- February 24, 2026
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Michelle Frease used to inspect the Kiddie Academy of Lakewood Ranch on Concept Court when she worked for the Florida Department of Children and Families.
Now, she’s the director of the new Kiddie Academy of Sarasota at 7290 Canon Street in Waterside Place, which actually is in Lakewood Ranch.
The second Lakewood Ranch location is set to open March 2.
What impressed Frease the most about the original Lakewood Ranch location was that anytime she performed a surprise inspection, there was an owner on site.
Both Lakewood Ranch locations are owned and operated by husband and wife, Sanddy and Melodie Marchena.
“We’re your neighbors,” Sanddy Marchena said. “We’re here pretty much every day, including the weekends, to make sure that our program is meeting our standards.”
Sanddy Marchena noted that the company, which includes over 300 locations, is not owned by a hedge fund like some of the other big chains. It, too, is a family business.
Founded by Pauline and George Miller in 1981, Kiddie Academy Educational Child Care is now being led by CEO Casey Miller, the third generation of Miller family leadership.
Sanddy Marchena represents all the academies in the southeast region on the Franchise Advisory Board. Coming from a corporate background, he said it’s special to be able to deal directly with members of the Miller family if he has an issue.
The Marchenas bought their first Kiddie Academy in Cedar Knolls, New Jersey in 2020 and will be opening a fourth location off State Road 64, near its intersection with White Eagle Boulevard.
The site plan for the State Road 64 location is waiting to be approved by Manatee County.
The couple still visits the Cedar Knolls location once a month, but when they bought the Kiddie Academy of Lakewood Ranch from Marina and William Schmidt in 2022, they made Lakewood Ranch their new home.
Future expansion plans are likely to include a location in Parrish since many of the families enrolled at the original Lakewood Ranch location live in Parrish. The couple also have their eyes on Wellen Park in Venice.
“There is a tremendous amount of demand in this market because you’re getting a lot of families moving down here,” Sanddy Marchena said. “That is pure fact. This area continues to grow — east, south and north.”
The Waterside location is the first location the couple built from scratch, so whatever is missing from the first two locations, the Waterside location has it — a large closet dedicated to nothing but art supplies, another closet where parents can store car seats, emergency exit doors in every classroom, and a conference room to train staff members.
Staff members are required to take 25 hours of continuing education courses, which are funded by the academy. As an added incentive, the academy pays for its top performing staff members to earn their child development associate certification.
To date, four staff members have successfully completed the program.
The exit doors, along with operable windows, were another added expense, but the Marchenas wanted them included for health and safety reasons. On a beautiful day, fresh air can enter the building. And during an emergency, every classroom has four ways to exit.
“I think that’s what sets us apart — the attention to detail for health and safety is paramount,” Sanddy Marchena said. “We want to educate the kids, yes, but that’s second to making sure that we’re in a healthy, safe environment.”
The doors are equipped with alarms, and a perimeter fence surrounds the school in case a child tries to exit on his or her own.
On the average day, the children will exit through those doors to head out to the playground, which features a splash pad, athletic court and a miniature town complete with a gas station and a farmers’ market.
The infants have an open space for tummy time, too. A nook outside the infant classroom was set aside to store a double stroller to take them back and forth to the playground.
“We believe in outdoor activities,” Sanddy Marchena said. “All of the children spend time in the fresh air. It’s part of our curriculum.”
Kiddie Academy offers a proprietary curriculum called Life Essentials, which focuses on character, confidence, curiosity, connection, critical thinking and creative expression.
The Waterside location can accommodate up to 204 children, ages 6 weeks through 12 years old because the day care center also offers summer camps.
