Program Director

Mercedes Fleet is the proud Director of Bright Little Scholars Early Learning Centers, which she founded in 2014 as a home-based child care program. With a vision to serve more families, she has since expanded to two full-service locations—each offering the same high-quality early learning experience that has been the hallmark of Bright Little Scholars from the start.

With over a decade of experience working with children, Mercedes’ passion for education extends beyond the classroom. For more than five years, she also served as a resource (foster) parent through Children’s Choice, Inc., providing a safe and nurturing home for children in need.

Mercedes earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education in April 2020 and went on to complete her Master’s in Early Childhood Education, Pre-K to 4th Grade Teaching Certification from Lincoln University in 2022, graduating Summa Cum Laude. She is also the founder of Kids Before Us, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to fostering youth development through literacy and mathematics enrichment.

Bright Little Scholars is licensed by the City of Philadelphia and the Pennsylvania Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL), and proudly holds a Private Academic License to offer both Nursery (ages 3–4) and Kindergarten (age 5) programs. All staff members receive ongoing professional training, and all clearances—including FBI, Child Abuse, and Criminal Background Checks—are consistently kept up to date.

Mercedes takes pride and joy in every child enrolled at Bright Little Scholars and welcomes families to stop by and meet her and the center’s amazing, dedicated staff.