Description: LEE'S KINDER ACADEMY is a CHILD CARE CENTER in KANSAS CITY MO, with a maximum capacity of 45 children. This child care center helps with children in the age range of 2 MONTHS - 5 YEARS. The provider does not participate in a subsidized child care program.
Where possible, ChildcareCenter provides inspection reports as a service to families. This information is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed. We encourage families to contact the daycare provider directly with any questions or concerns, as the provider may have already addressed some or all issues. Reports can also be verified with your local daycare licensing office.
| Report Date | Report Type |
|---|---|
| 2023-07-07 | SUPPLEMENTAL |
| 2023-03-21 | REINSPECTION |
| 2023-03-07 | COMPLIANCE MONITORING |
| 2023-01-20 | SUPPLEMENTAL |
| 2022-10-20 | COMPLIANCE MONITORING |
| 2022-10-07 | COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION |
| 2022-09-30 | COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION |
| 2022-04-18 | REINSPECTION |
| 2022-04-18 | REINSPECTION |
| 2022-02-04 | COMPLIANCE VERIFICATION |
| 2022-02-03 | SUPPLEMENTAL |
| 2022-01-18 | COMPLIANCE VERIFICATION |
| 2022-01-04 | SUPPLEMENTAL |
| 2021-10-20 | COMPLIANCE MONITORING |
| 2021-07-21 | REINSPECTION |
If you are a provider and you believe any information is incorrect, please contact us. We will research your concern and make corrections accordingly.
Write a review about Lee's Kinder Academy. Let other families know what’s great, or what could be improved. Please read our brief review guidelines to make your review as helpful as possible.
This business owner picked a field she has no patience for. Blames parents for not caring because she continuously raises prices and no extra effort is put it. She blames others for her lack of professionalism, which actually exploits her ignorance and true values. Just because you make a post about a situation doesn’t mean you care. Sheri craves attention and sympathy. And will go lengths to get it. But I find it hard to find sympathy for someone that cares about no one but herself. To be frank, I hope parents realize that their child is not safe or cared for in her presence. Because you post a picture hugging a child, doesn’t mean that you care. Killers post pictures with their victims daily. And for someone claiming to be so behind, broke and stressed out….you sure do purchase a lot of new…You got into the Daycare business out of greed not passion. She treats her employees like crap. Yelling and screaming at them in front of children and parents. Also the amount of incident reports that get swept under the rug is ridiculous. Dropping babies. Not paying insurance. Behind on rent. Parents I would advise not bringing your child to this establishment. You will regret it. I promise. Do not send you kids here!!
The director is a complete joke. She does not know how to run a business. The business side was constantly in shambles. I was worried we'd show up one day to a closed up shop.
She was always talking down to her staff. Not to mention the staff turnover rate. She talked about the program(s) that they offer the kids and I never saw evidence of it in place. My son learned nothing.
The center was constantly being cited by the state for ratio violations. I've had this discussion online with other families with similar experiences.
I will not be sharing my name because Sheri is known to be very vendictive.
This is my second time working here at LKA, and I can honestly say that it is one of the best jobs that I have ever had. When I left the first time it just was not a good fit, because I am a college student. I now have a more open schedule, and when I thought about getting a job at a preschool I immediately messaged Sheri. I did not think twice about going else where. Has there been drama with the employees? Of course. There is going to be drama no matter where you go in life. People are not going to always love each other everywhere you go. However, I do believe in putting on a smile and being friendly. The only time I felt as if the building was out of control was when there were two employees that are now gone. The staff at LKA now, seem to get along great with one another. It’s like peace and quiet. All staff are now 100% focused of the students and ready to have a great day everyday. I know that many people read negative reviews about this preschool, and that is all over one bad day that they had. Does Sheri have rough days? Yep. She sure does. Does Nadia (her daughter) have rough days. Yep. She sure does. Do I gave a rough day? Yep. I sure do. BUT I HAVE NEVER seen Sheri or Nadia give anything less this 110% to the kiddos at LKA. They give those kids their all day in and day out! There may be bad staff that has fell through but that is because Sheri has such a big heart that she is willing to give each and every person a fair shot. All she ever wants is to see you stay grow and be successful and for her students to grow and be successful. I do not plan on working at LKA for the rest of my life, because some day I would love to teacher first or second grade, however, I know for a fact that my children will be going through LKA preschool. I will always have respect for Sheri and Nadia, and continue to want to be part of the LKA family.
Simply put - I would not be going into my fourth year as an employee or second year as a parent of a student if Sheri and Nadia were in fact narcissistic, lying, manipulative, etc. Especially considering this is my "fun job", that I have done for several years now, because I love the LKA family!
In my time at LKA I have seen at least ten sets of siblings grow from infants to preschoolers; the amount of time and money invested by these families alone speak volumes of the care provided by LKA.
Sheri holds high standards and expectations for her staff. Sheri sees her families as the bosses and herself as the enforcer of the quality care that each child deserves; she makes this clear to every employee in staff meetings. Those that are not willing or able to meet expectations quit or are dismissed. Unfortunately, the disgruntled ones go on social media platforms to try to get the final say by attempting to drag the Lee name through the dirt.
Give LKA a chance. Drop by unannounced. Tour the center. Sheri holds an open door policy, see for yourself what a great place LKA is!
Simply put - I would not be going into my fourth year as an employee or second year as a parent of a student if Sheri and Nadia were in fact narcissistic, lying, manipulative, etc. Especially considering this is my "fun job", that I have done for several years now, because I love the LKA family!
In my time at LKA I have seen at least ten sets of siblings grow from infants to preschoolers; the amount of time and money invested by these families alone speak volumes of the care provided by LKA.
Sheri holds high standards and expectations for her staff. Sheri sees her families as the bosses and herself as the enforcer of the quality care that each child deserves; she makes this clear to every employee in staff meetings. Those that are not willing or able to meet expectations quit or are dismissed. Unfortunately, the disgruntled ones go on social media platforms to try to get the final say by attempting to drag the Lee name through the dirt.
Give LKA a chance. Drop by unannounced. Tour the center. Sheri holds an open door policy, see for yourself what a great place LKA is!
You've read the reviews and all of the ex employees is telling the truth!. Sheri and her daughter are both bullies and and crazy!. I know Sheri doesnt like the truth thrown at her but refuses to be wrong. The parents needs to know that sheri daughter isn't what she claims to be, she's fake!. She even got in my face and hollered in my face and threaten to punch me and this was very recent. All while Ms Sheri sat there and let her do it. Mind you in happened just a few feet away from the kids! She is def a bully and its scary that she has a temper like that!. She should not b around kids at all. Did I mention she walks around barefooted and Ms Sheri still allows them dogs to poop and pee out there on the playground where children play. Ms Sheri has bullied me in front of another employee yelling at me!. Sheri and her daughter really make it difficult to work for them. I mean they have gone through a lot of employees within the last year that should mean something. Would not recommend this place at all. Terrible leadership and owner I really feel bad for the kids. I've heard her daughter yell at her mother while I was teaching over something and Ms Sheri didn't say anything to her at all. It was embarrassing and this happened in from of the kids. Ms Sheri is a liar and that's what she does best!. And her daughter is the same like her two peas in a pod. Ms Sheri even allowed an employee do her training online while clocked in and watching children. She even allows a couple of her staff leave to do errands while on the clock. She allowed her daughter to pay rent and go to the store all while being on the clock. They have gotten away with so much its unbelievable. And the still leave the dog bowl outside the kitchen where children can easily reach and get into. All I have to say is the owner an her daughter are both bullies and should not be especially her daughter losing her temper with me not b around children. If I had a child that went there and I seen something like that happening I would def pull my kids out of there. Not a safe place at all I truly thought I could stick it out, but not with them people. Ms.Sheri is a liar and narcissist and a manipulator. Her daughter took right after her both crazy individuals. They will lie, lie and LIE! To keep themselves from looking bad to the public. And there were times that I did get mistreated from Ms Sheri more than once. She doesn't know how to communicate with certain staff properly because she flies off the handle easily. I wish I could give this a 0 but I can't. Just the most worst employer and unprofessional place I've worked for. SOMETIMES I WAS LEFT IN THE BIG ROOM OUT OF RATIO plenty of times. But Ms Sheri will continue to lie to you to make herself sound good and that everything is peachy. When its like walking on egg shells everyday working for her. Please I urge you to not work for this woman you will be miserable. And her daughter will be nice at first but will turn into a monster. Loved my kids, but difficult to work with the daughter and the owner. Truly, sad that Ms Sheri still keeps her employed still after losing her temper badly and threatening me I've witnessed her yelling at the kids plenty of times where Ms Sheri had to intervene. But she will deny any of it claiming it never happened or she doesn't remember to save her daughters butt. But the ones that have worked there know the truth!. And the truth is this what I'm telling you. You've been warned I would stay as far away from that place as possible!!!!.. They are all fake and talk about ppl behind there back especially when state comes and checks. Very very unprofessional and disrespectful people.
The owner treats her employees terrible, which is why she can not keep any of them staffed, well except for her daughter who is just as bad as she is. She is a BULLY, immature, manipulative and a narcissist. I will guarantee that you will be miserable working here and it will lead down a road to depression.The only good part about this job is the children but she refuses to let you even have a relationship with any of the parents because she claims it is "unprofessional" The real reason is she doesn't want parents to know what really goes on at LKA when they aren't there. You have been warned. DO NOT WORK FOR THIS COMPANY. And I will also guarantee any previous teacher that wrote a positive review on this thread has been shown the truth and no longer works for LKA.
Only giving 1 star because 0 stars isn’t an option. The owner is forcing employees to come in after being tested positive with influenza B. The owner is making sick employees come to work and possibly make your children sick. Would not even recommend if the childcare was free.
I've known Sheri since we were young kids, we pretty much grew up together. Sheri takes pride in her buisness. Her love for children is why she started Lee's Kindra Academy. Sheri's own Mother was in Child care for many years until she retired. For anyone making accusations is a plan out right lie. Sheri and her Daughter love kids, life and our Lord.
Lee's is by far the top provider of choice when it comes to trusting others with my pride and joy! The school is cleaned several times daily, well lit, highly secured, and laid out to ensure there are eyes on the children at all times! Meals are provided, curriculum is well planned, and the employees make you feel like family. I can say without a doubt that I can go to work without worrying if my child is being neglected or harmed, which is every parents DREAM! Not to mention, I get daily pictures and updates from the teachers! Also, I know first hand that the owner does everything she can to make sure that it is a great fit for both the parents and the children... Which includes hiring educated staff who truly love what they do! I have always and will continue to recommend Lee's Kinder Academy to anyone looking for a top notch school for their children!!!
I am a former employee of Lee's Kinder Academy I am writing this because I want everyone to be aware of what is going on at this school/daycare. Please DO NOT take your children here and do not even considering working for this woman. You will regret it and will have to deal with the most unprofessional "leader" "boss" "employer" or whatever it is she is calling herself these days. There is something to be said when Sheri has had well over 100 employees in the past 4 years that she has been open. Of that 100, there isn't even a handful of past employees that have anything nice to say about how Sheri runs this business and in fact is quite the opposite. Sheri has sent multiple employees threating text messages and accuses anyone who tells the truth to parents or to the state of slander and/or bullying. Speaking of State, when employees leave they finally get up the nerve to call Sheri in but some how she keeps getting away with never being at the school, never being in ratio, hiring underage workers and letting her daughter who she knows is physically and verbally abusive to the children still be a teacher there. You can ask any former staff member and they will all tell you how her youngest daughter is with children, you can ask the prek class and I am sure they will tell you how much Nadia screams them. I am NOT a troll as Sheri so kindly states in her review and I do not have any resentment. I am just stating the facts because this is all information I would have loved to have before I had all my happiness ripped away from me because I wanted to stay for all those kids who don't have a voice. To state the facts about myself: I am an ex employee who had to hold my pay check several times for months, who was told it was mandatory to come to unpaid meetings and unpaid trainings, who worked overtime and got told we were a school so she didn't have to pay over time, who was sent threating text messages, who has seen the dog poop on the playground and Sheri just leave it there and has also heard Sheri talk poorly about many children and children's parents. I can say will full confidence all previous negative reviews are in fact 100% true because I have witnessed all events personally.
I really hope people take the time to read these reviews because this is the worst place you could possibly send your children to. I agree with Royalfamily676 in regards to the Owner, she does not know how to run a business, does not take responsibility for her shortcomings and honestly should not be in the business of owning a daycare facility period. She is a mentally unstable person that I have had the unfortunate pleasure of having to deal with. Please, Please, Please, do NOT send your children to this facility and to the the Owner who is unbelievably crazy!!
I have come to realize that this facility is never fallowing regulation. I have seen staff members have over 20 kids at a time by themselves. There are always bugs crawling around where kids can eat them. When I come to pick up my child I have seen kids being aloud to eat stuff off the ground. I have seen the dogs use the bathroom outside on the playground. I have seen a child that is not yet of age get moved up which has affected my child's learning. Having a 1 year old in the twos room is not allowing my child's teacher to do her job for the rest of the kids. I have seen her daughter Nadia not only get in a child's face and scream by also grab that child by the face. Whenever I need something the director Sheri is never to be found. I hope to see change in the future.
I have been taking my children to Lee's Kinder Academy (LKA) since they opened their doors almost 4 years ago. My oldest started there full time since she was 8 weeks old and she is now the most well rounded kid I know. The minute I found out that I was expecting, Sheri was the 2nd person to know because I wanted to make sure that my youngest had a spot. These are my reasons why I love LKA:
1) The price is right. When I was looking at daycare prices, LKA had the best deal. Meals are included in the weekly payment.
2) Talking about meals, LKA provides a really diverse menu for the kids. It's a mix of different flavors and textures and they encourage kids to explore outside of their comfort ranges and try new things. My kid is always up to try new foods and is not picky at all. And they taught her to feed herself and to clean up after herself as well.
3) LKA teaches them respect. Not just saying please and thank you and respecting adults. But they teach her to respect herself. They are patient and listen to her and within reason they let her make her own decisions and have her own opinions.
4) They have fun activities going on all the time. They are always looking to provide a new experience for the kids. The best part is that they have them come to the daycare so I don't have to worry about the kids leaving the daycare and transportation. They have had farm animals, the zoo, a train, the library, puppets, fire and policeman and other fun visitors come and my daughter loves it. It really opens her world.
5) But this is my favorite part about LKA: they potty trained my oldest and they didn't shame her when she wasn't ready to do so when it was time for her to move up a class. They don't force kids to be potty trained by a certain age but worked with her to help her be ready and helped her succeed.
6) Sheri is quick to identify/address any issues and will work with you to resolve them, whether its with the staff, facility, or your child.
7) They send pics of your children daily and have a true open door policy. I have a flexible working schedule so I drop off and pick up my kids at random times.
I can go on and on about the reasons why I love LKA but it all boils down to this: I feel that they care about my kids as much as I do and I trust them.
I was just made aware of this site and am very sad that you as a site manager have used my INFORMATION with out my permission to allow trolls to get on here and make up things about our preschool that is just not true!!
We have been open for almost four years. This Preschool is full of LOVE.
We have an amazing staff with lots of experience and Education.
I encourage anyone looking for childcare in our area to stop by for a tour unannounced, and see for yourself. Instead of reading this made up nonsense!!
Sheri Lee
Lee's Kinder Academy
I have been working here for about two months. During this time I have never felt more welcomed than I do here. Once you walk into that building you can feel the amount of love each teacher has for these kids. Sheri the owner not only cares about her staff but also every student enrolled. She goes above and beyond for everyone. I’m so lucky to get the privilege to be apart of the LKA staff.
I am super satisfied with who I work with. We are a family and they all have stuck through everything with me and understood when something was wrong and was there by my side while things were rough in my life. We all care about the kids so much and only want the best for them. We shall watch them succeed and watch them grow up and do the best they can. I am a proud employee of LKA!
I would give this place less than one star if I could. Staff is taken advantage of in every way possible. We were asked to hold our checks due to lack of money. Then we would hear about the extravagant vacations that were being taken by the owner and her family. The dogs allowed at the school were mean. They would relieve themselves all over the school, snap at the children and even bit my own child. As a former employee I can say that the staff truly did love the children. It is the managing of the staff that has caused such a high turnover rate.
The daughter of the owner should never be allowed to work with children. When I first started she was in the two's room and would scream in the kids faces, threaten to take away their blankets and toys, she was on her phone more than she was paying attention to the children. She clearly had her favorites and would let them by with anything. There is a lot more that I could say however I think my point is made.
My two grandchildren attend LKA, and my family and I couldn’t be happier with the care and education they receive. They have attended for over a year and a half and I have had the opportunity to drop them off and pick them up. Each time I have witnessed them completely involved in a project, craft, game, or other age appropriate activity. I love how happy they are, and how dedicated the teachers are to each of the kids! I would highly recommend this preschool! It’s one of the best in the city!
I would NOT recommend Lee's Kinder Academy. There are many state laws being broke here. The owner is constantly begging for handouts from parents. Tuition has been raised twice in the past year, they ask for parents to purchase supplies, groceries, pay additional fees for any extra activity, a yearly registration fee and the weekly tuition fee! Familes feel like they are being nickle and dimed to death. The director is hardly ever there, so she has no idea what is even going on. They are never at ratio except maybe the PreK class. The current 2 years old teacher, who is related to the owner, is always walking around completley barefoot (hello germs, so unprofessional and disgusting) and screaming at the children. This is why I finally pulled my children, my child told me things she would say to the children that is downright abuse. No teacher should tell children they are going to throw away or set their belongings on fire. The so called "service" dogs; I have personally witness bite a staff member. I have also came to pick up my children and there would be feces on the playground with children playing. Speaking of staff, they have lost almost all of their main teachers in a matter of a month, the owner has tried to tell parents that it is the teachers fault but parents know way more about what goes on at this school then she thinks we do, you could see the exhaustion in all their faces, I am sure it has to do with the lack of help they recieved. The majority of the afternoon staff is under the age of 18, which is illegal in daycare, but the owner will just text them if state shows up and have them not come in until state is gone. The turnover is so bad, I have never witnessed anything like it. In a matter of a year my child had 9 different teachers. This facility also has mega financial problems and the director lets parents know she can't pay her bills or her staff and asks for parents to pay tuition early and doesn't even say thank you. I tried confronting the owner about several of these issues but she is very cold hearted and downright rude. It appears to me that herself is the number one priority, and not the saftey and well being of the children.
I cannot express how terrible of an experience we had at Lee’s. Our daughter was just over a year when she started at this school. They demanded that she drop her second nap. She came home from school over tired and over stimulated. Our daughter wasn’t even crying, she was screaming to tell us how terrible this place was. I tried to talk with her teachers and administration; however, it was clear that it was their rules or nothing. Until I was clear I was removing my daughter from the daycare, they didn’t even try. It was a game to Cheri to be the one in charge. Additionally, there are two Pomeranians on the property. We witnessed one pee on the floor of the school. Additionally, since being at the school our child has shown strong negative responses to being close to animals. It is my clear belief that they let the dogs in her face, as she wasn’t walking at the time and it traumatized her. The shcho was having financial issues in the spring, and sent emails to parents about needing to change their payment policy as a result. The poor management and lack of care for our child’s wellbeing was evident. I cannot express how disappointing our experience was and how poorly Sheri responded to the issues we had.