Beacon Hill has been established in Lakeland, Florida as a school since the early 1950's. Once a military academy for young children, and then an academic school for grades K-8, and then a preschool. In August 1989 the school was purchased by Smart Start Enterprises, Inc. and the executive directors V. Diane DeSena and Sheila Holton and continues to be an exceptional quality accredited preschool, VPK, and school-age center serving ages 18 months to 12 years of age still today.

HighPointe Pre-Kindergarten and School-Age Center was built in Winter Haven, Florida as a pre-school by Smart Start Enterprises, Inc. and opened its doors for business in 2004. It was established by the executive directors and continues to also be an exceptional quality accredited preschool, VPK, and school-age center serving ages 24 months to 12 years of age.

V. Diane DeSena and Sheila J. Holton are the executive directors of Smart Start Enterprises, Inc. dba Beacon Hill Preschool and dba HighPointe Pre-Kindergarten and have been serving the Polk County community as child care providers since early 1972.

The executive directors are active in participating with the Department of Children & Families, Polk County Health Department, Polk County Early learning Coalition, and Polk Collaborative Partners. They hold memberships in NAEYC, FACUM, NAC, Florida Children’s Forum, Florida After-School Alliance, and the National After-School Alliance. They are also officers of the Polk County Campus KidCare Coalition and Diane is an active member on the Board of the Early Learning Coalition.

Sheila holds an A.S. Degree in Early Childhood Education and Child Care Center Management. Diane has a B.A. degree in Elementary Education and was an elementary school teacher before entering the child care profession.