I'm certified in Early Childhood Education with over a decade of experience helping young learners in Williamson County discover the joy of reading — and the confidence that comes with it.
I started Little Minds, Big Futures because I believe every child deserves a tutor who truly sees them — not just their report card or their reading level. My approach is rooted in structured literacy, evidence-based curriculum, the power of learning through play, and the quiet conviction that God placed potential in every little mind that walks through my door. My job is to find where it's waiting and help it grow.
I'm a mom, a lifelong learner, and someone who genuinely lights up when a four-year-old sounds out their first word, or a seven-year-old finishes their first chapter book and immediately reaches for the next one. That moment — that click — never gets old.
I serve families across Arrington, Brentwood, Franklin, Nolensville, College Grove, Chapel Hill, and the surrounding Williamson County area. Sessions are available in-home, in-studio, or online.
Three convictions that shape how I show up for every family I work with.
No two learners are the same. I take time to understand how your child thinks, what excites them, and where they get stuck — then I meet them there. God made them one of a kind, and my teaching has to honor that.
For families who want a Christian foundation, that thread runs naturally through our time together — in the books we read, the encouragement we give, the patience we practice. Present and genuine, never preachy or forced.
My job isn't to replace you — it's to come alongside you. I give parents honest updates, practical at-home strategies, and the kind of transparency that makes you feel like a partner in your child's progress, not just a customer.
From structured classroom environments to one-on-one curriculum work, my experience spans the full 3–8 age range — the window when a love of reading is either kindled or quietly extinguished. I've spent over a decade making sure it's kindled.
Hundreds of children — each one different, each one memorable. From the preschooler sounding out their first word to the second-grader who finally finds their reading stride. These aren't case studies; they're kids I still think about.
Every child can become a confident reader and a curious learner. Not some children — every child. It just takes the right person, patient enough to walk with them and skilled enough to know the path.
The qualifications behind every session.
State of Tennessee
Early Childhood Education
State of Florida
Early Childhood Education
2023 Award
The Goddard School
2024 Award
The Goddard School
A few words from parents who watched their little ones grow.
Mrs. Dykstra meets students right where they are, differentiates her teaching, and guides each one to their best self. Her program set our two boys up for success and turned them into leaders ready to take on any challenge.
Leslie is simply the kindest, most patient, imaginative teacher ever. She teaches in different ways so that however your child learns best, they get it. She's like the Mary Poppins of education.
We chose Leslie again for our second child — and she's excelling academically and socially, and loves every minute. When my kindergartener wants to read ME a bedtime story to show off her new skills, that says everything.
A free 15-minute conversation — no pressure, no commitment. Just two adults talking about a little person you love and whether I'm the right person to walk alongside them.