Marketing In & Out of Your Program
What does marketing have to do with your staff?
That was one of the conversations ECE leaders explored during our recent Directors’ Community of Practice. The room was filled with leaders leaning into the discussion, sharing insights, strategies, and creative ideas for marketing their programs in new ways.
Katie Theobald, Starting Point’s Career Development Coordinator, guided the conversation around building your program’s brand, attracting new staff, and recognizing an important piece of the marketing puzzle: your current staff can be some of your best marketing.
Leaders reflected on questions like: What would families say about your teachers? What makes your educators special? What strengths are worth celebrating publicly?
The conversation sparked practical and creative ideas—from social media and authentic testimonials to branded clothing, employee business cards, and referral or rewards programs. It was a reminder that marketing doesn’t always have to be a big campaign. Sometimes, it starts with telling the story of the people and strengths that already make your program special.
Looking for additional support with recruitment? Starting Point offers Staff Recruitment Services to help programs strengthen their hiring efforts and connect with potential candidates.
Stephanie Moore, Starting Point’s Training Coordinator, also shared information about accessing self-paced professional development through Starting Point’s Learning Management System.
Learning Management System
The Directors’ Community of Practice is about more than the topic on the agenda. It is a space for ECE leaders to share what is working, learn from one another, and leave with new ideas to bring back to their programs.
We hope to see you at our next Directors’ Community of Practice!
Directors' Community of Practice
October 14th, 2026
10:00 am – 11:30 am
Starting Point Headquarters
The topic for our October meeting is: Burnt Out on Data
Registration opens Fall 2026.
The Directors’ Community of Practice (DCP) is a collaborative peer learning space for center-based child care administrators in Cuyahoga County, focused on networking, leadership, program quality, and continuous improvement. DCP supports directors through peer connection, shared problem-solving, and practical discussion aligned with the realities of program operations and quality systems.
