Meet Deb Tamez | Founder & Owner

We had the good fortune of connecting with Deb Tamez and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Deb, putting aside the decision to work for yourself, what other decisions were critical to your success?
I provide a program that offers children ages 3-5 opportunities to play, explore, and learn about nature while focusing on child development milestones. We are in the business of helping children grow in their development and meet their milestones. Offering a research-based and student-centered early childhood program in a rural community is unique.

What should our readers know about your business?
The Eagle’s Nest Play to Learn Center was recently awarded Outstanding Small Business of the Year, but our success didn’t happen overnight. I spent 9 years in public school teaching Pre-K to 2nd grade. In 2016, I resigned from my teaching position at a local school district to open my small business, Busy Bee Preschool. I found out that I loved the freedom of creating curriculum, designing outdoor spaces for learning, and engaging young children in nature-based teaching while operating Busy Bee Preschool.

In 2018, we sold our home, and my family and I relocated to Navarro County, where the journey of building a small center on acreage began. I changed the name of my business to The Eagle’s Nest and I officially opened in October 2020. We opened in the middle of the pandemic (Covid-19) and struggled to enroll students and find staff. Three years later we have a waitlist and are fully staffed with teachers who have the same passion as I do for early childhood development and nature-based learning.

What sets us apart from other childcare programs in the surrounding areas, is that we are an early learning center catering to the growth and development of children ages 3-5 years old while offering a one-of-a-kind nature-based curriculum. We are an August-May school that offers a variety of programs such as preschool, Pre-K, half-day Kindergarten and nature-based STEAM camps in the summer (for children ages 5-11). In addition to the programs, my staff and I pride ourselves on continuing our education. Currently, I am in grad school for a Master’s Degree in Nature-Based Learning while the rest of my team is taking child development coursework at the local community college.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I absolutely love downtown Corsicana! My family and I were drawn to Corsicana because of the downtown area. There are so many shops to visit! Some of my favorites include Liv Chic Boutique, The Red Brumby, and Elsewhere Minature Farms, just to name a few!!

I love the events that are put on by the city such as Mimosas at the Market, Derrick Days, Food Truck Fridays, the Parade of Lights, and of course, the Christmas Tree Lighting in December.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My support system is amazing. My father, the general contractor who built my school, has inspired me all of my life and has given me the confidence to become an entrepreneur. He has been self-employed for more than 40 years and comes from a family of entrepreneurs. My family has been very supportive of my dreams and of this journey. I am very appreciative of the ongoing support from my husband and our three children.

Website: eaglesnestmildred.com

Instagram: eaglesnest_mildred

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/-deborahtamez76/

Twitter: @TweentinMrsT

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EaglesNestMildred/