“Your name is Kellie Rynn Academy, are you a physical school?”

We get this question A LOT (and we love to explain our story)! The answer is no. In 2014, when Kellie Rynn Academy was founded, we were gifted a building in West Greenville by Saint Anthony of Padua Catholic Church. Our mission then was to renovate the building, create a safe, small and nurturing environment for 30 children within the downtown community. After two years, we had raised an amazing amount of funds but not enough to pay the $3 million it would take to renovate the 1950’s building up to code, and operate it for the first 18 months which is the standard in South Carolina before federal funding will be given.

At this time, we decided to create a new mission and serve the community in a different way. Why serve 30 children when we could help provide safe child care for thousands?! Kellie Rynn Academy would keep its name but would strive to educate and train new providers in the area to become licensed and go above and beyond SC’s child care standards. With the help of First Steps of Greenville, Palmetto Shared Services and The Chamber, we continue to add new providers to the area every year!

In 2022, we also implemented the third branch of Kellie Rynn Academy. We partnered with Cribs for Kids in Pittsburgh, PA and are offering the Safe Sleep Survival Kit to parents and organizations to implement safe sleep spaces within every home in the Upstate! We love where our journey has taken us and we cannot wait to see what happens next!

What does Kellie Rynn Academy offer?

Parent Resources

Being a parent is hard! There are so many opinions, articles and lifestyles online; that can be confusing to figure out what is actually safe for your baby.

Our goal is to provide parents with resources on Safe Sleep, Safety Laws, Finding Child Care and updating them on the latest child care news.

Access a Cribette for Families

Did you know at least 2 children in Greenville County die every month from sleep related deaths?

We are so proud to be able to partner with Cribs for Kids out of Pittsburgh and offer their Safe Sleep Cribette Survival Kit to parents and families throughout the Upstate.

Home Provider Training and Resources

Kellie Rynn Academy has recently worked with the best of the best child care organizations throughout Greenville County to offer individuals the opportunity to own their own Licensed Home-Based Child Care. Our mission is to train and educate these providers to go above and beyond South Carolina’s requirements so our community receives the best care there is.

Who is Kellie Rynn?

On November 7, 2013, Kellie Rynn Martin was born to Kathryn and Ashley Martin. Kellie Rynn is their first child, as well as the first grandchild and great-grandchild on both sides. She was happy, healthy, and beautiful; she was the light of her family. But on February 21, 2014, at 3 ½ months old, Kellie Rynn passed away from suffocation as a result of negligence in an in-home childcare center. This specific center had come highly recommended, and on the surface was a great place to leave a child. However, over time, it was discovered that many laws and regulations were not being followed. After months of investigation, Kellie Rynn's caregiver pled guilty to Child Neglect (felony), Obstruction of Justice and Unlawful Operation of a Daycare. She received 18 months house arrest, 5 years probation and 23 hours of community service. This is currently the harshest sentence a caregiver has received in SC regarding the neglect of children in the home. Kellie Rynn's story was featured throughout Greenville's local news, as well as CNN and Nancy Grace.

Kellie Rynn’s loved ones have made it their mission to impact childcare in South Carolina. Kathryn and Ashley have spoken before the S.C. Senate and the S.C. House of Representatives.  Kellie Rynn's mother, Kathryn, is currently working with SC legislators on Kellie Rynn's Law to enhance these penalties that childcare providers face when a child is seriously injured or killed in their care.

Kellie Rynn’s favorite song was This Little Light of Mine. When her parents sang it to her, she lit up. Through the Kellie Rynn Academy she will forever light the way for other children to grow in safe, nurturing, child care centers throughout the Upstate.

Let it Shine, Let it Shine, Let it Shine.

For more information on Kellie Rynn's story, go to: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/03/11/pamela-wood-baby-death-daycare_n_4943063.html