academy, our mission is to ensure every child feels deeply loved, inspired to learn, and empowered to discover who they can become.
Memphis' Premier Early Learning & Life Academy
To be Memphis' premier Early Learning & Life Academy, where every child develops the confidence, character, and skills to thrive in school and beyond.
Come meet the family behind KidzTown.
Schedule a tour and see firsthand the passion and expertise guiding every classroom.