Expert support for child care centers

Strategic guidance to elevate program quality, strengthen operations, and support your early childhood workforce

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Who we are

We support child care centers, preschools, and early learning programs in building strong, nurturing environments for both children and staff. Our services focus on practical, on-the-ground support such as leadership coaching, staff trainings, program observations, and mock inspections that strengthen daily practice and promote high-quality learning environments.

What we offer

Whether you're launching a new program or strengthening an established one, we bring deep expertise in early childhood leadership, program administration, and workforce development to help you move forward with confidence.

  • Empower your teachers and caregivers with interactive, inspiring trainings designed to boost classroom quality and confidence.

    • Classroom management and behavior guidance

    • Building emotional intelligence in children

    • Positive guidance and relationship-based care

    • Lesson planning and curriculum alignment

    • Communication and professionalism in the workplace

    • Staff wellness and morale-building sessions

    All sessions can be customized for staff meetings, in-service days, or ongoing training series.

  • Strong leadership drives strong programs. Wise Steps provides tailored coaching for owners and directors to strengthen operations and team culture.

    • Supervision and feedback strategies

    • Change management and staff motivation

    • Onboarding and retention strategies

    • Building a positive organizational culture

    • Support with licensing, quality initiatives, and accreditation readiness

  • Sometimes, a fresh perspective is all it takes to see opportunities for improvement. We offer classroom walkthroughs and individualized coaching to help programs meet and exceed quality standards.

    • Classroom quality assessments

    • Strengths-based feedback and improvement planning

    • Family engagement and communication strategies

  • Partnering with families and your local community is key to program success. We can help you:

    • Build stronger family partnerships

    • Develop engaging parent workshops

    • Create communication materials that reflect your program’s mission and values

Backed by experience you can count on

Wise Steps Consulting is led by Clifton Wise, a seasoned early childhood leader with over 17 years of experience in child care operations, workforce engagement, and change management.

Having led both state and federal early childhood initiatives, Clifton brings a deep understanding of what quality looks like—and how to help your team achieve it.

Get to know Clifton →

  • "Wise Steps helped us kick off the school year with clarity and confidence. Our teachers felt supported, prepared, and energized, and the training provided practical tools they could use right away."

    – Beth, Early Childcare Director in Crozet, VA

  • "Clifton took the time to truly understand our school and offered guidance that felt both strategic and personal to our needs. He made a meaningful difference in how we support our students, teachers, and managers. I highly recommend his services to schools and programs serving learners of any age."

    – Laura, Teacher in Crozet, VA

Ready to get started?

Every partnership begins with a conversation. Whether you are looking for staff training, director coaching, or full program support, we will create a personalized plan that fits your center’s unique goals and budget.