Christine McNally is a heartfelt leader and educator in our space and has been doing childcare for close to 25 years, since 1998. You may also recognize her from appearing on stage at the Child Care Success Summit, telling her story and sharing her amazing video for hundreds of engaged listeners. In this episode, Christine joins Kris to talk about her school, Under the Magic Pine Tree, a small Early Learning Center in Gardnerville, NV that is currently serving a waitlist with 92% enrollment. Christine talks about why she saw a need to open up her own daycare after a low-quality experience with another care center, how she keeps her positive mindset, and why she feels everyone is a rockstar in child care. Christine also provides some great resources for curriculum and marketing, and fills us in about her famous Great Dane that was a show dog!
Key Takeaways:
[6:02] Christine talks about opening Under the Magic Pine Tree, a small Early Learning Center in Gardnerville, NV. She has three classrooms licensed for 48 children and serves kids nine months of age until they go off to kindergarten. Currently, there is a waitlist and enrollment is at 92%.
[8:33] Christine has been in early childhood education since 1998 and started at 19 with her own in-home daycare after she felt her son wasn’t getting proper care. She tells a horrifying story about the low quality of care that a daycare tried to pass off on her son, and Christine knew it wasn’t good enough for her son or other parents.
[12:39] Christine and her husband have been together since they were teens and they still like each other even after working together and spending almost every waking moment together!
Her fun fact is that she loves going on an RV trip, and even went on an extended one for four weeks, getting to see many beautiful sights.
[13:57] Second fun fact: Christine used to raise and show champion Great Danes! You could catch one of her beauties, Shine, as the spokesdog for Pergo Flooring.
[16:33] What sets Under the Pine Tree apart from other learning centers? Great parent communication, a clean center, and commitment to excellence from every member of the staff.
[19:44] How does Christine keep her positive mindset and energy up?
[24:14] Christine was chosen as a finalist in the Childcare Rockstar Contest in Vegas and had an amazing entry and incredible video. What was it like to go on stage in front of 900 people and share her story? What other goodness came out of putting herself out there?
[27:00] Christine talks about the decision to foster and growing up with a foster brother.
[34:33] As a founder of the Nevada Child Care Association, Christine talks about what initiatives we can expect in the future.
[36:21] To Christine, if you are in the child care business and passionately making a difference, you are a rockstar. Every one of her team members is a rockstar, from her assistants to her leads to the kitchen staff.
Quotes:
Mentioned in This Episode:
The Child Care Success Company
The Child Care Success Academy
The Slight Edge: Turning Simple Disciplines into Massive Success and Happiness, by Jeff Olson
