Title: Chief Executive Officer, President, Owner
Company: Giving Tree Academy Inc
Location: Jacksboro, TN
Education: Diploma, Accounting Assisting, Tennessee College of Applied Technology (2019); Certificates, General Office Assistant, Administrative Support Specialist, Tennessee Colleges of Applied Technology (2019); AS in General/Transfer Program, Roane State Community college (2018); AAS in Child Development/Special Needs, San Antonio College (1993)Career History: Director, Meg Meg’s Learn & Play Center, LaFollette, TN (2019-Present); Owner, Entrepreneur, Family Home Daycare Provider, LaFollette, TN (1996-1998, 2017-2019); Director, Learning Adventures/Little Minds at Work, LaFollette, TN (2013, 2015-2016); Teacher Assistant, Valley View Head Start, LaFollette, TN (2004)
Sheila Orick, Chief Executive Officer, President and Owner at Giving Tree Academy Inc., has been recognized as a Marquis Emerging Leader for their contributions and achievements in the field of childcare.
Ms. Orick became involved in her profession because she always liked children coming from a big family of seven. She had a friend that had deaf parents and a band instructor with a special needs child, which lead her to work with special needs children. She then got into taking classes, inclusions, and center her practice at child centers. Since 2019, she has also been the Director of Meg Meg’s Learn & Play Center. She named the Giving Tree Academy after the book “The Giving Tree” which is mainly about taking and giving. She thinks more about the giving part and helping people. She works with children to really provide them with a safe place to learn and grow.
Ms. Orick was set on her path from an early age and continued in her pursuits in higher education. She received an AAS in child development and special needs from San Antonio College in 1993. She later received an AS in general/transfer programs from Roane State Community College in 2018. Furthermore, she holds certificates as a general office assistant and administrative support specialist that she received from the Tennessee College of Applied Technology. She also earned a diploma in accounting assisting from the institution in 2019, the same year she received the certificates.
Ms. Orick attributes her success to her parents and their push to do well in school. They supported her and encouraged her to be the best she could be at whatever she does. She has p brought this spirit to each of her roles, such as her time with Learning Adventures/Little Minds at Work, Valley View Head Start, and myriad of other ventures. Her hard work has paid off, and in 2020, she was recognized as the Best Child Care Facility in the County. She is affiliated with the National Technical Honor Society and volunteers with Dust of Hope.