
Please allow me to introduce myself,
My name is Rashida Yost. I am 51 years old. I am a wife to a dedicated Berkeley Spring man, a mother to three beautiful daughters, and one very talented son. I run daycare centers in Martinsburg. I am currently taking a break from college due to the expansion of my business. I am very passionate about education. I love West Virginia so much because it has lots of fond memories of my family.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XCUizYYD9ks
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/LVKdYmVXZK8
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More About Me
I was born in Virginia but grew up in Singapore. My mother ran her own catering company until she went to heaven in 2000. I started working in a childcare center in Singapore in 1991. I love the job so much that I started my career as a teacher right away.
Apart from teaching in many centers in Singapore, I was given the opportunity to travel to many neighboring countries giving phonics and reading seminars to childcare teachers in Asia. It is one of the best career I ever have. I enjoy every moment giving speeches and assisting teachers in Asia on how to encourage a child to enjoy reading.
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Between 1997 to 2008, I organized and helped many charity events. I also managed to raise money to fund twenty children in a childcare center to watch Walt Disney Mickey Mouse performed in Singapore.
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In 2008, I was invited to speak to two hundred childcare staff from Tumble Tots Indonesia in Chiputra, Jakarta, Indonesia. I was honored to address the importance of language and reading among children ages two and above.
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In 2010, I had the opportunity to design and manage a 340 capacity Kindergarten in Singapore. I created Derbyshire Kindergarten from scratch. From its logo to its establishments, a four level building of its own, designed and built by its owner, a Singapore-Indonesian Lady Developer. The Kindergarten featured its own computer lab, a huge room with mirror to the ceiling for speech & drama sessions, three state of the art infant care rooms with crafted furniture, kitchen on every floor, elevators, gated playground around the building, four managers' offices, and a president suite equipped with a conference room that can fit twenty staff members. My former boss splurged every penny into her business so that the education and its materials used will not be compromised.
In 2013, I moved back to Virginia with my daughter and son. Despite overcoming a tragic divorce, working three jobs a week, and taking care of my children, I still find time and resources to help in the community.
I finally had the opportunity to enroll back in college, got married in 2019, and bought over a childcare center in Martinsburg six months later. In March 2020, covid hit everyone. After one setback to another, my family and I stood by each other and worked twice as hard to keep things going. When the Paycheck Protection Fund hit my childcare bank account, I used it to renovate the basement of the childcare building and opened twenty-five more capacity. This allows my center to accommodate a total of seventy-five children with sixteen full time staff running the center. While other businesses and childcare centers were closing down, my business was expanding.
Up to today, I have met and spoken to many families and children who share their concerns about education, healthcare, jobs, home ownership, and many more.
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I developed plans and policies as early as 2020 before and after covid hit us. I am ready to help. I am ready to make West Virginia Almost Heaven to live in again. I believe the children are my strength, the people are my motivations, and the State's natural beauty and resources are my aspiration on taking this task. I am ready!
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With my experience working with families and children over three decades, and managing many businesses local and overseas, I am the only candidate with the capacity and ability to be the next Governor of West Virginia. For a fair and unbiased Governor, please give me the chance to work with our legislatures to make West Virginia SAFE, ACHIEVE, SUCCEED, & GREAT AGAIN!