Admini­stration

Lesia grew up at Funtime Skateland and learned how to run a family business from her parents. In 2000, she and Walter opened Funtime After-School. The rest was history-in-the-making with the later additions of Funtime Pre-School and My First Funtime. Before opening Funtime After-School, Lesia was an elementary school teacher for 10 years. She earned her BS in Elementary Education and her MS in Early Childhood Education. Her extensive knowledge, experience, and commitment to children has gained recognition at the state and national level. Lesia served on a state-wide committee to rewrite the Early Learning Standards for infants and toddlers. She also participated in writing a curriculum for parent engagement which has been adopted by all public schools in Mississippi. In 2022, Lesia earned the title of Mississippi SBA Small Business Person of the Year. She has been recognized nationally on The Today Show, Matter of Fact with Solidad O’Brien, and Child Care Aware of America. While these accomplishments are important, Lesia’s purpose has always been to positively impact children of all ages. She hopes to consistently promote the family tradition of serving families in central Mississippi. When Lesia is not at Funtime, you will find her spending time at the beach and likely reading books or participating in early childhood webinars.

Walter grew up skating and working alongside his parents at Funtime Skateland. He earned his BS in Business Administration from Mississippi College in 1990 and worked for both the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality and the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office. Walter’s vision to create a premium childcare program that would be both educational and fun led to the opening of Funtime After-School on August 1, 2000. He and his sister/business partner, Lesia, grew the business year after year by remaining committed to top-quality facilities, first-class service, and unmatched childcare and early childhood education.  Walter was also named the Mississippi Small Business Person of the Year for 2022.  When Walter is not overseeing daily operations or DJing “Skate Day,” you will find him spending time with his wife, children, and grandchildren. His favorite thing about Funtime is the ability to continue his parents’ legacy of bringing families together in the Clinton community.

Beka is a Clinton native who grew up skating at the skating rink. She has worked at Funtime for over 10 years and previously taught students with exceptionalities in the Clinton Public School District. Beka has a Bachelor’s degree in Interdisciplinary Studies with an emphasis in Education, History, and Social Work. She genuinely loves people and does a great job relating to our school-age children and After-School staff members. Beka has two of her own babies, Walker and Lennon. She loves to cook, shop, and spend time with family.

For over 20 years Courtney has supported families at Funtime Pre-School. She is the “go to” person for questions or concerns and has a niche for supporting staff, children, and parents. Courtney attended MSU and has a B.S. in Human Development and Family Studies. On the weekend you will find her spending time with her two children, Cason and Audrey, and cheering on the Bulldogs.

Navdeep began working for Funtime in 2017, while pursuing a B.S. in Education from Mississippi College. She started by working in a young toddler room and has since worked with all age groups from infants to 4k. Over the years, Navdeep has developed her leadership skills and understanding of child development through classroom and administrative experience. She is always willing to go the extra mile to ensure questions are answered and support is provided in a timely manner. When Navdeep is not at Funtime, she enjoys traveling and spending time in nature.

Krystal has worked for Funtime for over 10 years. Before Funtime she worked at Head Start and Clinton Park Elementary. Krystal is passionate about serving families and is always willing to help others. You will even find her on the weekends at Funtime Skateland. When Krystal is not at work, she is spending time with her two boys or trying a new restaurant.

Jamie is a native of Clinton, who, like so many others, loved skating at Funtime on the weekends. She has worked for the Funtime Family for over 7 years total, and recently worked for the State of Mississippi as a Early Childcare Coach and TA Specialist. Jamie has a bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education and will complete her Masters in Early Intervention in the Fall of 2025. Jamie has two babies of her own, Corey and Lori Ann. In her spare time, she loves to spend time with her family and watch movies.

Julie has served as an early interventionist for the past 20 years and has worked at Funtime since 2018. She has a M.S. in Children’s Behavioral Psychology and is a Board Certified Behavior Specialist. Julie works diligently to support all learners and promotes full inclusion practices. She is our behavior guru and constantly seeks out research to support the needs of each child. Julie loves the Dallas Cowboys, and you may find her at a game every now and then.