Meet the Team

Dedicated & Certified

Sara Hooper

Owner

Sara, a mother and licensed teacher, founded Blue Sky in response to a clear need for higher-quality childcare. Inspired by her own experience navigating the challenges of finding care for her son, she set out to create something different—an environment that raises the standard for both children and the people who care for them.

Driven by both passion and purpose, Sara leads with a commitment to exceptional care, thoughtful systems, and meaningful relationships. She remains deeply connected to the day-to-day experience, valuing her time with the children just as much as the foundation she builds behind the scenes.

At the heart of her leadership is a strong belief in supporting educators. Sara empowers her team, recognizing the critical role they play in shaping young minds. She believes caregivers deserve the same level of care, encouragement, and investment that we provide to the children they serve—creating a culture where both children and staff can truly thrive.

Stella Smythe

Lead Provider - Blue Sky Beginnings

Stella is the DELC-licensed Provider for the Blue Sky Beginnings program and brings an exceptional depth of experience to our community. With a career rooted in early childhood care, she has worked in larger centers, multiple in-home family settings, and even ran her own successful nanny share business.

Now living on-site as the leading presence at Blue Sky Beginnings, Stella blends her extensive knowledge with an immeasurable amount of love and care for every child she supports. She is a steady leader, guiding both the program and team alongside Sara.

Stella wears many hats and has earned just as many nicknames along the way—our “nap whisperer,” “baby guru,” and “potty training magician.” Her passionate, intuitive approach and deep commitment make her an irreplaceable part of the Blue Sky village.

Lucy Prince

Lead Teacher

Lucy is the Lead Teacher at Blue Sky Beginnings and brings a strong foundation in education to our program. With degrees in Education and Human Development and Family Sciences, along with several years of experience teaching Kindergarten, she offers both the knowledge and hands-on expertise to support high-quality learning experiences for our children.

Lucy has a genuine passion for working with children and is deeply committed to mastering the child care space. Her background elevates our curriculum and programming, helping ensure thoughtful, engaging experiences across the day.

Above all, Lucy’s kind spirit and dedication help shape the warm, connected environment that defines Blue Sky—where children feel supported, valued, and inspired to learn.

Dea Rivera

Teacher

Dea joined our community in 2025 alongside her son, JJ, and has been a wonderful addition to Blue Sky ever since. She brings a calm, cool, and collected presence to our environment, creating a steady and reassuring space for both children and team members.

With experience in child care and as a mother herself, Dea offers a thoughtful, intuitive approach that has quickly become invaluable to our team. The children have embraced her with open arms, naturally drawn to her warm and grounded energy.

Dea shares in our mission to build lasting relationships with children and their families while providing exceptional care that blends learning, play, and love.

Courtney Pierce

Provider - Blue Sky Pathways

Courtney is the DELC-licensed Provider for the Blue Sky Pathways program, bringing a unique blend of creativity, passion, and leadership to the space.

She attended the University of North Texas, where she studied Choral Music Education, and has spent several years working as a Preschool Teacher. Courtney has a deep passion for Early Childhood Education and a natural ability to bring learning to life through meaningful, engaging experiences.

Music is at the heart of Courtney’s approach. With training in “Music Together” and a love for choral singing and performance, she weaves music into the classroom in a way that nurtures expression, connection, and joy. She enjoys singing in different languages, is actively learning Spanish, and brings a thoughtful appreciation for culture into her work with children.

Courtney’s love for animals, nature, and mindfulness further shapes the calm, creative, and enriching environment she fosters at Pathways. She brings a vibrant energy and depth of passion that continues to elevate the Blue Sky community.

Jaedyn Williams

Teacher

Jaedyn is a valued teacher within the Blue Sky village and a steady, high-impact contributor. While her primary home base is at Pathways, like many of our dedicated team members, you can expect to see her supporting both locations as she helps care for and connect with our children and families.

With a background in certified family care, Jaedyn brings experience across all age groups—babies, toddlers, and preschoolers alike. She carries a naturally positive presence and has a gift for building strong, genuine connections with everyone she works with.

Jaedyn truly feels like the missing piece of our expanding team, helping bring a sense of completeness to the Blue Sky community.