At Pettengill Academy, our schools are built on a simple mission: to provide children with a safe, nurturing, high-quality early learning experience every single day.
Most families interact regularly with our incredible teachers and campus directors — the people who are on-site making the daily magic happen. But what many don’t see is the full support system working behind the scenes to keep our centers running smoothly, sustainably, and successfully.
We want to take a moment to explain the role of upper administration and how we work together to ensure the overall health and excellence of our program.
A Strong Foundation Starts at the Top
Pettengill Academy is supported by a dedicated leadership team that includes our CEO and COO, who work from a separate administrative office.
While we may not always be physically present in the front lobby each day, our work is constant and essential.
Upper administration is responsible for the business operations that allow our schools to function at the highest level, including:
- Payroll and financial management
- Licensing and compliance oversight
- Policies, procedures, and program standards
- Curriculum planning and educational support
- Human Resources and staffing systems
- Creating trainings and professional development
- Marketing and enrollment support
- Planning school-wide events and special celebration days
- Weekly supply ordering and operational coordination
These tasks may not always be visible, but they directly impact the quality, consistency, and stability of each campus.
Supporting Schools Through Communication and Problem Solving
Our leadership team works closely with school administration every day.
We are in regular, often daily, communication with directors to:
- Address campus needs
- Solve problems as they arise
- Support staff coaching and development
- Assist with hiring and onboarding
- Help navigate challenging situations when discipline or guidance is needed
- Ensure families are supported with communication and care
- Help us with new ideas for staff, families and children
- And for any other questions they may need
We also communicate with both prospective and current families, helping answer questions, provide resources, and ensure that each family feels informed and welcomed.
Present, Engaged, and Involved
Upper administration is not “hands-off.”
Our CEO and COO are physically in the schools weekly, checking in, supporting directors, observing operations, and sometimes even stepping into classrooms when extra help is needed.
We believe leadership means being present, not distant.
We don’t just manage a business, we support a community.
Operations Director: Boots on the Ground Support
Our Operations Director serves as second-in-command and plays a vital role in daily campus support.
This position is deeply involved in the schools, assisting with:
- Paperwork and licensing support
- Hiring and staffing coordination
- Staff training and director coaching
- Food program orders
- Discipline and employee support when needed
- Day-to-day operational follow-through
The Operations Director helps bridge the gap between upper administration and the daily needs of each campus by being in the schools consistently and proactively.
Directors: Leading the Day-to-Day
Each Pettengill Academy campus has a Director who manages daily operations on-site.
Our directors are responsible for:
- Staffing classrooms
- Ensuring children’s needs are met
- Supporting teachers and families
- Overseeing daily schedules and center flow
- Maintaining a warm, organized, and safe school environment
They are essential leaders and they are never alone.
Our directors operate with the full backing of an administrative team working alongside them every step of the way.
One Team, One Mission
It takes an entire village to run a high-quality childcare and early education program.
Teachers, directors, operations staff, and upper administration all play unique and necessary roles. No one person carries the weight alone and no part of the work is unimportant.
We are proud of the leadership structure we’ve built at Pettengill Academy because it ensures that our schools are supported, healthy, compliant, staffed, and thriving, for children, families, and staff.
Thank you for being part of our community and for trusting us with your little ones.
We’re honored to do this work together.