The Director's Planner: Week of February 17th, 2025
On field trips, fire drills, and planning for spring break
Happy Tuesday! I spent a wonderful day off yesterday with my little ones but am back to it today 😊 Although the temps up north are beyond freezing…. Nothing like windchills of -30 to wake you up in the morning!
This is a fairly light week, with more to come next week. Enjoy!
1 Weekly Focus
Evaluate Your Interview PROCESS
Hire ______ new team members by February 28th.
We have fresh job postings and we know what questions we want to ask prospective candidates. But asking the questions is just the first step. How do you determine if a candidates answers will make them a good fit? What about ensuring the offer and onboarding process is effective?
This week, evaluate your interview PROCESS. Are you using your updated questions to have a robust conversation and understand a potential employee’s thinking process? Do you have steps in place to keep them engaged between an offer and their first day?
💡 Pro Tip: Insiders I will be diving into practical tips on HOW to evaluate and improve your interview (and post-interview) process later this week. Keep your eyes peeled because there is some great info coming your way!
2 Thoughts to Consider
I. You’re not just hiring staff—you’re shaping the experience of every child and family who walks through your doors.
Every hire impacts not just your team, but the children and families you serve. The right people make your center feel warm, welcoming, and high-quality. The wrong ones? You know what happens. Are your hiring decisions reflecting the experience you want families to have?
II. Pay isn’t everything.
Yes, wages matter—we all know early childhood staff are overwhelmingly underpaid, and that’s an industry-wide issue we should continue to push for change on. But while we work to fix the system, we also have to focus on what we can control right now.
People don’t just leave jobs over money; they leave because of burnout, bad management, and feeling unappreciated. A positive, supportive workplace can be the difference between a team that sticks around and one that constantly turns over.
So as you work through your interview process, take time to really hear what the candidate is looking for in a workplace. Is it flexibility? Positive co-worker relationships? Why did they leave their last job and how can you turn their reasons for leaving a prior role into reasons they will choose to stay at your center?
3 Action Items
I. Begin to work on your spring break coverage plan
Spring break might not mean closures for your center, but it can still make staffing a bit of a nightmare. Employees with school-age kids will likely request time off, while families with older siblings may be using that week for vacations. In the ideal world, it all evens out!
But that is why preparation is important. Check in with staff now about PTO requests so you can anticipate any coverage gaps. You can also survey families to see how many children will actually be attending—if attendance dips, you will be able to adjust schedules accordingly.
If you anticipate staffing shortages, start thinking about solutions. Can you adjust room ratios, utilize floaters, or bring in substitutes? Planning ahead will save you from last-minute scrambling.
II. Start organizing summer field trips (in-house or off-site)
If you plan to offer summer field trips, now is the time to start booking. Many popular destinations (museums, farms, splash pads) fill up fast, and transportation options may become limited as summer approaches.
✅ Decide on your mix of in-house vs. off-site field trips—Do you need a bus, or will activities be brought to your center?
✅ Reach out to local attractions now to check availability and group pricing.
✅ Confirm transportation needs—If you require a bus service, make reservations early before spots fill up.
💡 Pro Tip: Post in your local Director’s Facebook group for fun on-site field trip ideas. Then create a list that you can keep updated year round! Brainstorm creative experiences like petting zoos, puppet shows, or interactive STEM activities.
III. Conduct your monthly fire drill
Fire drills may feel routine, and this time of year makes them extra fun (especially in the freezing north). If staff and kids are dragging their feet, switch things up!
Try inviting a child to be the official stopwatch keeper, or give a small reward to the room that completes the drill fastest while following all protocols. Better yet, see if a local firefighter can visit afterward to reinforce the importance of practicing—both at school and at home.