For Jenna and Derrick Ware, their WorldKids® School franchise in Raleigh, North Carolina, is more than just a business venture. It’s the culmination of years spent raising four children, navigating multiple childcare programs and searching for a place that felt warm and globally minded. By Jessica Petrucelli
Shaping the Future of Early Childhood Education
For Jenna and Derrick Ware, their WorldKids® School franchise in Raleigh, North Carolina, is more than just a business venture. It’s the culmination of years spent raising four children, navigating multiple childcare programs and searching for a place that felt warm and globally minded.
“We began exploring WorldKids School in early 2025,” said Derrick Ware. “At that point in our lives, we were thinking carefully about the kind of work we wanted to do as a family and the kind of impact we wanted to have in our community. WorldKids School combines everything we value as parents and as leaders: a warm learning environment, global awareness, language immersion and a genuine commitment to early childhood development. It felt like the perfect blend of purpose, education and community involvement.”
As an educational program where children are immersed in Spanish and Mandarin Chinese languages as infants, toddlers and preschoolers, WorldKids School is a place where children, teachers and staff from all over the world come together to share their cultures and gain a sense of global awareness. The concept uses an immersion learning environment to work toward total fluency in a foreign language, allowing students to think and function naturally.
The Wares, who have both enjoyed long careers in leadership, service and family-centered industries, recognized a mission that matched their own values in the WorldKids School model.
“Over the past 20 years, I have served in senior roles across the education and private sectors,” said Ware, a U.S. Air Force veteran who has served on several nonprofit and corporate boards. “Jenna’s background spans several people-focused industries, including private aviation, medical aesthetics, health and fitness, and customer success. She has a natural ability to connect with families, build trust and create a warm, welcoming experience for anyone she interacts with.”
Together, the couple brings complementary strengths rooted in leadership, service, customer care and community.
“Running a business together has been a meaningful experience for us,” Ware said. “As parents, we have lived the reality of early childhood education through many different programs. We understand the questions families ask, the concerns they carry and the moments that matter most. That shared perspective guides the decisions we make.”
According to Ware, the greatest benefit of working together is ”knowing we are building something that reflects who we are as a family,” and the biggest challenge has been protecting family time.
“We are intentional about that balance, which makes us stronger at home and in the business,” he explained.
Looking ahead, the Wares view their role with WorldKids School as the beginning of a long-term partnership.
“Our first priority is to build an exceptional school in North Raleigh, one that becomes a trusted and beloved part of the community,” Ware said. “From there, we would love to grow into additional locations and continue supporting the brand as it expands. We believe deeply in the mission and in the impact this model can have on children and families. Our goal is to help bring that impact to as many communities as possible.”
Jessica Petrucelli