OUR VISION
We cultivate an environment where everyone—children, parents, staff, and the community—can shine.
By embracing each other with love and acceptance for our differences and strengths, we foster a community based on acceptance and belonging, celebrating both our individuality and our contributions to the group.
OUR MISSION
Nuture the radiant present within each child.
Our mission is to transcend traditional education, becoming stewards of growth, champions of emotional well-being, and devoted companions on the unpredictable adventure of childhood.
HEART-FORWARD, LEGACY-FOCUSED
Our Story
SoulShine was launched as a modest after school program.
SoulShine was launched as a modest after-school program. In 2006, founder Shannon Smith-SengStack and a small group of parents opened a creative space for the community seeking a unique, heart-forward, eco-aware approach to learning and development for their children.
Today, SoulShine has evolved into an expansive educational organization with three locations, offering infant, preschool, pre-K, and school-aged education and care.
We take pride in the relationships we've built and express gratitude for the opportunity to make lasting, positive impacts on our children, staff, families, parents, and the broader local and global community. We feel humbled and inspired when our students return, expressing gratitude for all they learned at SoulShine. We love hearing how their lives have been shaped in meaningful ways. It's these legacies, nurtured through lessons of self-empathy, community well-being, eco-stewardship, and resiliency, that fuel our educators' dedication to continuing the good work.
Permaculture Inspired
SoulShine places nature study and eco-stewardship at the forefront of our academics, while creating strong social, emotional, and educational foundations.
Our permaculture-inspired curriculum brings awareness to the relationship between us and our natural surroundings, and cultivates a healthy appreciation and respect for our planet.
SoulShine teaching is inspired by the local ecosystem. Each play-based learning experience uses up-cycled, recycled, and forest-foraged materials that are harvested locally and seasonally.
Experiential Learning
SoulShine invests in our children beyond their daily academic instruction and schedule.
They engage bi-weekly in unique, small-scale educational classes designed to empower them through yoga, mindfulness, outdoor playtime, music, movement, Spanish language, sign language, and more.
Take a walk in your child's shoes - preview a day in the life at SoulShine.
Farm-To-Jar
The SoulShine kitchen is devoted to clean eating.
Because we believe locally grown, responsibly-sourced, nutrient-dense food is the ideal foundation for a child’s well-being, we source vegetables, dairy, and eggs from local farms. Following permaculture principles, our preferred farms utilize regenerative agriculture practices and raise fair trade organic crops.
Our in-house chef crafts seasonal menus to guide the taste buds of our young ones, helping them understand from the start how good it feels to feel good!
Revolutionizing education to reclaim a healthy future.
KINDNESS & SHARING
Emotional Intelligence
Instilling self-awareness, self-love, self-worth, and self-care by teaching and exemplifying best practices in health, nutrition, personal reflection, movement, and creativity among the SoulShine children, staff, families, and community.
GROWING STRONG & ABLE
Resiliency
Championing inclusivity, self-sufficiency, and advancing life skills for our children, families, staff, and community in order to grow confidence in their abilities to operate independently and support themselves with integrity.
CONNECTING WITH GOOD
Community
Creating community through conscious and intentional partnering and programming in an effort to build a positive network of relationships and support among sustainably-minded people and organizations.
HEALTHY BODIES, HEALTHY MINDS
Well-Being
Giving children a holistic foundation of social, cognitive, and emotional learning and development so that they can evolve to become whole, mindful, and compassionate agents of change, ready for school success.
CARING FOR OUR WORLD
Eco-Stewardship
Teaching and practicing eco-stewardship through nature and resource conservation; earth-friendly actions and activities; animal, plant, and land appreciation; conscious consumerism; and zero waste adherence.
Our Values In Action
SoulShine values diversity, inclusivity, and community well-being by modeling empathy, resiliency, and healthy habits, cultivating wholeness within ourselves and in our world. Read Our Pledge
Take A Virtual Tour
It's absolutely possible to get a full understanding of SoulShine without coming in-person. Every Tuesday we host a virtual walk-through to accommodate prospective parents and allow you to take a look inside our classroom spaces that encourage hands-on learning for all programs. See for yourself!
Let's Meet In Person
Come see where our warm nurturing teachers engage your child in the educational curriculum, healthy foods, and outdoor activities we offer. At SoulShine, our collaborative and cordial environment is full of inviting, and interactive spaces, you’ll see that as soon as you walk through the door. Schedule today!
While we cannot predict nor guarantee the length of time you’ll be on the waitlist, we will aim to enroll your child as close as possible to your requested start date.
Schedule A Tour
Our enrollment process begins with a tour. We hold tours each week at all locations. Tours typically last 45 minutes.
After completing the tour, you can apply to enroll by completing the Personal Record Form and pay the non-refundable application fees. Enrollment openings occur throughout the year. If there are no openings available at the time of your application, we will place you on a waitlist.
Locations
Decatur
525 W Howard Ave
Decatur, Georgia 30030
PROGRAMS OFFERED AT THIS LOCATION
Pre-school (6wks to 5 yrs)
Private Pre-K
Day Camps Pre-K - 5th
After School
Summer Camps
Kirkwood
2052 Hosea L Williams Dr NE
Atlanta, GA 30317
PROGRAMS OFFERED AT THIS LOCATION
Pre-school (6wks to 5 yrs)
Private Pre-K (2023-2024 school year)
East Atlanta
1332 Glenwood Ave SE
Atlanta, GA 30316
PROGRAMS OFFERED AT THIS LOCATION
Pre-school (6wks to 5 yrs)
Follow us @soulshineschools