A Team with Purpose

 As the founder and owner of Purpose Driven Day Care, Vera Lagrone White has dedicated her life to empowering children to discover and pursue their unique purpose. With a lifelong passion for leading and mentoring others, Vera has created a nurturing environment where every child can thrive. Raised in San Diego, Vera is deeply familiar with the city's community needs and has a deep understanding of the challenges faced by local children. Under her guidance, Purpose Driven Day Care has quickly become a beacon of growth and development, poised to become one of the fastest-growing children and youth centers in the city. As a trusted advocate for families, Vera is committed to providing a safe and supportive space for children to grow into their full potential. 

 As a single mother to a 15-year-old daughter, Melissa has a profound understanding of the significance of nurturing environments and educational excellence for children. With roots in Washington and San Diego, where she grew up from the age of two, Melissa's upbringing in a family of five children instilled in her a strong appreciation for the value of family and community. This personal connection informs her leadership approach as Executive Director of Purpose Driven Daycare LLC., she is dedicated to creating a safe, supportive, and engaging environment for children to thrive. 

 With a decade of experience in executive directing roles at non-profit organizations, Melissa has honed her expertise in leadership, strategic planning, and community engagement. Before becoming the Executive Director of Purpose Driven Daycare LLC, Melissa spent 10 years cultivating her expertise in childcare through various roles, including serving as Children's Director at a local church plant. In this role, Melissa successfully designed and implemented programs that nurtured growth, learning, and community development for children from birth to pre-teen. 

With a commitment to fostering strong relationships, Melissa builds collaborative partnerships with families, staff, and the community to create a seamless and supportive environment for children and families in San Diego. Through her leadership, Melissa ensures that all Purpose Driven Daycare locations remain a trusted and cherished resource for families in San Diego, where children can thrive and grow. 

Hello Everyone! It is a pleasure to support your child and family as the Lead Teacher at Purpose-Driven Preschool!

 I’m no stranger to San Diego as I grew up in this community and have my hand in all kinds of things— serving people in different groups and organizations. My professional experience is hefty in the field of Human Services. I even successfully operated a licensed developmental childcare for five years, closing last fall to further my educational interest and pursue passions. I graduated from San Diego State University in 2013 with a bachelor’s degree in social work and a bachelor’s degree in psychology with an emphasis on child development. I’ve also earned certifications in Behavior Modification and Consensus Organizing and applied my education to over 25 years of experience working with all ages, stages, and developmental abilities in various settings. I’m currently a full-time student working to expand my education in the area of early childhood education, curriculum planning, and administration. I’m a proud and true “boy mom” of three. You can

trust that I am committed to intentionally promoting healthy attachment and emotional well-being, inclusion, and contributing to the school readiness of all children, but marginalized and exceptional children, in particular. 

I look forward to growing together as we work together to support your children in becoming the best version of themselves in

every age and stage of their life

Hi, my name is Gladys Crawford, and I am a highly enthusiastic and creative Childcare Teacher’s Assistant with a passion for nurturing young minds and helping them grow. I have attained an Associate Degree in Science of Business Management from Park University where I graduated with honors and have over 2 years of experience working with children in various educational settings.

Every child is unique and has their own learning style and pace. Therefore, striving to aide in creating a warm, welcoming, and inclusive classroom environment where children can explore, learn, and have fun is essential to me.

I love a good picnic, swimming, attending vintage car shows, and watching a good movie with my husband who serves in the US Navy and my amazing son Lyte (4) who makes my heart burst with pride every time I look at him. 

Always looking for new and exciting ways to incorporate my hobbies and interests into enhancing my job performance, as well as constantly seeking out professional development opportunities to heighten my skills and knowledge.