The iKids Story
What it’s all about
At iKids U, we believe that the afterschool hours are just as important as the ones spent during the school day in the classroom. That’s why our program is designed to support the whole child as they grow and develop, including their physical, emotional, and intellectual needs at each step. We prioritize safety, inclusivity, and fun engagement in everything we do. Our dedicated team encourages each child to freely explore what it means to be their authentic self, while at the same time, helping children learn to build a sense of community within their peer group and with our caring educators. The mission at iKids U is to foster a life-long love for learning and participation within each child, so they may feel confident and happy as they discover their unique gifts and build great memories of a fun-filled childhood!
Founded in Houston, iKids U is growing to serve additional schools and parents across the USA. iKids is proud to help you save time, money, and your precious energy with our customizable, convenient, on-campus programming.
The journey began in 2007 when our founder, Autumn Seiler, a pediatric occupational therapist and parent, was intent on creating and delivering a better way for parents and schools to avail of turnkey, organized, educational programs to support the growth and development of children in her community. iKids U was created both to improve the fragmented afterschool models that didn’t quite satisfy, as well as to meet children’s developmental needs better. In creating iKids, she realized the model could also be more convenient for both school administrators and parents to benefit from an all-in-one aftercare solution with flexible enrichment class options. Since its founding, iKids U has grown to become a comprehensive afterschool program, designed to support and enhance the care, education, and enrichment of any child.
iKids U is now celebrating close to 2 decades of integrated, on-site operations and program expansions through our franchise program! Our mission is to provide the best all-around whole-child out-of-school time program through our flexible, affordable service that parents, schools, and students love. Our vision is to be the premiere all-inclusive out-of-school solution our families return to each year. Inquire today about bringing us to your local school and community and learn what makes iKids U stand apart from the rest!
Caring for 1000s of Awesome iKids since 2007
Read the founders’ letter here!
Meet the Executive Team
International Corporate Expansion & Franchise Experience
Geraldine Smythe, CFE
CEO & President/ Co-owner, iKids U Franchise and iKids U – Central Texas
Geraldine is both an award-winning franchisee and franchisor in the children’s education space, has been a successful franchise consultant, and entrepreneur founding multiple businesses over her career. In April 2021 she acquired iKids U Franchise from the founders with her husband, partner, and iKids U’s COO, Paul Phelps. Together they have a vision of bringing iKids to many more children over the next decade across the USA and beyond through responsible corporate expansion and franchising.
To that end, Geraldine earned the coveted CFE (Certified Franchise Executive) credential in December 2023, as part of her leadership commitment to ensuring the highest quality franchising experience for iKids U’s franchisee partners. She currently serves (as of Fall 2024) as 1st Vice-President Elect of the Texas Licensed Childcare Association, and is responsible for co-chairing their 2 annual Business Leadership conferences, each Spring and Fall.
Geraldine’s goal is to bring the joy of the exceptional iKids U education model to 1000s more children, their parents, and communities all across the US, while helping ambitious, business-minded, community-driven people to join the iKids U brand and build career paths for success on their own terms. Her personal mission is to be a powerful catalyst in inspiring the human potential in each of us. She has many happy memories of discovering awesome afterschool experiences in Lacrosse and Theater and is excited to bring fun, memorable childhood experiences to each one of our students!
Paul Phelps
COO & Co-owner, iKids U Franchise and iKids U – Central Texas
Paul is Geraldine’s business and life partner, and together they have built and sold several successful children’s education businesses, while raising their son in the world of afterschool. Paul brings over 15 years’ experience developing and implementing financial, administrative, and business intelligence systems for companies experiencing, or preparing for, explosive growth. He oversees the iKids U team’s operational growth for both the corporate run-territory, our ‘model’ territory, as well as the Franchising company.
Paul is a future-thinking business analyst with solid operations management experience. He got his start in accounting, event management, and the creative arena of music management in New York City, where he and Geraldine met, just as the traditional music industry was set to implode. He recognized quickly that gaining a solid understanding of new tech skills and merging his process improvement skills with Big Data and AI would help to provide growth-oriented companies with exponential business impacts.
Paul balances his position working as a fractional business analyst for international contract clients with his operational responsibilities for iKids U. He is excited by implementing steady improvements to drive high-performing business systems for the benefit of the iKids U network.
Paul considers himself to be a product of great afterschool experiences having been a DJ and Program Director for WSDP, his high school’s 200 watt FM radio station.
Nancy Garrett
Director & Co-owner, iKids U- Central Texas
Nancy Garrett is a life-long learner. Throughout her education and careers, she has gained a unique set of skills that fits perfectly into the iKids universe and delivering high-quality childcare and programs.
After earning her bachelor’s from Texas A&M in Journalism, Nancy worked in afterschool care and day care while preparing for graduate school in Elementary Education at Columbia University Teachers College. She worked for Geraldine Smythe (iKids U Franchise President & CEO) as an art enrichment teacher from 2005-2007 until she landed a job as a certified elementary teacher with Round Rock ISD.
In April 2021 Nancy became a co-owner and director with Geraldine of iKids U – Central Texas, and was tapped to run the corporate managed regional territory of the national iKids U afterschool franchise company. iKids U Central Texas is the unit which serves as a model business operation, plus education and training center for iKids U Franchise, LLC and its national operations.
Nancy is thrilled to join forces with Geraldine and Paul to expand the iKids U franchise throughout Texas and across the USA, all while continuing to be an active adult soccer league co-captain, and continuing her love of the sport since her afterschool days!
Paul Phelps
COO & Co-owner, iKids U Franchise
Paul is Geraldine’s business and life partner, and together they have built and sold several successful children’s education businesses, plus raised their son in the world of afterschool. Paul brings fourteen years’ experience developing and implementing financial, administrative, and business intelligence systems for companies experiencing or preparing for explosive growth. He oversees the iKids U team’s operational growth for both the corporate run-territory, our model territory, as well as the Franchising company.
Paul is a future-thinking business analyst with solid operations management experience. He got his start in accounting, event management, and the creative arena of music management in New York City, where he and Geraldine met, just as the traditional music industry was set to implode. He recognized quickly that gaining a solid understanding of new tech skills and merging his process improvement skills with Big Data and AI would help to provide growth-oriented companies with exponential business impacts.
Paul balances his position working as lead business analyst for Horne, LLP with his operational responsibilities for iKids U. He is excited to implement high-performing business systems for the benefit of the iKids U network.
Paul considers himself to be a product of great afterschool experiences having been a DJ and Program Director for WSDP, his high school’s 200 watt FM radio station.
