AboutPam Koons Expertise Early Childhood Education For Prospective, New and Existing Teachers, and also Pre-School Owners/Directors. I can offer Teaching advice and also School Business advice. I owned a private Pre-school that I started over 22 years ago. I have degrees in Early Childhood Education, Business Management and Children's Theater. Can answer a variety of questions on anything having to do with Early Childhood Education, both teaching and business aspects.
Currently I am an Editor and Regional Correspondent for Seattle PreschoolRock.com, an on-line network of over 32 websites dedicated solely to parents and teachers of preschoolers. Please see me at: http://Seattle.PreschoolRock.com/ and www.preschoolmentor.com and www.myspace.com/thebusinessofeducation
Experience Success in many areas. President of the local Chamber of Commerce. My school was voted #1 best private Pre-School in my county. 26 newspaper articles were written about my school and a half page news article about myself. Published Author in a Children's Anthology now on Amazon. Guest lecturer at the local College.
Question My wife and I are in the infant stages of planning how we can open a pre-school. She currently teaches kindergarten and has a degree in early childhood education. I on the other hand have no background like hers. I'm a commercial pilot, and I have to admit that I don't have a full understanding of what is involved in the business. My question is, if we plan on furthering our education in order to formulate a well developed and appreciated pre-school in our community what would be our best choice of action? Thank you for your time.
Answer Hi Ryan,
That's an excellent question and one I get asked quite often when consulting with other folks like yourself. It sounds like your wife already has a good background that is needed- but also needed are some basic business skills and some some familiarity and comfort with running a business.
I always suggest going and observing as many preschool programs as you can, in the area you are interested in. Then, decide on whether you want to have a daycare AND a preschool combination, or one or the other alone. Then, decide whether you want to have the operation IN your home, or in another facility. Then look 5 years ahead, and decide on how big you would like to be.
Those are some basic, but important, starting questions.
If you would like some more personal help and support, I can be reached at www.myspace.com/thebusinessofeducation or www.preschoolmentor.comPlease fell free to e-mail me there! :-)
Another helpful site I write for is:
www.PreschoolRock.com
I commend you in what you are doing. There are a lot more details in the operations; too many to list here. I look forward to helping you! Much success to you!
