Community Involvement at Lakeside Children’s Academy

Compassionate Welfare Susan Hockensmith

Woman of Achievement Award 2020

Sue is passionately devoted to serving children, and persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities. She is a co-founder and Board member of Pony Bird, Inc., a nonprofit organization in Jefferson County, providing homes and services for developmentally disabled, and medically fragile, individuals. She served on the Boards of Education of the De Soto Public Schools and Parkway School District. She serves on the Board of the Northwest Missouri State University Alumni Association and is member of the St. Louis Chapter of the Alumni Association. Sue is an owner of Lakeside Children’s Academy in St. Louis County and a member of P.E.O.

Sue is married to Dana, has a daughter, Angela, who is married to John (sons Noah and Luke) from Shawnee, Kansas and daughter, Laura, who is married to Joe who live in Manchester.

The Pony Bird Home

Pony Bird is an exceptional place for special individuals.  They provide 24-hour care for developmentally disabled, non-ambulatory children and adults. These individuals are unable to meet their daily living needs without assistance. Pony Bird’s six residential homes are located in Mapaville and DeSoto, Missouri, which is just 30 minutes south of St. Louis. The mission of Pony Bird is to provide quality care to non-ambulatory persons of all ages with significant intellectual and physical disabilities. Sue and Dana’s oldest child, Philip, was the first resident at Pony Bird. Pony Bird was founded in 1977. The Hockensmith Family continues to be involved with Pony Bird. Sue and Dana served on the Board of Directors and Laura serves on committees.

http://ponybird.org/

Lakeside offers Enrichment Programs for our 2 1/2 to 5 year old children: Soccer Shot, Kinderdance, Computer Bryte and Stretch N Grow. These are beneficial because your child participates in a class here at Lakeside with their friends. FAMILIES ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COST OF THESE ADDITIONAL PROGRAMS.

National Child Care Association
https://www.nccanet.org/

National Association for the Education of Young Children
http://www.naeyc.org/

United 4 Children
http://united4children.org/

AEYC-MO
http://moaeyc.org//

Parkway School District
http://www.edline.net/pages/ParkwayC2

Valley Park School District
http://www.vp.k12.mo.us/

Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services
http://health.mo.gov/

Soccer Shots
https://www.soccershots.org/

Kinderdance
https://kinderdancemetrostl.com/

Kids Klub Gymbus
kidsklubgymbus.com

West County Chamber of Commerce
http://www.westcountychamber.com/

Circle of Concern
https://www.circleofconcern.org

Various drives, animal rescues, STL area diaper bank