The Director's Club

Directors, how many times have you blamed a staff issue on onboarding — only to realize the real gap was something else entirely? In this episode, Noelle breaks down the critical difference between onboarding and compliance, and why mixing them up means you're solving the wrong problem. Onboarding teaches the what and the how. Compliance confirms it's actually happening — whether you're watching or not.Through real scenarios (a bus driver off-protocol for a year, a teacher skipping rest time checks, staff records constantly lapsing), you'll learn how to quickly diagnose which system is broken and what to do about it. If your center is struggling with consistency, accountability, or staff not following through — this episode is your starting point.In this episode:What good onboarding actually covers (and what it can't fix)Why compliance is a system, not a checklist binderThree real-world scenarios that show exactly where the gap livesThe key questions to ask yourself when something goes wrongWhy training someone once doesn't mean the behavior is locked inCompliance is a full-time, full-year job. Onboarding is a moment in time. Know the difference — and lead your center like you mean it.COMPLIANCE COMMAND CENTER WORKSHOPConnect with us at The Director's Club HERE

Noelle discusses a common question from childcare directors—how much to raise tuition—and explains that there is no universal percentage because each center’s expenses, staffing, benefits, rent, and financial goals differ. She recommends starting with a budget built from last year’s numbers, adjusting for expected changes like staff raises, rent, taxes, insurance, new programs, and extra cash flow, then calculating the revenue gap to determine the needed increase. After that, she suggests checking community rates within your specific market and positioning your center based on quality and demand so the final tuition rate balances what your budget requires with what is reasonable locally. She encourages directors to complete 2026 budgets, seek help from a CPA/bookkeeper or software, and invites listeners to join the Director’s Club for ongoing support.Check out our new Lunch and Lead series HEREConnect with us at The Director's Club HERE

Ever feel like you're running your center instead of leading it? In this episode, Noelle shares the turning point that changed everything during ScribbleTime's expansion from 72 to 114 students. Discover why protecting just one hour a day for leadership work can give you back 240 hours a year to build the systems your center desperately needs. Learn the difference between managing day-to-day operations and leading your center forward, plus get practical strategies for setting boundaries with your team and finally tackling that project you keep putting off. If "enrollment" (or any other important project) keeps showing up on your to-do list week after week, this episode is your roadmap to breaking free from constant interruptions and reclaiming your role as a leader. Check out our new Lunch and Lead series HEREConnect with us at The Director's Club HERE

Tired of the "crisis" talk in early childhood education? Me too.The truth: funding being pulled is a crisis. Everything else? That's just business asking you to lead.I share what I learned when the payphone industry collapsed during my banking career - and how it changed how I run my childcare center today. We'll talk Money, Administration, and People: the three things you need to focus on to build a business that weathers any storm.Stop reacting. Start leading. Let's do this work together.www.thedirectorsclub.net

Effective Mentoring through Workshop Reflections: Simple Steps for Childcare EducatorsJoin Noelle as she shares three practical ways to mentor and develop less experienced teachers through reflection and action sheets, staff meeting brainstorms, and shared learning activities. Discover how these methods can foster collaborative problem-solving, build strong team dynamics, and enhance the effectiveness of professional development workshops. Listen now for actionable tips to create a more engaged and capable teaching staff.We're expanding our child care center in 2026 and we need to build up our rising leaders. We will need more assistant directors - lead teachers - an infant and toddler team! I've created leadership workshops for my rising leaders and I want to invite you and your team to join us!Take Back Your Day CLICK HERE - Free workshop on September 9th at 1:00 PM Eastern TimeLeadership Day CLICK HERE - For Child Care Cetner Directors; In-Person in Wrentham, Massachusetts on October 2nd 8:30 AM - 5 PM meals and a pretty notebook included!Leading The Way CLICK HERE - Rising Leadership 6-Week Virtual workshop starts October 8th at 1:00 PM Eastern Time Wednesday'sNeed help implementing what you heard today?We’ve got your back. Inside The Director’s Club, we don’t just talk about solutions — we help you put them into action with done-for-you tools, coaching, and a supportive community of directors who get it. Whether you’re ready to create systems that actually stick or just want to stop feeling like you’re doing this alone, we’re here to support you. Reach out here: thedirectorsclub.net

While some childcare centers are struggling to survive, others are quietly implementing three game-changing financial strategies that are adding thousands to their bottom line each month. In this episode, Noelle shares the exact trends that transformed her center's financial stability—and why they're becoming the new baseline for professional childcare operations. What You'll Learn: Why eliminating discounts actually increased revenue by $3,400/month at ScribbleTime How digital billing systems can save you 30+ hours monthly while improving cash flow The revenue diversification strategies that now represent 22% of total monthly income Real numbers and specific examples from 20 years of center operations Perfect for: Childcare center directors, owners, and administrators ready to move beyond traditional financial models and create sustainable, profitable operations. Key Takeaway: These aren't complicated systems requiring huge investments—they're smart operational shifts any center can implement to increase revenue while reducing administrative burden. Ready to stop chasing payments and start building financial momentum? This episode gives you the roadmap to transform your center's financial future. We're expanding our child care center in 2026 and we need to build up our rising leaders. We will need more assistant directors - lead teachers - an infant and toddler team! I've created leadership workshops for my rising leaders and I want to invite you and your team to join us!Take Back Your Day CLICK HERE - Free workshop on September 9th at 1:00 PM Eastern TimeLeadership Day CLICK HERE - For Child Care Cetner Directors; In-Person in Wrentham, Massachusetts on October 2nd 8:30 AM - 5 PM meals and a pretty notebook included!Leading The Way CLICK HERE - Rising Leadership 6-Week Virtual workshop starts October 8th at 1:00 PM Eastern Time Wednesday'sNeed help implementing what you heard today?We’ve got your back. Inside The Director’s Club, we don’t just talk about solutions — we help you put them into action with done-for-you tools, coaching, and a supportive community of directors who get it. Whether you’re ready to create systems that actually stick or just want to stop feeling like you’re doing this alone, we’re here to support you. Reach out here: thedirectorsclub.net

Ready to grow, relocate, or finally buy your center’s building? In this episode, Noelle shares the real, behind-the-scenes journey of transforming a historic downtown church into the new home of ScribbleTime. From due diligence and real estate scouting to SBA loan applications, code reviews, budgeting, and construction—this is your roadmap to navigating child care real estate expansion with confidence. Whether you're leasing, buying, or just dreaming, this episode is packed with practical tips, resources, and honest reflections to guide your next big move.Need help implementing what you heard today?We’ve got your back. Inside The Director’s Club, we don’t just talk about solutions — we help you put them into action with done-for-you tools, coaching, and a supportive community of directors who get it. Whether you’re ready to create systems that actually stick or just want to stop feeling like you’re doing this alone, we’re here to support you. Reach out here: thedirectorsclub.net

In this episode, we unpack the biggest mindset shift your team needs before the new school year begins: these are not the same kids who left in June. I share lessons learned from my early days at ScribbleTime and why September should be all about connection, not correction. Tune in for real strategies to help your teachers reset expectations, build strong relationships, and create a calm, confident classroom culture from day one. Need help implementing what you heard today?We’ve got your back. Inside The Director’s Club, we don’t just talk about solutions — we help you put them into action with done-for-you tools, coaching, and a supportive community of directors who get it. Whether you’re ready to create systems that actually stick or just want to stop feeling like you’re doing this alone, we’re here to support you. Reach out here: thedirectorsclub.net

Are you tired of having a mental list of half-finished projects that's longer than your arm? In this episode, Noelle tackles every director's biggest frustration: starting initiatives with the best intentions but never actually completing them because daily operations keep pulling you back into the chaos. From that staff handbook you started six months ago to the new enrollment system you researched but never implemented, Noelle gets real about why even the most organized directors struggle to follow through on important projects. You'll learn the difference between being busy and being productive, why your current approach to project management isn't working in a childcare environment, and the simple framework that finally helps you cross the finish line. Discover Noelle's "project bucket" system that protects your strategic work from daily interruptions, how to break overwhelming projects into manageable daily actions, and why scheduling project time like you schedule staff meetings is a game-changer. Plus, she shares the one-hour rule that keeps momentum going even during your busiest weeks. Whether it's updating policies, launching new programs, or finally organizing those compliance files, this episode gives you the practical tools to stop abandoning projects halfway through and start building a track record of completion that transforms your center's operations. Perfect for: Directors who feel like they're constantly starting but never finishing important projects, struggling to find time for strategic work, or frustrated by the cycle of good intentions without follow-through. Need help implementing what you heard today?We’ve got your back. Inside The Director’s Club, we don’t just talk about solutions — we help you put them into action with done-for-you tools, coaching, and a supportive community of directors who get it. Whether you’re ready to create systems that actually stick or just want to stop feeling like you’re doing this alone, we’re here to support you. Reach out here: thedirectorsclub.net

This Changed The Game At My CenterIn this episode, learn how a simple 20-minute monthly reflective practice can transform your child care center from reactive to proactive, isolated to collaborative, and burnt-out to fulfilled. The host shares firsthand experiences from her center to illustrate the powerful and lasting impacts of implementing systematic reflection among staff. Key insights include improving classroom transitions, identifying and addressing systemic issues, fostering collaborative problem-solving, and boosting staff morale and retention. The episode invites directors to start small, embed reflection in staff meetings, and gradually expand the practice for long-term success. Listeners are also introduced to an upcoming coaching week for detailed guidance on implementing this transformative practice in their own centers.Dig deeper into Reflections and get the entire system I use here: memberships.kartra.com/page/collaborationandcoachingweekLearn more about us: The Director's Club Membership - The Directors ClubPlus, grab my FREE Teacher Retention Plan to help strengthen your team’s accountability and commitment: https://memberships.kartra.com/page/theultimateteacherretentionchecklist

In this episode, Noelle discusses actionable strategies to help make new habits stick without overhauling your entire life. She shares a personal story about a director who successfully incorporated a new habit by pairing it with an activity she enjoyed—getting coffee. Noelle outlines three main techniques: tying the habit to something you like, starting with small, manageable goals, and using visual cues. These methods help create consistency and make the process of forming new habits less daunting. Noelle emphasizes the importance of setting yourself up for success in a way that fits your lifestyle, rather than fighting against it.Join The Club! The Director's Club Membership - The Directors ClubPlus, grab my FREE Teacher Retention Plan to help strengthen your team’s accountability and commitment: https://memberships.kartra.com/page/theultimateteacherretentionchecklistThe Early Education Empowerment Conference, come see me in person! Plus 14 other amazing speakers! https://memberships.kartra.com/page/empowermentconference

In this episode, Noelle discusses the positive side of receiving parent complaints and introduces the concept of a clear parent expectation policy to reduce these complaints. She shares insights from her own experience of implementing a one-page document that covers common areas of confusion. The policy includes key topics like communication expectations, arrival and pickup procedures, health policies, behavior and discipline, payment and fees, classroom transitions, and more. By setting clear expectations upfront, Noelle highlights the significant drop in parent complaints and improved relationships. This episode aims to help childcare centers proactively minimize parent concerns and improve their overall program.Plus, grab my FREE Teacher Retention Plan to help strengthen your team’s accountability and commitment: https://memberships.kartra.com/page/theultimateteacherretentionchecklistThe Early Education Empowerment Conference, come see me in person! Plus 14 other amazing speakers! https://memberships.kartra.com/page/empowermentconference