Our History
Foundation Academy is privately owned and operated by Keri and Tim Burpee. Keri was a teacher for 30 years before retiring from the classroom to help manage the business. She loves playing a role in educating and caring for children on a daily basis.
Tim started Foundation Academy in 2007 after a career as a pastor and youth minister since the age of 18. He enjoys how his role keeps him invested in the lives of families and the community each day. Away from work, they spend most of their time with their four children and their first grandchild, but try to travel when they can!
OUR DESIRE IS TO CARE FOR CHILDREN AND GIVE THEM A STRONG START:
We help them see how they are unique and begin to grasp the special plan that God has for their lives.
Foundation Academy partners with families and children in their formative years in order to fulfill this goal each day.
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Management
Keri Burpee, Executive Director
Keri is the executive director of Foundation Academy Operations. She graduated from Mercer University in 1987 with a degree in Early Childhood Education. She later received her Masters in Early Childhood Education and Specialist degree in Instruction from Piedmont College. She is a retired school teacher, and has been working with children for over 30 years. In her spare time she enjoys spending time at the beach and with her family.
Jennifer Salies, Coordinator
Jennifer is the Management Coordinator for all of Foundation Academy’s locations. Jennifer comes to us with a long background in Early Childhood Education and 30 years of experience working with children, families, and centers. She graduated from Ashford University with a Bachelors in ECE and a Specialist in Infant and Toddlers setting in 2015 and a MBA with a concentration in Organizational Leadership in 2017. In her spare time she enjoys traveling with her husband. They have six children, two grandchildren, four dogs (two Dalmatians) and two cats (it is never a dull moment on the ranch).
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Location Directors
Sthar Trotman, Cornelia Center
Sthar is the director of Foundation Academy Habersham. She graduated from The University of Georgia in 1987 with a degree in Accounting, and worked as an accountant for 6 years. Before Sthar became the director at Foundation Academy Habersham in 2008, she owned and operated her own childcare center for 10 years. In her spare time she enjoys organizing parties to celebrate others, and spending time at the lake with friends and family.
Shannon Smith, Perry Center
Shannon is the director of Foundation Academy Perry. Shannon worked at Foundation Academy for over 7 years before getting her CDA certification, and becoming director of Foundation Academy Perry. She became an aunt at the age of 9, and knew at that time she wanted to work for children when she grew up. In her spare time she enjoys watching her son play baseball or cheering on the Braves and Georgia Bulldogs.
Amy Hopper, Warner Robins Center
Amy is the director of Foundation Academy Warner Robins. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Education from Georgia Southwestern State University in 2007. She has been the director at Foundation Academy Warner Robins since the center opened over 10 years ago! In her spare time she enjoys shopping and leading worship at her church.
Nakeiya Walker, Newnan Center
Nakeiya serves as the Director of Foundation Academy Newnan and is excited to join the Foundation Academy family! Before joining the Newnan team, Nakeiya obtained her Masters Degree in Psychology and worked as a Registered Behavioral Technician, specializing in children with ASD. When Nakeiya is not working, she loves spending time with her wonderful husband and her two beautiful children. Her goal this year is to create an environment at Newnan for students to learn and succeed in their early childhood development.
Amanda Sullivan, Briarcliff Center
Amanda is the director of Foundation Academy Briarcliff and has worked with children for 20 years. While pursuing her bachelors in early childhood education, Amanda obtained her CDA in Child Development, along with various Daycare director certifications. She is also a loving mother, with two children thriving in college and a third finishing the 3rd grade.
EXPLORE OUR PROGRAMS
6 weeks – 1 year
Ages 2-3 years
4 years old
5-7 years old (Newnan location only)
