Discover the caring environment where children learn, grow, and build a strong foundation for the future.
Smile Preschool has been providing a “preschool as family” environment for over 30 years to the children of Jersey City and their parents. We were the first preschool in the area to achieve Abbott certification in education and are always working to provide the highest level of care for your little ones from birth to six years of age readying them for their next steps in education.
Our mission is to offer a safe, inclusive preschool where children grow academically, socially, emotionally, and physically, building confidence for future success.
Our Vision is to nurture confident, curious, and compassionate children through exceptional early childhood education, preparing them to thrive in school and beyond.
Smile Preschool & Nursery was founded with a simple vision—to create a place where children feel safe, valued, and inspired every day. Over the years, we have become a trusted learning community that partners with families to help children develop academically, socially, emotionally, and physically.
Our classrooms are designed to encourage exploration, creativity, and independence through engaging, play-based experiences. With caring educators, a child-centered approach, and a welcoming environment, we prepare every child for a confident transition into primary school.
Experience our safe, nurturing, and engaging learning environment. Schedule a visit and discover how we help every child learn, grow, and thrive.
For over 30 years, our center has provided a caring environment where children learn, grow, and thrive.
Our experienced educators offer personalized guidance to build confidence, independence, and a love for learning.
Experienced educators who inspire confidence and support every child’s growth.
Secure campus with trained staff and child-friendly facilities.
A welcoming environment where every child feels valued and respected.
Regular updates and progress reports keep families connected.
Nutritious meals and active play for healthy development.
Music, art, storytelling, and hands-on activities every day.
Structured, play-based learning that builds strong early foundations.
Personalized attention in a caring and engaging learning environment.
Sherry Singh is a visionary educational leader, community advocate, and executive whose life’s work centers on creating inclusive, high-quality, and nurturing environments where every child can thrive. As a prominent leader in the Jersey City community, Sherry brings decades of diverse leadership experience across executive management, corporate board governance, early childhood education, and specialized advocacy to her role at Smile Preschool and Nursery.
For more than 30 years, Sherry has dedicated herself to early childhood education and the development of young children and their families. Her multi-faceted career is defined by a profound work ethic, a passion for collaborative growth, and an unwavering commitment to creating environments where children feel safe, valued, supported, and empowered to reach their full potential.
Sherry’s professional foundation includes nursing education and extensive continuing education in early childhood education, child development, educational leadership, and childcare administration. She completed professional nursing education and training in 1991 and has continued her education and professional development in early childhood education since 2006.
Her formal training includes P3 Certification through New Jersey City University, Director’s Academy training through the New Jersey Professional Development Center, and a Certificate of Completion in Licensed Child Care Center Administration from Atlantic Cape Community College.
She has also maintained her professional development through the New Jersey Registry for Childhood Professionals since 1997, achieving Level IV Certification through Rutgers University. Her ongoing training encompasses early childhood education and development, childcare center administration, executive and director leadership, organizational development, strategic planning, program management, and operational management.
Through this extensive educational and professional background, Sherry has cultivated an educational philosophy at Smile Preschool and Nursery that blends strong early childhood development with deep emotional, social, and family support. She believes that a child’s early years establish the foundation for a lifetime of curiosity, resilience, confidence, and success. Under her leadership, Smile Preschool and Nursery has become more than a childcare center—it is a vibrant, community-centered educational environment where early learning, family support, inclusion, and purposeful development come together.
Sherry’s commitment to education extends beyond the classroom. Through her leadership, advocacy, and community involvement, she continues to champion opportunities for children and families, particularly those who may be underserved or underrepresented. Her decades of experience have positioned her as a trusted leader dedicated to strengthening families, supporting educators, and building a more inclusive community for future generations.
For over 30 years, Amita Kamta has dedicated her life to educating, nurturing, and caring for children. As the Assistant Director and Lead Teacher at Smile Preschool and Nursery, Amita’s greatest mission is to help every child grow, learn, and find happiness in their everyday experiences. She takes pride in watching her students develop, knowing that the children she cared for will carry the lessons and love they receive with them throughout their lives.
Amita holds a bachelor’s degree in education and spent 10 years working with children with special needs in South America. Her experience has shaped her compassionate approach to education and strengthened her belief that every child has something unique to offer. To Amita, teaching is a lifelong learning experience; every day with her students brings something new. Her love for children and commitment to their growth continues to inspire the work she does at Smile Preschool and Nursery.
I am a dedicated and caring early childhood educator with a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing from the Netherlands. I have been part of Pinky Pre-School and Nursery for 28 years, where I have had the privilege of caring for, teaching, and watching many children grow and develop throughout their early years.
Before joining Smile Pre-School and Nursery, I worked in the healthcare field in the Netherlands and gained valuable professional experience. I also worked as a NICU Nurse at a Children’s Hospital, where I cared for newborns and infants. This experience gave me a strong understanding of the importance of providing children with compassionate, attentive, and nurturing care.
Over the years at Smile Pre-School and Nursery, I have developed a deep passion for early childhood education. As a Lead Teacher, I strive to create a safe, loving, and engaging classroom where every child feels valued, supported, and encouraged to learn and explore. I believe that every child is unique and develops at their own pace. My goal is to provide children with the care, guidance, and positive experiences they need to build confidence and develop a strong foundation for their future.
After 28 years at Smile Pre-School and Nursery, I continue to feel grateful for the opportunity to work with children and their families. Building meaningful relationships with families and being part of a child’s early development is one of the most rewarding parts of my work.
Hello! My name is Rashedatu Imoro, and I am a passionate and dedicated early childhood educator with a degree in Early Childhood Education and Care and five years of experience working with young children. I currently work as an Assistant Teacher at Smile Preschool and Nursery, where I enjoy creating a safe, nurturing, and engaging environment that supports children’s learning, development, and emotional well-being.
I chose early childhood education because I truly enjoy being part of children’s growth and development. I love watching children discover new things, build confidence, develop new skills, and express their unique personalities. I believe every child deserves to feel loved, supported, respected, and encouraged as they learn and grow.
One of my favorite parts of teaching is building meaningful relationships with children and their families. I enjoy planning fun, age-appropriate activities that encourage creativity, exploration, communication, and social development. Seeing a child smile or accomplish something new makes my work especially rewarding.
A fun fact about me is that I enjoy cooking, trying new recipes, staying active, and finding creative ways to make everyday experiences enjoyable. I bring that same creativity, patience, and positive energy into the classroom each day.
I am so excited to be part of the preschool team here at Smile Preschool & Nursery. With over 10 years’ experience with early childhood, as well as special education. Also, currently pursuing a degree in Early Childhood Development with courses at NJCCCS/Rutgers University. I love being able to inspire and nurture young children’s learning. I believe that providing children with the perfect mix of Love, Positivity and Kindness helps them reach their fullest potential. I look forward to sharing my experience and passion for working with preschoolers.
Hope to see you soon!
My name is Ziara Niebles, but all of our students know me as Ms. Zi! I have 4 years of experience working with young children and enjoy creating fun and meaningful learning experiences. I am also continuing my education in Early Childhood Education through NJCCIS and Rutgers University since October 2022. My goal is to create a classroom where every child feels loved, respected, included, and encouraged to be themselves.
I’m grateful to be part of the Smile Preschool community and look forward to making a positive difference in each child’s early learning experience!
I’ve had such a good experience with Smile nursery, I’d recommend anyone looking at daycares in the area to consider Smile. My child started at Smile at 6mo and they were incredibly accommodating with his specific schedule and needs. They helped us with the transition to solid foods and their updates and feedback every day were really helpful. Smile sends pictures and real time updates throughout the day, and it’s nice to know what my child is up to all day. My child has been growing and learning so fast and I’m so happy and impressed with the environment at Smile.
Ms Debie and Rashida are especially sweet and caring. My child is happy to see them in the morning and he’s happy every day when I pick him up. They are so supportive to our family and it’s been a real pleasure working with them!
Katie M.
Parent of a Preschool Student
I recently discovered that SMILE Preschool (@smilepreschooljc) posted a photo of my daughter in a video on their Instagram without my consent. When enrolling, I explicitly refused permission for her image to be used in any online ads or marketing. This is a serious violation of my trust. Had I known about this sooner, I would have withdrawn her from the school immediately. This disregard for parents’ wishes is unacceptable and can put children’s privacy and safety at risk.
Original review: It would be ZERO stars if that was an option. Sherry Singh often mentions her reputation around Jersey City and talks about her family, but in my experience, it feels disingenuous. The moment money is no longer involved, her true priorities become clear, and the level of care and professionalism drops dramatically.
I’ve had a highly disappointing experience with SMILE Preschool. In 2023, I received an unsigned, homemade-looking childcare statement that couldn’t be verified for my taxes. After multiple follow-ups, I was told to wait until their accountant, Calvin Reid, returned in October 2024. When I reached out again, I was ignored, and during a call, the staff member acted like she didn’t know who the accountant was, then abruptly hung up on me. After that, I called the owner, Sherry Singh, who had previously given me her number. She responded aggressively and unprofessionally, speaking over me and then hanging up on me as well.
Additionally, when my family had to relocate to Texas, I informed the school as early as possible that my daughter’s last day would be October 11. Instead of understanding our situation (I had to leave my job and couldn’t afford childcare for time we wouldn’t even be in the state), they coldly insisted we pay through November 12, 2024, per their policy, with no consideration of our hardship. This lack of empathy made me pull my daughter out weeks earlier than planned, even though we had already paid.
Overall, the unprofessionalism and lack of care for families is unacceptable, and I cannot recommend this daycare to anyone.
Goddess M.
Parent of a Preschool Student
