About Us

Nettles Academy was founded in 1986 under the leadership of Mrs. Tina Thomas. She grew and expanded the business from caring for 35 to 73 scholars. In 1993, the Academy became a non-profit corporation after moving from New Orleans, Louisiana. The business sits on a 3,000 square feet of beautiful land in the suburbs of Jefferson, Louisiana. The Academy currently has over 8 employees.

 The center continues to meet the requirements for maintaining a license by the State of Louisiana as a Type III center. The Academy is inspected regularly by several state and local agencies to assure that all guidelines are being met.



The Academy operates five days a week from 6:30am to 7:30pm and is committed to providing quality childcare to the metropolitan area.

After Hurricane Katrina, Mrs. Tina Thomas announced her retirement and named Ms. Ayango Nettles-Cowart as her successor. Ms. Cowart transitioned from the Director's Assistant to Operational Manager of the company. She holds a Child Development Associates Degree in Early Learning, a Bachelors of Science in Nursing, and a Masters Degree in Business.

Under her leadership, the Academy currently offers extended care hours for working parents that don't have conventional working hours. She has established partnerships with the Jefferson Early Childhood Network and the Metropolitan Center for Women and Children.

The Academy's mission is rooted in love and commitment in making the Academy every scholar's home away from home by providing a fun, loving early learning center that prides itself in providing a calm, clean, and safe environment that is conducive for learning.

The value of this company is compassion, dignity &, respect, excellent service, justice, integrity.