About Pride and Joy Learning Center

We would like to take this opportunity to introduce our school and our family to you!

We opened Pride & Joy in July of 1991 with the help of my mother and two sisters. The building was built in 1990 by my husband Paul. The name Pride & Joy came from my parents who called us their “Pride and Joys”.

My family, the Youngs, began in West Tennessee but my parents moved to Michigan after the birth of their third child. I was the first child to be born in Michigan. I have 3 older and 3 younger siblings. My parents moved to Florida in 1974 and as I was just graduating from college, I came with them. With a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education and Early Childhood, I went straight into teaching.

Paul and I married in 1977. We have two married kids, Chris and Katie Lin. Both graduated from college in East TN, met their sweethearts and married in TN and NC. Katie, our daugther, lives with her two sons Caleb 18 & Jacob 16, near the Smoky Mountains in Maryville, TN. Katie’s husband of 18 years, Jeremy, died in 2021. Chris, our son, and Jamie, his wife, also live in TN near us, with their two children Zach 10 & Ali Kate 6. These four grandkids are our pride and joys!

Our kids began their formal education at age 3 using the A Beka curriculum, which we are using here at Pride & Joy. We know this strong academic beginning has contributed to Chris and Katie’s high standing in high school and college, which helped secure scholarships throughout college.

Pride & Joy began with only K3 and K4 classes, but due to the “gentle” persuasion of our parents, we added the K2 classes and then Kindergarten and then eventually we had classes through 5th grade. We added a Wobbler/Toddler room for our 12-month-olds in 2001. In 2024, we decided in the best interest of our school philosophy to eliminate Kindergarten through 2nd grade to concentrate strictly on 12-month to 5-year-old children.

We are so thankful for the fine teachers who give 100% each day to the care of our students. We will make sure your children will develop a love for school and for learning.

Now that you know all about us, we look forward to meeting and getting to know each one of you! Thank you for giving us the opportunity to share in the education of your children.

Sincerely,

Paul and Linda Rademacher