Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Additional Information
Personal Information
Timeline
Generic

Kristen Thomaston

Bellevue,US

Summary

Dependable Regional Director well-trained to handle issues with poise. Offering over 20 years of expertise in various roles for organizations in Early Education Industry. An enthusiastic personality with skills in leadership and program operations. Forward-thinking Regional Manager with proven operations, sales and personnel management abilities. Equipped to drive business success with innovation and strategic approaches. Achievement-oriented, ambitious and influential leader with articulate communication skills and resourceful nature.

Overview

7
7
years of professional experience

Work History

Regional Manager

KinderCare Learning Companies, Creme Schools
Lake Oswego, OR
01.2024 - Current
  • Ensure the safety and security of each person that enters our schools through strategic planning and oversight of the individual locations within Region
  • Assist in organizing, directing, maintaining compliance, and delivering world-class customer service for families, staff, and guests.
  • Ensure our curriculum is fully implemented.
  • Retain current families and increase enrollment to meet licensing capacity.
  • Partner with the Vice President of Education to ensure daily curriculum execution in each school.
  • Deliver on brand promise
  • Oversee student transitions, ensuring that developmentally appropriate decisions and clear communication with parents occur in compliance with company and state requirements.
  • Partner with the Vice President of Government and Regulatory Affairs and comply with all regulatory agencies, such as State Licensing, Fire, Health, etc.
  • There are no licensing violations when planned or unplanned licensing visits take place.
  • Be aware of all existing and updated childcare licensing regulations.
  • Monthly Team Regional Manager Zooms. Ranking schools on all KPI’sand sharing best practices.
  • Solicit feedback regularly from parents and Team Members in an effort to make any necessary improvement in schools
  • Enroll each school to capacity while maximizing the profitability of the operation. Daily attendance numbers should equate to license capacity.
  • Grow school-age programs (before school, after school, holiday camps, and summer camps).
  • Partner with the Vice President of HR and resolve problems effectively related to the management of the school
  • Maintain staffing levels, allowing for full execution of curriculum and programs in the region.

Regional Director

Cadence Education
Omaha, NE
06.2021 - 12.2023
  • Oversee and manage operations of 27 Montessori schools (Nebraska, Texas, Arizona, Washington, Virginia, Georgia, Kansas and Oregon)
  • Supervise and provide leadership and training to Area Manager, Senior Director and directors
  • Adhere to and uphold all licensing standards within the schools and programs
  • Act as a liaison between Cadence Education and state and public health authorities
  • Ensure school compliance with all state and county rules and regulations
  • Manage and maintain school budget
  • Recruit and retain quality team members
  • Actively contribute to program growth and reputation
  • Review and evaluate staff performance
  • Create staff training plans for growth and retention
  • Manage Montessori training initiatives for staff
  • Create active succession plans
  • Ensure monthly safety trainings are complete
  • Execute quarterly safety inspections of schools and programs
  • Audit staff and child files to ensure accuracy
  • Recruit, hire and train qualified team members
  • Collaborate with school support center on hiring, enrollment, program growth and operations
  • Provide parent support as needed within the schools
  • Encourage active collaboration amongst Montessori region
  • Communicate and enforce all Cadence polices and procedures with staff members
  • Manage and maintain facilities, facility requests and work orders
  • Ensure schools have adequate supplies and materials
  • Engage in Cadence level initiatives for teacher and director recognition
  • Meet quarterly goals for enrollment, staffing, retention and budget.

Regional Director of Operations

Montessori Educational Centers
Omaha, NE
08.2019 - 05.2021
  • Directly supervises 10 Montessori directors
  • Collaborates as needed with the HR Generalist and admin team members
  • Ensure program standards are being delivered
  • Assures DHHS standards and quality assurance across all centers
  • Projects staffing needs; identifies and assists in hiring the best talent; coaches, develops and motivates staff in collaboration with Field Managers
  • Holds staff accountable; works with management team to initiate and implement disciplinary action or corrective action plans as needed
  • Supports orientation and ongoing training and PD; coaches' staff in company practices as needed
  • Promotes teamwork and enthusiasm; fosters commitment to company culture, mission, vision, and values
  • Works with Directors and HR Generalist to ensure accurate and complete licensing and training files prior to annual licensing
  • Ensures performance evaluations and professional development plans for the staff are completed in a timely manner to ensure the program maintains a high level of quality and staff satisfaction
  • Addresses staff concerns in a timely and compassionate, but professional, manner
  • Networks within the school community to recruit new families; committed to reaching enrollment goals
  • Ensures exceptional customer service experiences for all families; personally interviews at least 10% of all families once per year to gauge satisfaction with the program and recommend improvements
  • Follows up with families and school team a minimum of quarterly to gauge satisfaction with MEC program
  • Documents effectively: consistent use of company team management tools/processes
  • Ensures locations are consistently clean, neat and organized and meets program environment and quality standards; recommends enhancements and improvements as needed
  • Monitoring the environment for health and safety hazards
  • Supports and leads new company initiatives; ensures adaptation of new programs, policies and procedures by staff
  • Ensures licensing compliance, manages annual licensing inspections
  • Ensures compliance with all federal and state laws, NE child care licensing regulations, and company standards, policies and procedures
  • Completes all required paperwork and record keeping on a timely basis
  • Demonstrates accountability and initiative; identifies opportunities/goals for the program
  • Seeks professional development opportunities; stays current on new practices in the education industry
  • Assists Owners in searching for new expansion opportunities; makes community connections
  • Looks for ways to support the local communities through donations of goods, services, staff time to sponsor and help out at events, etc
  • Ensures company budget is being followed and met
  • In collaboration with the Owner, establishes a Director budget and bonus program
  • Oversees the bonus program for Directors and school staff; making bonus recommendations according to established procedures and budget
  • Looks for ways to streamline expenses and meet targeted budget numbers
  • Creates schedule templates and labor hours budget for Directors; ensuring compliance with regulations, company policies and budget.

Senior Program Director of Early Education

YMCA Early Learning Centers
Omaha, NE
05.2017 - 07.2019
  • Oversees program growth and development
  • Accommodates the educational needs of up to 150 families
  • Oversees 2019-2020 operating budget
  • Holds state license for the program
  • Recruits, hires, trains, develops, schedules and directs staff as needed
  • Approves all lesson planning and newsletters
  • Develops an appropriate curriculum and ensures that it complies with state and federal requirements, along with maintaining all licensing regulations at all times
  • Reviews and evaluates staff performance
  • Develops strategies to motivate staff to achieve good lesson planning, parent communication
  • Ensures proper amount of classes are on the schedule to meet the demands of membership base throughout the year
  • Knows the number of participants along with identifying names of participants and families
  • Compiles program statistics
  • Monitors and evaluates the effectiveness of participation in the program
  • Actively recruits and participates in Strong Communities Campaign
  • Actively attends Monthly Childcare Quality Team Meetings
  • Daxko: Creates and inputs all child schedules on a weekly basis or as needed
  • Y USA Living our Cause Trainer
  • Monitoring classroom to ensure the safety and well-being of the children in the program
  • Plans and engages children in age appropriate learning activities while maintain appropriate classroom behaviors
  • Organizes, reviews and reports all CACFP information and numbers
  • Establishes and cultivates meaningful community collaboration
  • Develops policies for the center and communicates the policies with staff and parents.

Education

Masters in Early Education -

Ashford University
San Diego, CA
12.2018

Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration -

Ashford University
Clinton, IA

Certificate in Early Education -

Montgomery College Rockville
Rockville, MD

Skills

  • Strategic Planning
  • Process Improvements
  • Program Optimization
  • Time Management
  • Organizational Skills
  • Management Team Building
  • Employee Motivation
  • Staff Development
  • Team Leadership
  • Operational management

Additional Information

  • Regional Director with Passion, Experience, Leadership
  • Awarded Presidential recognition for Leadership and Volunteerism
  • Focused and caring leader with a passion for motivating, engaging, and empowering groups
  • 14 years of leading challenging childhood programs, parental interest, and problem-solving
  • Uncompromising integrity, loyalty, performance excellence, and ability to delegate responsibility
  • Areas of expertise: Early Childhood education Time management Member relations Collaboration Communication Strategic Planning

Personal Information

Work Permit: Authorized to work in the US for any employer

Timeline

Regional Manager

KinderCare Learning Companies, Creme Schools
01.2024 - Current

Regional Director

Cadence Education
06.2021 - 12.2023

Regional Director of Operations

Montessori Educational Centers
08.2019 - 05.2021

Senior Program Director of Early Education

YMCA Early Learning Centers
05.2017 - 07.2019

Masters in Early Education -

Ashford University

Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration -

Ashford University

Certificate in Early Education -

Montgomery College Rockville

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Kristen Thomaston