The Academy · For owners & directors
Practical conversations for child care leaders, operators, and educators.
Grab your lunch, log in, and level up your child care leadership — one topic at a time, with practical insights from experienced operators and industry leaders.
Next session
Understanding available grants and where to find them, preparing a strong application, using grant funding effectively and managing requirements once you receive them.
Hosted by Krystal Churcher
One registration covers the whole monthly series. You’ll get invites and reminders for every session, starting with this one.
About
Short, practical online sessions for busy child care leaders — experienced operators, educators and industry experts sharing ideas you can use the same day.
Sessions
You only register once. Sign up for any upcoming Lunch & Learn and you’re registered for the whole monthly series: you’ll get the invite, reminders and recording for every session, starting with the next one.
Wed Dec 2 · 11:30am–12:30pm Alberta time
Understanding available grants and where to find them, preparing a strong application, using grant funding effectively and managing requirements once you receive them.
Hosted by Krystal Churcher
One sign-up covers every monthly session.
Nov 2026 · Recording
An interactive session of modern, low-cost marketing strategies every child care owner can implement immediately to increase enrolment and grow with confidence.
Watch recordingOct 2026 · Recording
How child care centers stop chasing tuition: a four-stage billing cycle, PAD timing, cost per occupied space and a script for late payments.
Watch recordingSep 2026 · Recording
How child care operators reduce compliance and liability risk: four risk layers, the identify-implement-monitor-respond cycle and when to escalate.
Watch recordingAug 2026 · Recording
A week-by-week plan for a new child care staff member's first 30 days: competency checks, mentor coaching and training gap versus performance concern.
Watch recordingJun 2026 · Recording
How child care directors build trust with clear, consistent, confident communication: the clarity test, five communication traps and the TRUST check.
Watch recordingMay 2026 · Recording
Child care staff turnover (30-40% typical vs 10-15% stable): weekly check-ins, micro-leadership roles and the three-times rule to cut director stress.
Watch recording
Hosted by
Krystal Churcher is a seasoned child care operator, advocate, and entrepreneur with over a decade of hands-on experience and policy insight. As the founder of award-winning rural child care centers and Chair of the Association of Child Care Entrepreneurs, Krystal is a trusted voice in Alberta and across Canada.
Krystal co-leads the National Committee on Child Care Reform, and supports operators through the Churcher Group with licensing, grants, staffing, and programming. Her sessions blend empathy, expertise, and real-world strategies—perfect for anyone leading in today’s child care landscape.
Register
This one form registers you for the whole monthly series, not a single date. Whichever session caught your eye, you’ll get the invite, reminders and recording for every Lunch & Learn, starting with the next one.
You’ll also receive the monthly newsletter. Unsubscribe anytime (CASL compliant).
Free printable templates, leadership checklists and guides for owners and directors, created from what successful centers actually use.
