From Kitchen Table to National Impact: Dr. DeShonda Jennings Is Building Stronger Childcare Businesses—and Stronger Legacies
Dr. DeShonda Jennings is not just a voice in early childhood education—she’s a builder, a mentor, and a leader who knows what it means to start with limited resources and still create something powerful.
She is a devoted mother, Family Childcare Business Owner, Childcare Coach, international speaker, and best-selling author who helps families and childcare professionals create thriving environments for children. Her work is rooted in real experience, real results, and real-life lessons that people can apply immediately.
Raised in Kenbridge, Virginia, Dr. DeShonda’s passion for children led her to establish DJ Shining Stars Childcare Program—a successful home-based childcare business serving infants through school-age children. Her program is known for creating a nurturing space where young learners can grow and develop.
But her impact doesn’t stop with the children she serves. Beyond childcare, she mentors and coaches other childcare professionals by teaching strategies for building sustainable businesses. Through her books and speaking, she shares practical insight that helps aspiring providers grow with confidence and clarity.
2025/2026 Author of the Year
This year, we are proud to recognize Dr. DeShonda Jennings as the 2025/2026 Author of the Year—because her message, leadership, and impact in the community continue to set a high standard.
Why Her Books Hit Different
Dr. DeShonda’s writing stands out because it’s not built on theory. It’s built on truth.
What sets her books apart is the combination of transparency, real-life experience, and step-by-step guidance. She doesn’t write from a “perfect life” perspective—she writes from the trenches. She has lived through financial hardship, faced bankruptcy, rebuilt from scratch, raised children, and operated a business from her kitchen table.
That’s why readers connect to her. They can feel the authenticity on every page, and they know she’s offering real solutions they can use right away.
A Children’s Book That Makes Learning Fun
One of her featured books, Learning Through Play: Counting, Shapes, and Patterns, is designed to make learning fun through playful discovery. With engaging activities and kid-friendly learning, it helps young readers explore key concepts like numbers, shapes, and patterns in a way that keeps them excited to learn.
Awards and Recognition That Match the Work
Dr. DeShonda’s leadership has been recognized in major ways. She received the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award, and she was also honored with an Honorary Doctorate in Humanitarianism. She has been named one of the Top Authors at Author Allstars and received an International Impact Award for her contribution to a collaborative book focused on growth through adversity.
Her voice and work have also been featured across major platforms, expanding her reach and strengthening her influence.
How Authorship Elevated Her Voice
Being an author has strengthened Dr. DeShonda’s role as a speaker, coach, and entrepreneur by giving her an even stronger voice and a deeper responsibility to inspire and lead. One highlight in her journey was hosting a conference focused on the journey of early childhood educators—an event that allowed her to share practical tools from her books while also giving people real stories of challenges and victories.
A Legacy Bigger Than Business
Dr. DeShonda brings a unique perspective as a woman, mother, and grandmother. She speaks directly to the balancing act of nurturing a family while building a business—and she teaches women that motherhood isn’t a limitation, it’s a superpower.
She remains committed to empowering others to push forward with confidence, knowing they are capable of greatness. When she talks about legacy, she makes it clear: she wants to be remembered as someone who made people feel seen, heard, and empowered to believe in themselves.
Contact Details
Dr. DeShonda Jennings
Chesterfield, Virginia
Instagram: @deshonda_j
Facebook: @deshonda.jennings
LinkedIn: @deshondajennings
Website: www.BusinessSetupNow.com
