OFTC Grad Chris Ann Wrease Achieves 2-Star Quality Rating Status for Dublin’s Little Night Owls Daycare Center

OFTC — Chris Ann Wrease’s passion for early childhood care began long before she ever stepped into a college classroom. At just 12 years old, she spent afternoons and summers helping out at the daycare center where her mother worked. 

As she watched caregivers in action and saw the children grow, learn, and thrive, Wrease realized she wanted to be part of that world. 

“I knew I wanted to be a part of this,” Wrease said. “It’s a great thing when you see the babies develop and grow right before your eyes—and it’s even more special when you know you played a positive role in their lives.” 

That early spark never faded. Today, Wrease is the proud owner and operator of Little Night Owls, a 24/7 daycare center in Dublin, Ga., built on her lifelong dedication to supporting working families and nurturing young minds around the clock. 

Turning Passion into Purpose 

Her first step was to enroll in Oconee Fall Line Technical College’s (OFTC) Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) program to earn the ECCE Basics Technical Certificate of Credit—the credential needed to open a daycare center in Georgia. 

“OFTC was local and had a positive reputation,” Wrease said. “I knew what I wanted to do and felt like it would provide me with the best training to meet the state requirements to open my own daycare center.” 

Her instincts were right. Once she started classes, her passion and excitement for early childhood education only grew. 

“Ms. Lanna Mallette taught early childhood in a very exciting and understanding manner, and that really motivated me to want to do my best and see my plan through,” she said. 

Wrease gained essential knowledge in areas like learning through play, fostering healthy student interactions, and prioritizing health and safety in childcare environments—skills that would become the foundation of her future center. 

Launching Little Night Owls 

After graduating in 2021, Wrease stepped into a world still recovering from the Covid-19 pandemic. It wasn’t easy. 

“I had to be determined,” she said. “I could have easily quit.” 

She began offering in-home childcare services, helping parents in her community while laying the groundwork for her own business. Despite the challenges of launching a new venture in uncertain times, Wrease opened Little Night Owls on April 30, 2021. 

“We provide care for children ages 6 weeks to 12 years old,” she said. “And we moved into our new building on West Mary Street in Dublin just a few months after opening.” 

Reaching a 2-Star Quality Rated Milestone 

Nearly three years after opening, Little Night Owls earned 2-Star Quality Rated Status—a prestigious recognition through Georgia’s voluntary Quality Rated program that assesses and rewards childcare centers that meet or exceed the state’s minimum standards. 

“The quality rating shows the parents and community that we have had the proper training to provide quality care for their children,” Wrease said. 

Achieving 2-star status involves a comprehensive evaluation, including having qualified and well-trained teachers, a safe and nurturing environment, a curriculum that prepares children for kindergarten, a focus on active learning and social-emotional development, family engagement, and low teacher-student ratios. 

Believing in the Dream 

Even now, the reality of achieving her dream feels surreal to Wrease—but she’s proud of the hard work it took to get there. 

“I just want to encourage people not to be afraid and to believe in themselves and the dreams they have for their future,” she shared. “It might be a long road, but you have to take the first step in faith and believe that you can.” 

To learn more about Little Night Owls, contact Chris Ann Wrease at 478-484-0778.  

For more info on OFTC’s ECCE Program, visit OFTC’s website, OFTC.edu. 

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