WELCOME TO YOUR
Neighborhood Preschool
Helena
20 Gunner Lane
Helena, AL 35080
(205) 654-8804
Monday-Friday
7:00am – 6:00pm
*Early drop-off is available for an additional fee.
PICK UP SCHOOLS
- Helena Elementary
- Helena Intermediate
- Creekview Elementary
Our state-of-the-art 10,000 square foot facility is located on a beautiful 2.12 acre lot sitting directly on Helena Parkway (Hwy 52) just South of Hillsboro Pkwy, adjacent to the El Tejano Mexican Restaurant. The center features ten classrooms, a full-service commercial kitchen, a private room for nursing mothers, secure access controls on all exterior doors, and high resolution cameras throughout the building’s interior and exterior. Age-appropriate playgrounds are located immediately outside of each classroom for easy access. The playgrounds also include a soccer field, large activity court, and a picnic gazebo.
CHOOSE ACT KINDERGARTEN
AIM Academy Helena is proud to be a CHOOSE ACT Kindergarten provider
AIM Academy offers a unique kindergarten experience. Our small campus is specifically tailored for young children from birth to five years of age. We nurture your child’s whole self as our kindergarten students learn through play, discover their creativity, and develop essential social skills in a warm and supportive environment.
CHOOSE ACT deposits will begin July 1, 2025, so make plans to visit us now.
Ellis has been with AIM Academy since he was 5 months old! I was a terrified, new mom, who was a nervous wreck because Ellis was born 8 weeks early. But AIM has been so amazing with Ellis, from the very beginning. We absolutely adore Miss Megan! They are so passionate about the work they do and the love they give back to these kiddos. Every morning, I see kids run to their classroom with such excitement and happiness.
Ellis just moved into Infant Transition, or what I like to his “big boy classroom”, where he gets to play outside and has so many friends. And he is THRIVING! He loves to give Miss Kayla and Miss Jessica a hug every morning, they are wonderful.
Needless to say, we love AIM Academy!!
Ellis just moved into Infant Transition, or what I like to his “big boy classroom”, where he gets to play outside and has so many friends. And he is THRIVING! He loves to give Miss Kayla and Miss Jessica a hug every morning, they are wonderful.
Needless to say, we love AIM Academy!!
Aim Academy of Helena was a heaven sent for my little four- year old. They were extremely patient with his transition to a new school and always kept me informed as a parent. There is never a shortage of communication. From the director of the entire facility to his teacher, Miss Lindsay, they loved on my baby as if he was one of theirs and I will forever be grateful for that
AIM Academy has been an absolute blessing for our 2-year-old son! From the moment you walk through the doors, you can tell the entire team truly cares about the children and their development.
A special shout-out to his teachers—Zarah, Breanna, and Adley—who are beyond wonderful. They create such a warm, engaging, and nurturing environment every single day. Seeing how much our son has grown, learned, and thrived under their care gives us so much peace of mind as parents.
The director, Xavier, is also incredible—always approachable, and running the academy with real dedication and heart. On top of that, every single member of the staff is warm, welcoming, and attentive.
We couldn't ask for a better daycare community for our son. Highly recommend AIM Academy to any parents looking for top-tier care and early education!
A special shout-out to his teachers—Zarah, Breanna, and Adley—who are beyond wonderful. They create such a warm, engaging, and nurturing environment every single day. Seeing how much our son has grown, learned, and thrived under their care gives us so much peace of mind as parents.
The director, Xavier, is also incredible—always approachable, and running the academy with real dedication and heart. On top of that, every single member of the staff is warm, welcoming, and attentive.
We couldn't ask for a better daycare community for our son. Highly recommend AIM Academy to any parents looking for top-tier care and early education!
Lots of love to Ms. Kayla, Ms. Shelby, and Ms. Jessica! My toddler always walks into the building with a huge smile and gets so excited for the classroom. It gives me so much peace of mind knowing they are cared for.
I also love all of the learning activities they provide. The kids get plenty of outdoor time, and the arts and crafts are always so creative and fun. I especially enjoy seeing their artwork displayed on the walls-it brightens up the room and showcases each child's creativity.
The Infant Transition room is wonderful.
I also love all of the learning activities they provide. The kids get plenty of outdoor time, and the arts and crafts are always so creative and fun. I especially enjoy seeing their artwork displayed on the walls-it brightens up the room and showcases each child's creativity.
The Infant Transition room is wonderful.
Shoutout to Ms Shelby, Ms Jessica, and Ms Kayla in Infant Transition - we love them sooo much! They are like family now and my toddler looks forward to going to see them every morning. They are so kind and fun and patient with our rambunctious little one and we can thank them enough for all they do!
Mrs. Kim has been an incredible blessing to our family. From the very beginning, she has treated our daughter with so much love, patience, and care that we truly feel like she’s part of our family. As a working mom, there is nothing more comforting than knowing my child is in the hands of someone I completely trust. Mrs. Kim keeps us updated throughout the day with pictures and communicates consistently about our daughter’s activities, progress, and any needs she may have, which allows both my husband and me to stay informed even while we’re at work. Her dedication, kindness, and genuine love for the children shine through in everything she does. We couldn’t have asked for a better teacher, and we are beyond grateful for the positive impact she has had on our daughter’s growth and happiness.🫶🏽
My son loves his teachers in his Infant Transition classroom. They comfort him at drop offs in the morning when he’s upset and get him excited to start the day. They’re so kind and communicative. He enjoys all the fun activities they plan and he always comes home happy and tired from a day full of play and learning. At pick up every day they give us a rundown of what they did and how his day went. They even noticed that he was showing early signs of wanting to potty train and let me know that anytime I wanted to start trying they would support his potty training at school too. I can’t say enough good things about his teachers! Thank you so much Ms Shelby, Ms Kayla and Ms Jessica!
Our son (just turned 3 yo) loves AIM Academy. His teachers Kaylen and Lailah are his favorites and he knows his friends by name and often refers to his “best friends” from school when we ask how his day was. We tried another facility in the area prior to coming here when we moved to Alabama in April and are so thankful we decided to make the transition to AIM Academy instead. It took only about a week for him to adjust and now we can drop him off without tears & know he is well taken care of. The past 5 months since starting here have been an answered prayer. Thank you all for being part of our village!!!
*** Came here to add on that after almost a year with AIM we still love it just as much! We now have both our boys there (3.5 and 1yo) and they love their teachers and friends! Ms. Katy & Ms. Savanna in the preschool 1 class have been amazing with our oldest & he is always so excited to go to school to see his friends! Ms. Kayla, Ms. Shelby & Ms. Jessica in the infant transition room have been so kind and patient with our youngest. He is learning so much and I am so grateful to know they are in a safe and nurturing environment while at school.
*** Came here to add on that after almost a year with AIM we still love it just as much! We now have both our boys there (3.5 and 1yo) and they love their teachers and friends! Ms. Katy & Ms. Savanna in the preschool 1 class have been amazing with our oldest & he is always so excited to go to school to see his friends! Ms. Kayla, Ms. Shelby & Ms. Jessica in the infant transition room have been so kind and patient with our youngest. He is learning so much and I am so grateful to know they are in a safe and nurturing environment while at school.
AIM Academy of Helena is so special to my family! I have 2 little girls that attend, in Preschool Transition 1 & Preschool 1. Ms. Jessie and Ms. Nancy have been such a huge help in transitioning my youngest from Toddlers to Transition 1. As a parent it can be so nerve wracking for your little one to move classrooms, but they have truly made her transition seamless. My oldest ADORES Ms. Katy and Ms. Savannah! I could not pick better teachers for her if I tried. My girls are in great hands here. Every teacher in this building truly cares for every child as if they were their own. We are so thankful to have found a home away from home at AIM Academy! 🩷
YaSheta Sanderfer
Director
Hi, I’m YaSheta Sanderfer and I serve as the Director of AIM Academy of Helena. With over 30 years of experience in early childhood education and childcare leadership, I have dedicated my career to supporting children and families during some of the most important developmental years of a child’s life. My passion for education, leadership, and building strong relationships make me a wonderful addition to our school community. Outside of work, I enjoy traveling, spending time with my family, and continuing to learn new ways to support early childhood development and education. I have been happily married to her husband, Antonio, for 23 years. Together, we share three wonderful sons, Rischard, Tylon & DeAnthony and six beautiful grandchildren. Fun fact is I am scared of all bugs!
Xavier Lilly
Assistant Director
Hi, I’m Xavier Lilly. I am the Assistant Director for AIM Academy of Helena. As the assistant director, I help keep the school running smoothly, build great relationships with families, and keep our teachers and children happy. I have always had a passion and it has been my duty to work in childcare. In 2023, I received my Bachelors Degree in Family Consumer Science with a concentration in Human Development and Families Studies from the Illustrious Alabama A&M University located in Normal, AL. Afterwards, I started teaching Pre-K and began to engrain myself in all age groups from Infants to School Agers. I also began my administration journey when I became the office manager for this program in the beginning of 2025. I am excited to be a part of a community that is so extraordinary. A fun fact about me is that I am the youngest of 25 grandchildren!
Jessica Godsey
Program Coordinator
Hi, I’m Jessica Godsey. I am the Program Coordinator for AIM Academy of Helena. As Program Coordinator, I am the liaison between administration and our teachers. I help facilitate activities and curriculum in the classroom while prioritizing your child’s development. I have been working with children since 2017. My husband (Ryan), daughter (Violet 9), and I live in Alabaster with our 4 large dogs. A fun fact about me is that I love working with Toddlers! They are so much fun and have my heart!
Learn More About Us
Are you ready to take the next step? You can click the links below to Contact Us with any additional questions you may have, take your own virtual tour of our school, or schedule your personalized tour of our school to meet our management team and teachers. We would love the opportunity to meet you and your family to learn more about your specific needs.
At AIM Academy, we understand balancing household expenses and investing in your child’s future has never been more challenging. To help support families during the current affordability crisis, we are pleased to share our partial tuition scholarship program as a potential solution. The scholarship is designed to reduce your weekly tuition costs and help make AIM Academy an accessible, long-term fit for your family. Our partial scholarship amounts are $25 per week or more based on your household income.
Scholarship eligibility is based on the total annual household income of all family members. To evaluate your eligibility, please click the link below to complete our simple scholarship application. Once we receive the application, a member of our administrative team will follow-up with you to review your options.
| Program | Monthly | Weekly |
|---|---|---|
| Infants | $1,517 | $350 |
| Toddlers | $1,430 | $330 |
| Preschool Transition | ||
| Full Time | $1,365 | $315 |
| 5 Half Days | $968 | $224 |
| 3 Full Days (M, W, & F) | $1,101 | $254 |
| 2 Full Days (T & T) | $836 | $193 |
| Preschool | ||
| Full Time | $1,322 | $305 |
| 5 Half Days | $938 | $217 |
| 3 Full Days | $1,066 | $246 |
| 2 Full Days | $810 | $187 |
| Pre-K | ||
| Full Time | $1,235 | $285 |
| 5 Half Days | $877 | $203 |
| 3 Full Days | $997 | $230 |
| 2 Full Days | $758 | $175 |
| After School only | $650 | $150 |
| After School | $498 | $115 |
| Watch Me Grow | $75 |