Every strong organization has a story of growth and at Pettengill Academy, ours has been shaped by reflection, learning, and an unwavering commitment to doing better for children, families, and staff.
When we look back at where we started and compare it to where we are today, one thing is clear: growth didn’t happen by accident. It happened through intentional leadership, clear expectations, and a willingness to evaluate what was working and what wasn’t.
This is the story of how we’ve strengthened our program over the years, not just by growing in size, but by growing in clarity, consistency, and purpose.
Investing in Leadership: Growing Strong From the Inside Out
One of the most important shifts we’ve made over the years is our investment in leadership training and staff development. We recognized early on that strong programs require strong leaders and leadership is a skill that must be developed, not assumed.
Our directors and leadership team participate in ongoing training focused on:
- Effective communication
- Coaching and accountability
- Operational consistency
- Team development
- Problem-solving and decision-making
By equipping our leaders with tools, language, and support, we’ve created consistency across our centers while still allowing each leader to bring their own strengths to their role.
A Training Program Built for Growth
Excellence doesn’t happen by hoping people “just know” what to do. It happens when teams are trained, supported, and given clear expectations then coached as they grow.
That’s why we built a robust training platform that includes:
- 70+ hours of orientation training for new team members
- 40 hours of ongoing professional development each year for all educators
- Training opportunities during snow days so we can continue learning even when schedules change
In addition, we close 4–5 times per year for full-day professional development and culture-building days. These days are designed to strengthen our teaching practices, align our team around shared standards, and build a workplace culture where people feel connected, supported, and proud of the work they do.
This commitment to training reinforces a simple truth: when we invest in our team, children and families benefit most.
Building Systems and Standards That Support Excellence
As we grew, we knew that relying on memory, habits, or informal processes would no longer be enough. To provide high-quality care consistently, we needed clear systems and standards.
Over the years, we’ve created and refined structured procedures for every major area of our operations, including:
Enrollment Procedures
Families deserve a smooth, welcoming, and professional enrollment experience. We’ve built clear enrollment systems that ensure:
- Consistent communication
- Accurate documentation
- Clear expectations for families
- A strong first impression of our program
Allergy and Health Procedures
Children’s safety is non-negotiable. Our allergy and health procedures are detailed, documented, and consistently followed to protect children and give families peace of mind.
Classroom Operations
We’ve established clear classroom standards so that expectations are consistent across age groups and locations. This includes routines, ratios, learning environments, and daily practices that support both children and teachers.
Classroom Coverage and Communication
Staff absences and transitions happen—but how they’re handled matters. Our coverage systems ensure classrooms remain supported, ratios are maintained, and communication stays clear, even on challenging days.
Open Communication and Transparency With Families
As we’ve grown, we’ve become even more intentional about how we communicate with families. We believe trust is built through open communication, clear expectations, and a commitment to transparency delivered with professionalism and respect.
Our goal is simple: families should feel informed and confident, with no surprises at the end of the day.
We strengthen transparency by:
- Sharing timely, accurate updates through our communication tools
- Addressing questions and concerns early—before they grow into frustration
- Documenting incidents clearly and promptly so families are informed in real time
- Using consistent, respectful language that reflects partnership
We also encourage families to speak directly with our directors when something needs more time, privacy, or deeper support. Open communication isn’t just welcomed—it’s expected. When families and schools communicate regularly, children benefit most.
Clear Communication Standards With Families
To support that transparency across every classroom and location, we’ve established consistent communication standards so parents feel informed, respected, and confident, no matter which classroom or center their child attends.
We’ve strengthened our communication by:
- Establishing clear expectations for daily updates
- Using consistent language and tone
- Documenting incidents and sharing information transparently
- Encouraging open dialogue with teachers and directors
These standards help eliminate confusion and ensure families receive the same level of professionalism and care across our program.
Accountability That Supports Growth
One of the most important evolutions in our program has been how we approach accountability.
We believe accountability should:
- Support learning and growth
- Encourage reflection and improvement
- Provide clarity around expectations
- Include appropriate discipline when needed
Our accountability processes are designed to allow for coaching, feedback, and development while also holding firm boundaries when expectations are not met. This balance ensures fairness, consistency, and integrity.
Growth happens when people feel supported and responsible, and our systems are built to reinforce both.
Building a Team That Wants to Learn and Grow
As we’ve strengthened our program, we’ve become increasingly intentional about the team we build.
We seek educators and leaders who:
- Want to learn and grow
- Are open to feedback
- Value consistency and professionalism
- Believe in high standards for themselves and others
We know that growth isn’t for everyone, and that’s okay. At times, team members realize our vision, values, or expectations no longer align with their own. When that happens, we believe in parting ways respectfully and wishing them the best in their next chapter.
Protecting our culture means being honest about alignment, and committed to the standards we’ve set.
Audits, Reviews, and Continuous Improvement
To maintain excellence, we’ve implemented audit systems and regular reviews to ensure our standards are being followed consistently.
These audits help us:
- Identify strengths
- Address gaps
- Provide targeted coaching
- Maintain consistency across locations
They are not about fault-finding, they are about growth, learning, and continuous improvement.
Consistent Leadership Meetings and Alignment
Another key part of our growth has been the implementation of consistent leadership meetings. These meetings allow our leadership team to:
- Stay aligned on vision and goals
- Review data and feedback
- Address challenges collaboratively
- Share best practices across centers
Consistency at the leadership level creates consistency throughout the entire organization.
Building Toward Our Vision—Together
Today, Pettengill Academy is stronger because of the systems, standards, and people who support it. We are intentional about building a team that not only believes in our vision but actively helps us reach it.
We expect high standards because children deserve excellence. We invest in our people because strong teams create strong programs. And we remain committed to growing not just bigger, but better.
From then to now, our journey has been one of purpose, progress, and pride and we’re just getting started.