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Navigating childcare in 2024: Insights from childcare directors

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In this webinar we sat down with two experienced childcare directors, both managing centers with over 120 children enrolled, as well as Lillio’s CEO, Kai-leé Berke! We dove into the key findings from this year’s industry snapshot report Building The Future of Early Childhood Education: 2024 Industry Snapshot Report. We explored emerging educational strategies, uncovered how technology is shaping childcare practices, learned effective parent communication strategies and gained valuable insights into operational best practices.

Our Special Guests:

Tirusha Dave | Founder | Ellie’s Academy

Tirusha Dave is a professional leader in early childhood education and childcare, and the Founder of Ellie’s Academy. She has earned her B.A. degree at Rider University and is currently pursuing her MBA, at William Paterson University. Tirusha has always believed that children learn best when the learning environment is designed to meet the developmental needs of each child, and one which fosters exploration, creativity and independence. She is committed to creating a strong, educational program, and high community-engagement within her community.

Sarah Rhodebeck | Executive Director |  Gateway Region YMCA

Sarah has been the Executive Director for Gateway Region YMCA for over 11 years and has dedicated over twenty years to the YMCA Movement. Sarah has served in numerous positions in the early childhood field and throughout this time, she has developed her talents and abilities as a leader. Sarah has had the opportunity to build, lead, and direct staff and volunteers in various areas, gaining a strong understanding of sound administration, fiscal management practices, and facility management.

Kai-leé Berke | CEO |  Lillio

Kai-leé Berke is the Executive Chair of the Lillio Board of Directors, a lifelong educator, and a nationally known early childhood expert and author. Throughout her career, Kai-leé has specialized in supporting educators at all levels of experience, as the program administrator for a multisite preschool organization and through her local and national work as an early childhood trainer and consultant. She was the co-founder and CEO of Noni Educational Solutions and creator of Noni for Teachers, a digital coaching app designed to support teachers whose students have been impacted by trauma. She was also previously the CEO of Teaching Strategies where she authored and developed all editions of The Creative Curriculum and GOLD, the most widely used, comprehensive early childhood assessment. Her interest in relationships as the foundation for all successful early learning is rooted in her extensive experience as an educator and administrator in infant/toddler, preschool, and kindergarten classrooms.

Key takeaways from this years industry snapshot report!

  • 70% of centers are using a play-based learning approach.
  • 80% of childcare centers plan on staying, or transitioning to digital communication in 2024.
  • 98% of centers say digital communication is very important for new families entering childcare in 2024
  • Increasing enrollment and revenue was listed as the top priority for 2024, with improving family communication in second, and staff retention followed closely in third.

Resources and Links

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Running a Child Care Centre is Hard…

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Click this link HERE to get unlimited access to our library of IACET certified training courses and all Lillio Webinars (with certificates!)

Maddie is a Registered Early Childhood Educator with a Master's in Early Childhood Studies. Her specialty is in Children's Rights and she is currently a Content Strategist for HiMama!

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