Making Quality the Standard
Building and Sustaining Excellence in Early Childhood Programs

What does it really take to make sure every classroom in your center meets a high standard—not just once, but year after year? In this session, Dr. Nicol Russell, Chief Academic Officer at Teaching Strategies, and Michelle Salcedo, Director of Professional Development at Teaching Strategies, break down what quality looks like in early childhood programs and how leaders can build systems to support it across classrooms, teams, and even multiple sites.
Walk away with practical, research-based guidance on the following topics.
- What defines a high-quality early learning program—including environment, curriculum, assessment, teacher support, and family partnerships
- How to create consistent practices that support quality across age-groups and classrooms
- Tips for growing your program while keeping quality strong and consistent
- How accreditation tools like NAEYC, CLASS®, and CDA can help strengthen your program and show families and communities your commitment to excellence
- Smart, cost-effective ways to keep your standards high without stretching your budget too thin


The 2025 Private Child Care Virtual Leadership Summit was designed exclusively for owners, operators, and directors of private early childhood education programs. Looking ahead to the 2025–2026 school year, leaders across the country are navigating shifting policies, evolving family expectations, workforce challenges, and increased competition. This summit offers a timely and actionable forum for making sense of it all and moving forward with confidence.
Through expert-led sessions, peer-to-peer conversations, and practical insights, gain tools, strategies, and inspiration to strengthen your program’s quality, sustainability, and impact.
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Leading Through ChangeOn-Demand
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2025 ECE Market InsightsOn-Demand
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Investing in People and PracticeOn-Demand
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The Power of Purposeful AssessmentOn-Demand