Meet Our Team

The management team of Discovery Point Seven Hills consists of the two co-owners Tim Sabba and Cary O’Donnell, plus the Center Director Mercedes Fernandez, and Assistant Center Director Shirley Peña. The owner’s split their time between their two accredited centers in Spring Hill FL, Discovery Point Silverthorn and Discovery Point Seven Hills, so that both canters have owner-presence each day.

Mercedes Fernadez

Mercedes Fernadez

Director

Our Director at Discovery Point Seven Hills is Mercedes Fernandez. She started working in childcare in 2000 but it wasn’t until 2014 that she made it her career. She has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology, Florida State Child Development Credential, Director Credential, and is working on her bachelor’s degree in early childhood development and management.

Mercedes joined the Discovery Point family in 2016 as a floater and later became our Preschool 1 (P1) teacher. Since then, she quickly climbed up the ladder to our management team as Assistant Director in 2018 and promoted to Director in early 2022.

On her time away from work, she enjoys time with her husband Charles and their two children, Charles Jr., and Isabella.

Shirley Pena

Assistant Director

Our Assistant Director at Discovery Point Seven Hills is Shirley Peña. She started working at Discovery Point Silverthorn over 10 years ago and moved to Discovery Point Seven Hills on February 5, 2018. She was instrumental in helping to revitalize the center and assisting the owners to achieve full accreditation . Shirley is passionate about early childhood education and has her CDA and director’s credential.

Shirley joined the Discovery Point family in September 2013 as the 2-year old teacher, and has since taught VPK, 3- year old’s, Beginners, and Toddlers. She ended her tenure at Silverthorn as a 3-year old teacher before moving over to Seven Hills when the owners took over ownership in February 2018. Shirley earned a well-deserved promotion to  Assistant Director in March 2022.

When Shirley is not at work, she enjoys time with her family, especially her two children, Janessa and Jovani.

Our Staff

Our dedicated staff provide a safe, loving, and educational environment for your children. All are CPR and First Aid Certified, and are required to take 24 hours of continuing education courses per year. Most of our teachers hold a CDA and many have Bachelor’s Degree, Associates Degree and or Staff Credentials.

infant sitting with teacher