This week, Richmond Hill’s Ford Academy is celebrating a beloved early childhood caregiver who has dedicated 20 years to nurturing young babies in the area. 

Originally from South Carolina, lead infants teacher Sandra Sanders relocated to the area with her husband in 1998 after he retired from the military. 

She joined Ford Academy after her kids attended the now-defunct Kiddie Kottage Day Care. Sanders explained that Ms. Wilson, the director at Ford Academy, offered her a job and the rest was history. Sanders became CDA-certified in 2013. 

Over the years changing diapers, feeding babies and much more besides, Sanders says she has made great connections and memories throughout her time working at Ford Academy. 

“I had one little boy who used to come here, he’s in high school now, and I remember he was in the baby room, just crying his eyes out, [but] you couldn’t hear him! My eldest daughter was the same,” shared Sanders. 

“He had the softest cry. And to this day, he’s such a sweet, young man.”

The Ford Academy will be hosting a lunch in honor of Sanders on Nov. 6th.