Every year, we gather all of our franchise owners from the Celebree School network together to learn, connect, and grow at our Grow Big Conference. Celebree School of Stafford is honored to share that our owner, Moonhee Doan, was nominated for the Grow Small Award. This award celebrates owners who go above and beyond to deliver high-quality early childhood education at their preschool. Hear from Moonhee about what this award means to her.
What does excellence in early childhood education look like in your school each day?
It looks like teachers truly engaging with children by smiling, greeting one another, being happy to be here, and creating a calm, nurturing space. You can see it in the environment, too. It’s always evolving, with displays that reflect the children’s learning and work.
Can you share a story of a child’s growth that really reflects your approach to education?
We had a child who struggled with self-regulation at first and had a hard time using their words to navigate big feelings. It was challenging, for them and for the teachers. We focused on creating a safe, predictable environment with consistent routines, and really prioritized building strong relationships. What really made the difference was partnering with the family. We worked together to create wraparound support that aligned routines at home and school by adjusting sleep schedules and approaching discipline in a consistent way. We stayed committed to Conscious Discipline, with lots of patience, modeling, and redirection. Over time, with patience and consistency, everything shifted. Now that child is thriving and can be a leader in the class who shows empathy toward new students who are having difficulty!
How do you ensure your team delivers a consistent, high-quality learning experience?
It really starts with modeling. Our admin team sets the tone, and that carries through to the classrooms. We stay consistent with care and are always in a mindset of continuous improvement, while always looking for ways to make learning fun and engaging for our students. But at the core, it starts with supporting our teachers. We focus on setting them up for success each day, giving them the time, tools, and support they need to manage stress and feel confident in their role. When teachers feel supported, that consistency and quality naturally show up for children.
