The Director's Planner: Week of November 17, 2025
You’re allowed to be both proud of how far you’ve come and tired of how long it’s taking.
Thanks to everyone who voted on planner timing! The results were almost a perfect split, so I’ll keep sending these at the start of the week and will give a quick Friday heads-up whenever something important is coming up.
💡 This Week’s Thought
“You’re allowed to be both proud of how far you’ve come and tired of how long it’s taking.” —Unknown
We’ve hit that point in the year where you are likely feeling two things at once. Proud of how far you’ve gotten in your program, and completely exhausted by how long it’s taking to get everything running the way you want. This is your reminder that it is normal to feel both of these things, even if you are an experienced Director! November has a way of magnifying the good and challenging. So if you’re feeling stretched, don’t assume it means you’re doing something wrong. It usually means you’re in the middle of the messy work. Keep going, you’re building something amazing and the best things don’t happen overnight.
✨ Something to Use
This week’s resource is a Circle of Control made specifically for early childhood leaders. If you haven’t used one before, it’s a simple way to separate what’s actually in your control from everything that isn’t. Which is something directors don’t get reminded of nearly enough… Our jobs are a constant mix of emotions, unexpected changes, and problems we didn’t create (but still have to deal with.) This visual helps you pause and sort through the chaos so you can put your time and energy toward what’s yours to manage (your communication, your boundaries, your follow-through) instead of carrying things that truly aren’t.
Download it below, print it, hang it somewhere visible, and use it as a quick reset. I’ll share a teacher version and a reflection worksheet later this week if you want to use it with your team! (And as always, feel free to comment if I missed a big one you think should be on here!)
📅 What’s Coming Up
Each week I break down your to-do list into bite-sized tasks so you can stay on top of running your program without feeling overwhelmed.
I. Hang Thanksgiving “Attendance Trackers” on your classroom doors
Holiday weeks are their own kind of FuN to plan and staff for. You may have more PTO requests then you can approve and are juggling the art of guessing “who is going to show up today?!” To get ahead of that, I recommend printing and hanging the Thanksgiving Attendance Trackers outside each classroom so families can mark which days their child will be in attendance next week. This gives you a clear picture of staffing needs, helps support PTO requests, and prevents you from over- or under-scheduling during a short week.
II. Create (or update!) your Favorite Things binder for staff
For my newer Directors, now is the perfect time to create a “Favorite Things” binder for your team! It’s a simple way to keep track of who’s in each classroom and the little things they love, like coffee orders, favorite snacks, gift ideas, etc. If you’ve been here a while, you may already have this started, but this is your reminder to give it a quick refresh and make sure any new staff are included.
This becomes the resource heading into the holiday season. Parents are constantly asking, “What should we get for our teachers?” and this takes the pressure off everyone in a really easy, fun, and helpful way. I’ve linked a more detailed guide and template if you want to start or update yours.
🌟 Director Spotlight
Don’t forget to hit reply and tell me what you (or a fellow Director) are doing that you’re proud of, big or small. I want you to brag! Let me hear it!
And that’s it for this week! Easy as A, B, C, 1, 2, 3.
As always, I am so grateful to all of my readers who share my work with other Directors in the field. Together we will do wonderful things!
