MO-SECA Business Academy - Springfield

Are you newly enrolled in our administrator coaching program? Join us for an overview of the MO-SECA project and benefits. We will give a quick summary of the program and answer your questions.

Please note: No clock hours are awarded for this general overview session.

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What draws most early childhood professionals into their careers? Most likely, it isn’t budgets and employee handbooks. When our days get full with caring for the children we serve, we often drop the priority of getting the business side of things complete. How can we get it all done? Susan Tomlinson Schmidt has spent more than 30 years working with administrators to improve their business practices. Her perspective on how actually getting down to business will help us serve children better will inspire you to prioritize the tasks that are typically at the bottom of your list. Learn the how’s and why’s of taking care of business.

[MOPD Reference: The Upside of Getting Down of Business - 1.5 clock hours]

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This session explores the powerful impact motivation plays in attracting and retaining high-quality EC staff members. Administrators will learn, discuss, and reflect on ways to effectively motivate staff including common motivators and demotivators for EC staff. In this applied session, administrators will develop a plan for identifying individual motivational factors and how to meet the needs of existing and new staff members within their EC program.

[MOPD Reference: Motivating ECE Staff - 1.5 clock hours]

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This session introduces best practices for assessing and managing ECE staff performance and how this impacts overall program effectiveness. This applied session offers administrators an opportunity to practice conducting a performance review meeting and how to set SMART performance goals that align staff development and program operations needs.

[MOPD Reference: Performance Management and Evaluation - 1.5 clock hours]

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Minimizing the risk associated with your family child care business is essential to protecting the children, the families, and your business. We define risk management, identify the potential hazards the family child care owner could encounter, and discuss strategies to alleviate the hazard to provide a safe and healthy environment for all parties, but most importantly the children.

[MOPD Reference: Secure Your Business - 1.5 clock hours] 

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This session highlights the demanding nature of EC programs and introduces the need to support physical and mental wellness to mitigate burnout, turnover, and organizational trauma. In this applied session, administrators will discuss and practice strategies to establish a positive atmosphere that fosters resilience, collaboration, and job satisfaction to create a thriving EC program.

[MOPD Reference: Supporting Workplace Wellness - 1.5 clock hours]

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This discussion is designed to empower early childhood business owners and educators to articulate their vision, uphold their core values, and amplify their impact through purpose-driven actions.

[MOPD Reference: Voices of Vision - 1.5 clock hours]

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Being a visible, contributing member of your community is key to the success of any small business. In Part 1, we will be discussing the importance of community relationships and marketing. We will examine various strategies to increase community involvement and visibility utilizing marketing tools. In addition, we will look at essential best practices in communicating with families. We will review essential policies that should be included in your family handbook. It is recommended you bring your current handbook to training for reference.

[MOPD Reference: Strategies for Success - 1.5 clock hours]

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This session explores the important role risk management has on program finances including positive and negative outcomes. In this applied session, administrators will work through the steps required to assess and plan for risk events for their EC program. Administrators will discuss and reflect on their personal level of risk tolerance and ways to increase opportunities for developing a thriving EC program.

[MOPD Reference: Managing Risk in Your Center - 1.5 clock hours]

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This session explores the intersection of a dynamic EC marketplace, program vision/mission/values, and organizational capacity including core capabilities. In this applied session, administrators will be led through the strategic fit process and will reflect on what makes their program truly unique and how to use this approach to ensure their program’s sustainability within a complex EC landscape.

[MOPD Reference: Determining Your Program's Strategic Fit - 1.5 clock hours]

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Every businessowner is looking for ways to increase revenue and care for themselves and their family. In Part 2, we will examine strategies for success through exploring opportunities to increase revenue for your family child care business. There will be ample opportunities to network with your colleagues as we move into the importance of providing benefits such as paid holidays, vacation days, sick days and professional development days as well as other benefits to ensure your overall well-being and personal growth.

[MOPD Reference: Strategies for Success: Business Practices and Supports Part 2 - 1.5 clock hours]

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This session focuses on how to navigate challenging conversations in your EC program. Administrators will discuss and reflect on various challenging conversations that occur within EC programs and develop strategies to better handle these conversations. In this applied session, administrators will have an opportunity to practice handling challenging conversations and providing peer-to-peer feedback to foster growth and improvement in this area.

[MOPD Reference: Navigating Challenging Conversations - 1.5 clock hours]

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This insightful workshop takes participants on a journey through the key principles outlined in Gino Wickman's book "Traction." Through interactive discussions and hands-on activities, attendees will explore how to apply these principles to their own businesses, gaining a deeper understanding of how to achieve clarity, focus, and growth.

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