Ep. 213 - Getting Your Operational “Stuff” Together with Jami Hartmann
Release Date: 10/23/2025
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Child Care Rockstar Radio
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Child Care Rockstar Radio
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Child Care Rockstar Radio
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Ep. 217 - Not Your Typical Childcare Center with LaVonda Paul
Child Care Rockstar Radio
This week, Kris welcomes LaVonda Paul, a trailblazing early childhood leader and fourth-generation entrepreneur, for an inspiring conversation about legacy, leadership, and the power of showing up. As the owner of Small Impressions Child Development Center in Taylors, South Carolina, LaVonda has spent 19 years building a community-first program. In the episode, LaVonda talks with Kris about how she’s cultivated deep trust with families, built a rock-solid team culture, and gone all-in on advocacy, helping shape policy while showing up for children, parents, and educators alike. She opens...
info_outlineWant to stop the revolving door of teachers and create a rock-solid childcare team? Kris talks with Jami Hartmann from Trainual about how the right systems can transform your center’s operations. They dig into practical strategies for finding great staff, training them effectively, and keeping them motivated. Jami shares some great insights on getting your whole team aligned, creating smooth onboarding, and using technology to make documentation easier. If you’re struggling with staff turnover and want to build a more consistent, high-performing center, this episode is packed with real-world solutions that can help you level up your team.
Key Takeaways:
[5:00] Kris launches her new book, The Antidote to Fear!
[9:02] Alignment is at the core of what Trainual offers, and to think of it as a digital version of your childcare center.
[10:05] The need for operational consistency to deliver exceptional customer service and meet parent expectations.
[10:35] Jami shares her professional journey, including her transition to Trainual, impacting the maternity leave policies, and the challenges of balancing work and motherhood.
[12:35] The beauty of Trainual’s supportive work environment.
[17:33] Fun fact — Jami was on Wheel of Fortune as a teenager!
[19:30] Jami explains how Trainual helps childcare centers by providing a centralized platform for documenting and training staff.
[22:09] Graduating from Google Docs and how Trainual allows for the creation of standard operating procedures and having a well-documented and accessible playbook for childcare centers.
[26:33] Successful documentation needs everyone on the leadership team to contribute and take ownership of their processes.
[28:54] More about the AI component of Trainual, including the content creation piece.
[33:31] Jami identifies the top challenges in the childcare industry, including finding and retaining staff and managing parent communication.
[35:47] It can be a red flag when a center has constant turnover and a revolving door of staff.
[41:55] Jami shares Trainual’s plans for future product development, including enhancing AI capabilities and integrating with other tools.
[44:33] The feature of a public share link that parents can always refer back to.
Quotes:
“At the core of what we do is really about alignment.” — Jami [9:06]
“The inconsistency, or consistency in operations based on how your staff knows the playbook, is the cornerstone for going towards great customer service and giving parents that exceptional experience. It’s very difficult to do that if you aren’t all on the same page together.” — Kris [10:19]
“At the core of that growth is that we genuinely care about our customers, and our success is dependent on our customers’ success.” — Jami [13:17]
“Trainual works really well for any people-powered business.” — Jami [30:42]
Sponsored By:
ChildCare Education Institute (CCEI)
Use code CCSC5 to claim a free course!
Mentioned in This Episode:
The Child Care Success Company
The Child Care Success Academy
Childcare Education Institute: Use code CDARenewal22 to get $100 off your renewal