Influential Woman · Education and childcare
Kimberli Helaire-Smith
Certified AI Consultant, Business Owner, Educator, Kids R Us Academy, LLC
Las Vegas, NV 89146
Her Story
About Kimberli
Kimberli Helaire-Smith is the Founder and CEO of Kids R Us Academy, a family-owned and operated childcare center in Las Vegas, Nevada, now in its eighteenth year of operation. Before stepping into business ownership, she spent a decade teaching kindergarten within the Clark County School District, an experience she describes as one of the most fulfilling periods of her career. Drawing on nearly four decades of combined experience in education and childcare — beginning informally as a caregiver to neighborhood children and formalized through a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from the University of Houston–Clear Lake, followed by a master's degree from the University of Phoenix and additional technology coursework — she built Kids R Us Academy into a stable, thriving operation staffed largely by her own family members.
In recent years, Helaire-Smith has expanded her impact beyond the classroom and childcare center by founding LiftCore Technologies, an AI and ed-tech consulting venture through which she has helped develop three applications designed to support children's social-emotional learning and regulation. This work has earned her a nomination for a Top Tech Award in the education category, with the winner to be announced at an event at Allegiant Stadium in October. She has also been invited to speak at a Department of Education event at UNLV and was selected as a 2026 Influential Women inductee representing Las Vegas. Her growing presence in the ed-tech space reflects her broader mission of using practical, technology-driven tools to ease administrative burdens on educators and give them more time to focus directly on children.
Beyond her business ventures, Helaire-Smith is the founder of Healthy Kids of Nevada, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting children who struggle with thoughts of suicide, stress, and bullying by connecting them with resources and partnering organizations. She credits her accomplishments to her Christian faith and the steadfast support of her family, and she leads with a strong personal commitment to integrity, loyalty, and dependability. Her advice to young women entering the education and childcare field centers on resourcefulness and resilience — pursuing available grant funding, starting small, and scaling thoughtfully — while also protecting one's emotional well-being in a field that demands deep personal investment.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Kimberli
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to my Christian faith and to the unwavering support of my family. Our business is truly family-owned and operated — my nieces, nephews, sons, and husband have all played a part in building it. That foundation of faith and family has carried me through difficult and rewarding experiences, and my faith will continue to guide me.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I ever received came from my mother, who encouraged me to go to Las Vegas to pursue my teaching career. Following her guidance led to one of the most rewarding chapters of my professional life, teaching in Clark County School District.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would encourage young women entering this field to secure funding early — apply for grants, since there is financial support available for those willing to seek it out. Start small and build from the ground up, whether that means beginning in a modest space or a small building, and grow steadily from there. It's perfectly fine to start small as long as you keep growing.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges in childcare and teaching is guarding against losing yourself in the work, since it's easy to become emotionally attached to the children in your care. Beyond the emotional demands, securing the capital needed to build or acquire a center is a significant hurdle, as there are relatively few facilities available for purchase or development.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Integrity, loyalty, and dependability matter most to me — being someone who follows through on their word, even when no one is watching. These are the same qualities I hold myself to and the qualities I look for in the people I hire.
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