Lauren G. Joyner M.A.Ed

Owner & Director

 

Lauren and her family are so excited to share Natural Steps Child Development Center with the community! She was born and raised in Charlottesville, Virginia. After graduating from Albemarle High School she went on to receive her Bachelor of Science in Human Development and Master of Education in Counselor Education, both from Virginia Tech.

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She has always loved working with children and from a young age she had a dream of owning and operating her own childcare center. At fourteen years old she put fliers in neighborhood mailboxes to advertise her babysitting services. She worked in childcare centers to help support her through college and went right into the school system after graduating. 

 

She worked for two years as a high school counselor in Christiansburg, Virginia before moving home to Charlottesville. In August of 2011 she accepted a school counseling position at Crozet Elementary. She has spent the last seven years working with young children and their families to support their academic, social, and emotional success.

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In 2014 Lauren and her husband, Jesse, moved to Sycamore Square and in 2017 they welcomed their first daughter, Kate. It was at this time, as a working mom, Lauren was reminded of the importance of early childhood care and her dreams of opening a childcare center were reignited. 

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