ABOUT
OUR STORY
Play Smart Preschool began with a friendship, a shared passion for helping children, and a vision for something better.
In 2010, we met while working together as Speech-Language Pathologists at a local rehabilitation facility. Although our paths to speech-language pathology were different, our hearts were the same. Jill pursued a career in speech-language pathology because of her passion for helping children reach their full potential. Trina's journey was inspired by growing up alongside her sister with special needs, giving her a firsthand understanding of the life-changing impact of compassionate, individualized care.
Together, we dreamed of creating a place where children and families could receive exceptional support close to home. That dream became Simply Therapy, founded to meet the growing need for private pediatric therapy services in the Owensboro community.
As our own families grew, so did our vision.
When our children attended preschool, we experienced firsthand the challenges many families face in finding an early childhood program that truly understood child development. We saw a gap- especially for families needing full-time care-between traditional childcare and high-quality, intentional early education. We knew children deserved a place where they could be known, nurtured, and inspired to learn through meaningful play.
That vision became Play Smart Preschool.
Today, Play Smart combines our years of experience in child development, language, literacy, and early learning with the belief that childhood should never be rushed. We are committed to creating a school where every child feels safe, capable, and excited to learn, and where families can trust that their children are receiving the very best start.
MEET OUR LEADERSHIP
Jill Payne
Co-Owner, MS, SLP
Over 20 years experience
Mom to two boys
Trina Pryor
Co-Owner, MA, SLP
20 years experience
Mom of three
Amy Morris
Director
Over 20 years experience
THE PLAY SMART WAY
Everything we do is guided by our understanding of child development. Through meaningful relationships, purposeful play, and evidence-based teaching, we help children become confident, curious, and capable learners.
​
​
​
Relationships
Children learn best when they feel safe, known, and valued. We intentionally build trusting relationships that foster confidence, belonging, and a love of learning.
Play
Purposeful play is at the heart of everything we do. Through play, children develop creativity, problem-solving skills, communication, and independence while making sense of the world around them.
Language
Language is woven throughout every part of the day. Rich conversations, storytelling, songs, and meaningful interactions help children strengthen their communication skills and build a strong foundation for learning.
Literacy
Early literacy develops through engaging, hands-on experiences with books, stories, phonological awareness, print, and purposeful language activities that prepare children to become confident readers and writers.
Executive Function
Children strengthen essential life skills such as self-regulation, attention, working memory, flexible thinking, and planning through guided experiences, routines, and play.
Child Development
Everything we do is grounded in child development. We recognize that every child develops at their own pace and create learning experiences that are developmentally appropriate, engaging, and meaningful.
Social-Emotional Development
We nurture confidence, empathy, resilience, and positive relationships by helping children understand their emotions, solve problems, and develop the skills needed to thrive in school and in life.
WHY FAMILIES CHOOSE PLAY SMART
Founded by Speech Language Pathologists
Our program is designed by experienced Speech-Language Pathologists with expertise in child development, communication, and early literacy, ensuring every child has a strong foundation for learning.
Whole-Child Development
We nurture every aspect of a child's development- including language, social-emotional skills, executive functioning, independence, and academic readiness.
Purposeful Play
Children learn best through play. Every activity is intentionally designed to build creativity, problem-solving, communication, confidence, and a lifelong love of learning.
Small Class Sizes
Smaller classes allow our teachers to build meaningful relationships, provide individualized support, and truly know each child.
Literacy Rich Learning
From stories and songs to phonological awareness and meaningful conversations, literacy is naturally woven into every part of the day.
Safe & Secure Environment
Children thrive when they feel safe. Our secure facility, caring staff, and nurturing classrooms create an environment where children can confidently learn and explore.
Full-Day Learning
We offer full-day programs with Monday–Friday, Monday/Wednesday/Friday, and Tuesday/Thursday schedules, making it easy to choose the option that best fits your family's needs.
Confident, Curious, Capable
These are the qualities we hope every child carries with them as they leave Play Smart- ready for kindergarten, eager to learn, and excited for what comes next.