I enrolled my daughter at Innovation Academy and Preschool because it was closer to my workplace…read moreand was associated with Little Stars in Zephyr Hills, a center I had a wonderful experience with. The original director was someone I already knew and trusted, and I felt confident making the transition.
Unfortunately, my experience at Innovation Academy became increasingly disappointing over time.
One of the first issues involved tuition. When I enrolled, I was told I would receive a discounted "founding family" rate that would be locked in for a period of time. After a change in leadership, I was informed that the previous director had been mistaken and my tuition increased. Throughout my daughter's attendance, tuition seemed to increase multiple times, often with little notice. During part of this time, parents were still required to provide lunches because the center did not have a food program in place.
The biggest concern for me was the constant staff turnover. My daughter thrived under her teacher, Taylor, who was wonderful with the children and made learning exciting. When Taylor left, it became apparent just how frequently teachers were coming and going. There were periods when it felt like a new face was in the classroom every week. As a parent, it is difficult to feel comfortable leaving your child in the care of people you barely have time to get to know before they leave.
After another director took over, things initially seemed promising. She was friendly, approachable, and brought in several new staff members. However, I began noticing what felt like a very cliquish atmosphere among some members of management and staff. If you weren't part of the "favorite parent" crowd, interactions often felt uncomfortable and unprofessional.
One issue I raised involved morning drop-off procedures. After a staff member my daughter was particularly comfortable with went on leave, I noticed that many mornings my three-year-old would walk in, sit down for breakfast, and not be acknowledged by anyone. My concern was never about myself being greeted--it was about ensuring my daughter felt welcomed, safe, and accounted for. I discussed this with management, who assured me they appreciated the feedback. The following morning, however, the greetings felt exaggerated and sarcastic, leaving me feeling more uncomfortable than reassured.
I also experienced a billing issue where I received notice that I was hundreds of dollars behind on tuition and that my daughter would not be allowed to attend. After reviewing records, management discovered that I had in fact made all of my payments and that the error was on their end. While the matter was eventually corrected, it was stressful and frustrating to deal with.
Another ongoing frustration was the constant requests for additional money. Whether it was pizza days, special events, photos, holiday activities, or other programs, there always seemed to be another fee. While I understand fundraisers and optional activities are common, it often felt excessive, especially for working parents already paying significant tuition costs.
There were also smaller issues that reflected a lack of organization. My daughter's belongings were frequently misplaced. The preschool cubbies were labeled where adults could see the names but not where the children could easily identify them. When items went missing, the explanation was often that it was the children's responsibility to put things away correctly, which felt unrealistic for three-year-olds who couldn't easily see which cubby belonged to them.
One example that still stands out involved a St. Patrick's Day leprechaun trap contest. Parents were told that winners would receive discounts on tuition. My daughter and I spent time making a trap together and submitted it, but despite asking multiple times over several weeks, I never received any information about winners or results.
My final straw came near the end of our time there. When I picked up my daughter one afternoon, she told me she had wet herself and that nobody had changed her. Upon checking, I found that she was soaked through her diaper, shorts, and dress. When I went to get a clean diaper from her cubby, I discovered she was out, despite never receiving any notification that supplies were running low. Staff offered no alternative diaper and no assistance.
While helping my daughter in the restroom, I witnessed another young child attempting to tell a staff member that she had already had an accident. The child's concerns were repeatedly dismissed, and the interaction quickly became frustrated and loud. Watching that situation unfold while my own daughter sat in soaked clothing was the moment I realized I could no longer trust the level of care being provided. To be fair, there were staff members who were kind, caring, and wonderful with the children. At this point I cannot recommend you enroll your child here.
