Our Story
It takes a village and a circle—and we built both.
Owner Renina Forshee began her journey childcare operations while working with previous owners Rose and Ken Dockins in 2005. When Renina became the owner of Friendly Circle in 2007, she had three children, little money, and a full college course load—but she said yes to the opportunity of a lifetime, working split shifts to operate the center day-to-day. With help from mentors and a strong work ethic, she turned that moment into a mission: to create a safe, joyful, high-quality learning space for children in Edmond.
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In 2021, during the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, Renina launched a second center, We are the Village. A proud graduate of Douglass High School, her vision for the center is to invest in strengthening local schools, specifically those children who come through the Douglass High School system, with a vision to create long-term academic success by starting in early childhood. Renina believes that infants, toddlers, and preschoolers who receive the right care and learning foundation early will thrive later in life.
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“I know your child. I love your child, and I care about your whole family."
- Renina Forshee, Owner
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Along the way, she’s built other businesses—family therapy, retail, and more—but childcare has always been her calling. All three of her children have worked in the family’s childcare businesses and two are still active in the business. “I know your child. I love your child, and I care about your whole family. The family unit must be cared for to fully care for the child,” she says. “I adapt our programs to support the needs of the home, not just the classroom.” Her vision for improving the lives of others goes beyond daily care, she is involved in the community as a volunteer to assist individuals and families in need, and serves on the Board of Directors for Community Literacy Centers (CLC).
Today, Friendly Circle and We Are the Village continue to grow, anchored in trust, generational relationships, and community pride.
Our Leadership
Kimberly Bassett
Director, Friendly Circle - Edmond
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Kimberly Bassett brings more than 15 years of dedicated experience in early childhood education to her role as center director for Friendly Circle in Edmond. Ms. Bassett is a seasoned Childcare Director known for fostering nurturing, inclusive, and developmentally focused learning environments. With degrees in Psychology and Ethics, she brings a deep understanding of child development, behavioral guidance, and moral education into everyday practice.
Ms. Bassett is a Childcare Director who leads with compassion and an ethical approach that emphasizes staff development, family engagement, and quality programming. Her leadership style blends evidence-based strategies with a strong commitment to the emotional well-being and safety of every child in their care.
She is passionate about building strong, supportive communities within childcare settings and continually seeks to implement best practices that promote lifelong learning, empathy, and growth for both children and staff.
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Renina Forshee
Owner, Friendly Circle & We Are the Village
Director, We are the Village - OKC
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Renina D. Forshee is the founder, owner and operator of Friendly Circle Child Development Center in Edmond, OK since 2007 and We are the Village Learning Center in Oklahoma City since 2021. Between the two centers, more than 200 children receive care each day.
A proud graduate of Frederick A. Douglass High School, Oklahoma City Community College, and the University of Central Oklahoma, Ms. Forshee has made lifelong investments in the state.
She currently serves as the 3rd Vice President of the National Oklahoma City Douglass High School Alumni Association. She is an advisory board member of Metro Tech Early Childhood Education program and serves as a board member for Community Literacy Centers.
Ms. Forshee enjoys spending time with her 3 daughters and her grandchildren. She loves traveling, listening to live music, and being active in her community. In her spare time, she is sure to be working on a DIY project or learning something new. She has never met a stranger and she believes in the importance of relationships and connecting people.
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