The Director's Club

Resource Parent Handbook FREE Workshop HERE:  https://memberships.kartra.com/page/parenthandbooktemplate Episode Title: 5 Things I'm Updating at ScribbleTime Right Now Episode Description: What does summer really look like behind the scenes at a child care center? In this episode, I'm taking you inside ScribbleTime and sharing the five areas we're updating before the school year begins. After more...

For those who are new to our community—and as a reminder for those who have been here for years—I wanted to share the story behind why I do this work. In this episode, I talk about my journey from corporate banking to child care ownership, the leadership lessons that shaped how I run ScribbleTime, and the personal experiences that inspired The Director's Club and The Early Education Teachers Loung...

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...

Noelle shares a staffing dilemma at her childcare center: a group of six or seven teachers with ongoing attendance and punctuality issues that persist despite meetings, warnings, and write-ups, prompting her to start hiring and potentially work some staff out. She outlines an inexpensive hiring plan before paying for ads, including rewriting and simplifying job postings with a positive culture-and...

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...

 Noelle talks about staff retention challenges in child care programs, including accountability, support needs across generations, and improvement that doesn’t always come from training or formal feedback. She explains how adding simple, intentional one-on-one “connection” check-ins a few times a year can shift a culture where employees only meet with leadership when something is wrong. These meet...

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 opera...

Noelle explains why teachers may struggle or quit within the first 90 days when onboarding is overwhelming or unclear. She shares how her center improved retention and confidence by breaking onboarding into day-by-day checklist sections (starting with safety), creating predictable routines, and adding quick daily check-ins from multiple leaders. She also recommends assigning dedicated onboarders b...

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 bu...

This is just a "welcome back" to the new year!   Here are all the links I spoke about in the podcast.  Make sure you reach out with topics you want to hear about - I'm getting ready to write new episodes. Reach out to me at customerservice@thedirectorsclub.net and send me topics you want to hear about on the podcast!  I'd love to hear from you. FREE Book Club JOIN HERE We are hosting it on Thursda...

Effective Mentoring through Workshop Reflections: Simple Steps for Childcare Educators Join 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 effectiv...

 Behind every well-run child care center is a strong office team—but building one doesn’t happen by accident. In this episode, Noelle shares five simple but powerful systems that transform daily chaos into smooth operations. From setting the stage with quick admin check-ins to mentoring future leaders, you’ll discover practical ways to lighten your load, strengthen your leadership bench, and creat...

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 elimina...

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 Time Leadership Day CLICK HERE - Fo...

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 confid...

Ever felt the sting of hiring the wrong person? You're not alone. This episode dives into common red flags to watch for during childcare staff interviews. Learn about key interview questions and strategies to uncover true character and work ethic. Discover how to conduct effective working interviews and why trusting your gut can save you from potential headaches. Don't miss these essential tips to...

 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, confide...

Have you ever had that sinking feeling when one of your favorite teachers sits down in your office and tells you they're thinking about leaving? In this episode, Noelle shares the wake-up call conversation that completely changed how she approached culture at ScribbleTime—and how you can avoid the same mistakes that almost cost her an amazing teacher.  You'll discover why culture isn't something t...

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 researc...

 In this episode, Noelle shares the powerful shift from compliance-driven observations to meaningful mentorship conversations that actually lead to teacher growth. Learn how a simple tweak in how you approach feedback can boost confidence, reduce burnout, and build a stronger teaching team — one conversation at a time. Dig deeper into Reflections and get the entire system I use during coaching wee...

This Changed The Game At My Center In 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 includ...

In this episode, Noelle from the Directors Club shares insights on crafting compelling job ads to attract better applicants in early education. She emphasizes the importance of making your job listing stand out by leading with what potential teachers care about, highlighting the experience rather than just responsibilities, and making the application process personal and inviting. Noelle also shar...

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 vis...

Noelle discusses effective strategies to prevent staff from abusing the time clock, a common issue that can lead to wasted money and time for directors. The episode provides practical solutions, such as setting clear time clock policies, using digital time tracking systems, enforcing break and overtime rules, and implementing a no-adjustment policy for time clock errors. The importance of accounta...

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 poli...