Excellence in Childcare

In this episode, Krystle Steinhoff from Thrive Early Learning provides a comprehensive guide on trademarking your early childcare business. 

Our Expert Krystle Steinhoff

Krystle, CEO and Executive Director of Thrive Early Learning, is dedicated to crafting an ideal environment where children, parents, the team, and the community can flourish together. Raised in Statesboro, she crossed paths with her husband, Rob, in Richmond Hill over two decades ago. Krystle's drive to establish Thrive stems from her journey as a working mother of two boys, now aged three and almost two, navigating the challenge of finding reliable care when she needed it. Before embarking on her journey with Thrive, Krystle honed her skills as an attorney specializing in corporate and trademark law for several years.

In this episode, we cover:

- Identifying what to trademark
- Considerations for childcare businesses with multiple locations
- Filing for a trademark
- Post-trademarking considerations

A sneak peek inside the episode:

“As entrepreneurs, we put a lot of time and money into coming up with a name, and then you've got to do the branding and the marketing, and there's nothing worse than spending all of that time and money on those things only to get a cease and desist letter from somebody who has a name that's similar.”

In this episode, we chat with Bobby Franzo and Sam Slater from PB&J TV, a camera system and streaming app service for childcare and daycare. We explore how they contribute to safer schools and smarter operations.

Our Experts Bobby Franzo & Sam Slater

Bobby Franzo, Co-Founder and Principal at PB&J TV is a driving force in the childcare industry with over a decade of experience. He leads PB&J's efforts to redefine safety and operations in education using cutting-edge technology. Bobby shares insights from PB&J's inception, lessons learned, and the importance of advanced camera solutions in schools. With a focus on empowering educators and providing peace of mind to parents, Bobby's expertise guides best practices for implementing camera systems.

Sam Slater, PB&J TV's Customer Experience Director, is the epitome of a family man, having married his high school sweetheart and delighting in fatherhood with his two daughters. A devoted Saints fan, he navigates life's highs and lows with resilience. In his pivotal role at PB&J TV, Sam channels his passion into ensuring every customer interaction reflects the "we are family" ethos. From calls and emails to social media, he strives to create a warm and caring experience for customers, extending the PB&J TV family spirit. His dedication goes beyond, as he actively contributes to creating diverse programs, making a lasting impact on the customer journey.


In this episode, we cover:

- Background and PB&J TV's origin
- Safer schools and smarter operations
- Transition from fear of cameras to embracing transparency

A sneak peek inside the episode:

“I want to flip the switch on the idea of a teacher being fearful of a camera being in the classroom. Because as long as you're doing what you're supposed to be doing and operating the way you're supposed to be operating, that camera's there to protect you."

In this episode, Melissa Lush of Force of Nature Clean offers her expertise on mitigating health risks in childcare settings.

Our Expert Melissa Lush

Melissa Lush, Co-Founder and CMO of Force of Nature, combines her background in product development at Procter & Gamble with her mission to clean up the cleaning industry for people and our planet. By creating certified carbon neutral, toxin-free alternatives to traditional cleaning products, and educating families and businesses about simple changes they can make to be more sustainable, Force of Nature is driving meaningful change in the industry.

In this episode, we cover:

- Research on health risks of cleaning products
- Understanding cleaning chemicals
- Positive actions for healthier choices

A sneak peek inside the episode:

“You know, we've all used these products for years and we just have ingrained in our minds how they should be. So the whole education piece is just-  it's so important."

In this episode, business and leadership coach Aleta Mechtel joins us to discuss what it means to be a leader with better business practices in the childcare industry.

Our Expert Aleta Mechtel

Aleta Mechtel, a seasoned professional with 22+ years in early childhood education, has transitioned into a Business & Childcare Leadership Coach. Starting as a teacher and progressing through various roles, she honed expertise in business systems, marketing, leadership, and strategic planning. Successfully growing her business to four locations and launching complementary ventures, Aleta now leverages her experience to assist business leaders, especially in childcare. She offers services such as Business Coaching, Strategic Planning Masterclasses, Accountability Coaching Masterminds, and Substitute Teacher Placement to help others navigate and succeed in their respective industries.

In this episode, we cover:

- Leadership priority
- Broader priorities in the business journey
- Employee retention strategy
- Customer service and relationship building

A sneak peek inside the episode:

“You want the leadership at the top to want to or should be building a meaningful work environment: somewhere where you’re constantly giving recognition and building relationships.”

In this episode, Kelly Pritchard from Children’s Lighthouse Early Learning School shares how she supports teachers and parents as a community.

Our Expert Kelly Pritchard

Kelly wanted to address the challenges of finding quality childcare. After an exhausting search into educational based childcare, Kelly and husband John found Childrens Lighthouse and were immediately drawn to their unparalleled curriculum, extraordinary safety standards, and community focused mission. Beyond her professional background, Kelly emphasizes the importance of genuine passion and kindness. Committed to providing a nurturing and educational environment, she is excited about creating a special space for learning, love, empowerment and positively impacting lives in the community.

In this episode, we cover:

- Equal focus on parents and teachers
- Recognition and acts of kindness
- Customer service as a cultural element
- Philosophy of transparency and continuous improvement

A sneak peek inside the episode:

"I think sometimes childcare owners aren't in their business enough, in my opinion. Because I feel as though if owners are more present, it's one thing to be physically there, but being present and getting to know your families and your teachers goes a long way and they appreciate that. It shows the love."

In this episode, we are joined by Jennifer Vazquez from EOS Worldwide to explore strategies for efficiently nurturing and leading your team as a childcare centre manager.

Our Expert Jennifer Vazquez

Jennifer Vazquez, a seasoned entrepreneur, founded a highly successful company in 2009, expanding it to over 30 staff and 1000 clients. Acquiring three preschool centers later on, she navigated the challenges of managing 50 staff and over 300 children. Jennifer's solution came through the Entrepreneurial Operating System® (EOS), resulting in a remarkable 700% increase in net profit and a regained sense of control over her life. In a successful 2021 exit, she sold her centers to a firm retaining both staff and business model. Now dedicated to EOS coaching, Jennifer simplifies tools and principles, guiding entrepreneurs to achieve business goals and align teams effectively.

In this episode, we cover:

- Balancing skills and culture in recruitment
- Time management in employee growth
- Monitoring staff progress
- Navigating individual vs. centre needs

A sneak peek inside the episode:

"I wasn't the best at hiring management staff for many years. That's when I was wearing multiple hats, and, you know, there was a lot of turnover—unfortunately, very stressful. But then I learned that if it's not my expertise, I need to hire someone for whom this is their specialty, and they excel at it. It's not an expense; it's a true investment, and the return on investment that I received was amazing."

In this episode, we discuss structured physical education, active play, and enriching programs for children with Megan Bowling of Stretch-N-Grow.

Our Expert Megan Bowling 

Driven by a deep commitment to children's well-being and a sharp understanding of franchise development, Megan is Director of Franchise Development at Stretch-n-Grow, the leading children's fitness franchise. Her primary objective is to inspire dedicated entrepreneurs to partner with the company in their commitment to nurturing joyful, healthy, and successful futures for children globally.

In this episode, we cover:

- Defining "Getting children moving"
- Options for encouraging movement
- Success with enrichment programs

A sneak peek inside the episode:

"While free play is so important, so is structured physical education. And so when I'm talking about that and getting children moving, I am talking about that structured portion. The National Association of Sports and Physical Education, recommends that preschoolers have at least 30 minutes of structured physical education daily. So that's different than just running on the playground or kicking balls around with their friends."

In this episode, we speak with Tara Franklin of Child Development Schools about data-driven decisions within change management.

Our Expert Tara Franklin

Tara Franklin, a 20-year education industry veteran, serves as the manager of school operations at Child Development Schools, a leading early childhood education provider. She oversees business operations, customer relations, and talent development across multiple centers, ensuring quality and compliance. Tara's expertise in data-driven strategies and collaborative leadership enhances learning experiences and outcomes, driven by her deep belief in the power of education for transformation.

In this episode, we cover:

- Definition of change management in early education
- Real-world scenario of data-driven decisions in change management
- Empowering beneficiaries and constituents through data
- Data ownership and responsibility

A sneak peek inside the episode:

" I think change management empowers me with the ability to put myself in other's shoes: I care about people, their thoughts, their values, their experiences - because the early childhood industry is truly about relationships. And what stuck with me about change management is the "Yes, and..." approach. You don't have to be a profitable business, or choose quality and experience. Change management really enables organizations to marry the data and the goals with the people component of the industry." 

In this episode, Beth Cannon offers insights into how leaders can effectively steer their teams using powerful tools for leadership and growth.

Our Expert Beth Cannon

Beth Cannon is a renowned early education leadership figure known for her compelling and unique approach to empowering teams. A sought-after speaker, coach, and consultant, She has created impactful training programs, delivered transformational keynotes, and is the force behind 12 Stretch-n-Grow franchises. With a background in communication and education, her expertise spans business, fitness, and education domains.

In this episode, we cover:

- Embracing change and adaptability
- Self-awareness and team dynamics
- Overcoming bias with the Enneagram
- Rethinking organization structure
- Team growth strategies

A sneak peek inside the episode:

"Antifragility is not a lack of empathy. It's accepting the brutal facts of the current reality and realizing we're still here. I think that the leaders who were fragile aren't still here anymore. The ones who have remained standing are here - and they are ready to dig in, level up, and learn more about how to be the best leader they can be. So that when things do get hard again, they won't be bogged down in being the bottleneck in their business."

In this episode, we discuss ways how to add value to help childcare businesses prosper with Kathe Petchel from Hinge Early Education Advisors.

Our Expert Kathe Petchel

Kathe Petchel has been involved in early childhood education since 1980, starting as a public school teacher before opening her own preschool center in Virginia. She now owns three sites in Charlottesville, serving over 300 families. In 2017, Kathe joined HINGE Advisors, initially as a staffing and operations consultant, and now focuses on client relations, helping sellers determine the value of their early childhood education businesses. She is known for her expertise and presentations on childcare topics, and has spoken at various conferences and is actively involved in multiple associations within the field.

In this episode, we cover:

- Prioritizing and organizing value-adding options
- Value-adding actions in childcare businesses
- Anticipated challenges for childcare business owners

A sneak peek inside the episode:

"Make sure that whatever your core values are, you're really living them and everyone in your school can talk about them, especially the tour giver, the director, and that you know you try your best. And we have a tough job. Honestly, it's getting harder all the time. try your best to solve a problem within your core values if at all possible."

In this episode, we dive into early childhood education leadership with TEDx Speaker and childcare business coach Evelyn Knight from Childcare Business Professionals.

Our Expert Evelyn Knight

Evelyn Knight is an experienced Early Childhood Education (ECE) professional, owner, and director of Zoo'n Around, a reputable preschool and childcare center in Nevada. With over 15 years of expertise in ECE, Evelyn is committed to prioritizing child development and parental education. As an Early Child Education trainer with the Nevada Registry, she contributes to the regulation and training of preschool teachers and childcare providers. Evelyn's passion for creating developmentally appropriate environments led her to establish her first preschool, Little Knights & Maidens, in 2008. In 2010, she merged with Zoo'n Around, expanding her impact. With love for Nevada and its history, Evelyn continues to make a positive difference in children's lives through her dedication and expertise. Currently, she works at Childcare Business Professionals as a childcare business coach supporting, educating, and motivating ECE business owners.

In this episode, we cover:

- Understanding the distinction: leader vs. manager
- Overcoming challenges and reigniting passion
- Innovating staffing solutions and compliance

A sneak peek inside the episode:

"You get to choose if the day-to-day problems have power or not. And honestly, you have to ask yourself is it worth it? Is it really worth losing sleep over or stressing yourself out? One of the biggest life lessons I've had is when I'm focused on the problems, I block the solutions from my mind. But when you reframe it and look at every problem as an opportunity, suddenly solutions are endless."

In this episode, we chat with Prerna Richards, CEO & President of Together We Grow, to explore the strategies for cultivating classroom harmony and empowering teachers in effectively handling challenging behaviors.

Our Expert Prerna Richards

Prerna Richards, a dedicated educator with over 37 years of experience, is a renowned keynote speaker, international presenter, behavior coach, and consultant for the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). As a registered master-level trainer with the Texas Early Childhood Professional Development System, Prerna's educational philosophy emphasizes a play-based approach and a solid social-emotional foundation. Her expertise and unwavering commitment to early childhood education inspire teachers and enrich the lives of young learners.

In this episode, we cover:

- Understanding & handling challenging behavior
- Initiating conversations with parents regarding behavior issues
- Connecting with community resources
- Mindset reset and self-care

A sneak peek inside the episode:

"Stress levels are high and our patience is low and so many schools are having staff burnout and staff turnover because they just get stressed out. And so your question is why is the child acting out? I would ask the educators to reframe that and say asking themselves what is triggering me as a grown-up. Recognizing your triggers is where it starts to change."

In this episode, we chat with Jason Russell, President of Secure Education Consultants, about bringing White House-level safety and security expertise to childcare centers.

Our Expert Jason Russell

Ex-Secret Service agent Jason Russell now provides his expertise in client security at SEC. Since 2013, he has conducted countless security assessments for schools, businesses, and organizations across the US and abroad. He has assisted during crisis situations, including mass shootings, and collaborated with the Michigan Legislature for funding site assessments in K-12 schools. Jason serves on Michigan's School Safety and Mental Health Commission and is a sought-after keynote speaker on emergency preparedness and active shooter response. Prior to joining the Secret Service, he was an officer with the Lansing Police Department. Inspired by the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School, Jason founded Secure Education Consultants.

In this episode, we cover:

- SEC's security training and partnership with preschools and child care centres.
- Secret Service insights on school safety and security.
- Key tips to improve safety and security in childcare centers.
- Addressing challenges in childcare businesses and suggesting solutions for improvement.

In this episode, we chat with Cindy Lehnhoff, the Director of the National Child Care Association (NCCA), about effective crisis management strategies in the early childhood industry.

Our Expert Cindy Lehnhoff

Cindy Lehnhoff is the current Director of the National Child Care Association (NCCA). She is dedicated to promoting the success of licensed providers in providing high-quality care and education to children. Under her leadership, the NCCA focuses on providing professional development, advocacy, and community engagement to support this mission. Cindy and her team firmly believe that every child deserves access to early care and education at the highest standards. They work to educate and advocate for sustainable policies and practices that benefit young children.

In this episode, we cover:

- Effective crisis management strategies in early childhood industry
- Commonalities between licensing, compliance, and quality
- Current industry performance in crisis management and ways to improve
- Importance of checklists and compliance in ensuring quality and safety.

In this episode, we talk with Samantha Jockel, founder and CEO of ParentTV - a go-to platform for on-demand video resources that support parents, schools, childcare center professionals, and organisations contributing to education, care, and wellbeing of children.

Our Expert Samantha Jockel

Sam has been running her own online businesses for the past seven years, following her social work and studies in community development at university. During this time, Sam built large communities using social media and her natural ability in community development. As a parent of three children herself, Sam was able to connect with other parents genuinely and provide valuable insights. However, a tragic year made Sam realize that despite all the available resources, things were not improving for kids, and mental health issues among young people were at an all-time high. This inspired Sam to create ParentTV, a company that aims to educate and support parents in navigating new parenting challenges and enabling a positive future for their families. Sam's mission is to build a trusted company that connects parents to a local and global community and helps them navigate their parenting journey.

In this episode we cover:

- ParentTV and its service in childcare
- How engaging content helps guides parents and childcare staff efficiently
- Staff training and retention
- Describing excellence in an early education program

We talk about operational excellence with our guest Jaime Rechkemmer.

Our Expert Jaime Rechkemmer

Jaime Rechkemmer has 20+ years of leadership, operations optimization, and program management experience in education. She excels in strategic planning, process improvement, research, analysis, curriculum development, and policy management, exceeding performance goals on minimal resources. As VP of Education, Jaime provides high-quality curriculum, classroom environments, and technology enhancements for active learning experiences. She has 24+ years of Early Childhood Education experience and has written curriculum, trained educators, and designed thriving classroom environments. Jaime earned an MS in Leadership from Pfeiffer University and a BS in Family and Consumer Science from Winthrop University.

In this episode we cover:

- The scope for operations
- What excellence looks like
- Operational challenges and tips for overcoming
- Setting up for success with a plan

We talk about Schools of Excellence with our guest Chanie Wilschanski

Our Expert Chanie Wilschanski

Chanie Wilschanski is an Early Childhood Leadership Coach and Culture Specialist who began her journey over a decade ago, teaching toddlers at the acclaimed Preschool of the Arts in NYC. After receiving her Masters in EC and Special Education, Chanie started training teachers and school leaders on the HOW part of creating excellence in their schools.

In this episode we cover:

– Avoiding the pitfalls of perfection
- Training new team members
- Finding balance when there are competing priorities

A sneak peak inside the episode:

"So my definition of excellence is choosing to show up better than you did 5 minutes ago. I think that we get very stuck on perfectionism. We get very stuck on I have to do it this way. I have to do it that way. And if I look at parenting, if I look at leadership, if I look at any position of leadership, I think the most powerful strategy is repair. It's coming to say I'm sorry, it's coming to apologize. It's coming to repair what happened 5 minutes ago, right, because this notion that there's going to be one day that you're going to get."

Our topic today is Supporting Directors for Success

Our Expert Noelle D’Intino

We are delighted to have Noelle join us for this episode. With 18 years of experience as the owner of Scribble Time, a licensed child care center for 114 children, she also founded The Director’s Club in 2008, a consultancy firm aimed at equipping child care center owners with the necessary business skills to succeed. In addition, in 2020, Noelle added another feather to her cap with the creation of Breakbox, a thematic sensory playdough kit designed to keep little hands busy, inspired by her experience of quarantining with her six-year-old twin daughters.

In this episode we cover:

– The challenges of leading a childcare team
– Effective methods for training team members
– Consistency and delegation as a Director’s key tools

Lori Buxton has been involved in early care and education since 1995. She has served children and their families on many levels, including classroom teacher, program director, executive administrator, and training specialist. Lori is the Managing Director of the Association for Early Learning Leaders and speaks/trains regionally and nationally. She has served on many early education advisory committees including the Sesame Street Communities PD Virtual Advisory and has been a featured guest on many podcasts and webinars.

Vernon has been called the trifecta of childcare. He grew up in an "in-home" program. As his company grew, he has been the owner-director of small, medium, and large programs. After 28.5 years, including a decade of multi-site ownership, he sold his schools to a large regional provider. Along the way, Vernon completed a Master's in Early Childhood, wrote a couple of books, and became a popular speaker. Today Vernon is Senior Vice President of Growth and Development for The Nest Schools.​

Author of:​

Don't Go! A practical guide for tackling employee turnover.​

Get Out! But before you go…..Practical steps to turn your Zero into a Hero or set them free! ​

Both available on Amazon​