Happy New Year and welcome to 2026! In this episode, Kris sits down with Megan Ferring, a dynamic regional director at Hamilton Heights Child Development Center, where her 16-year journey began as a preschool teacher. Megan's deep commitment to both operational excellence and playful leadership recently earned her the Director of the Year award.

Kris and Megan talk about how Hamilton Heights approaches leadership structure, branding, and enrollment strategy across its six locations. Megan shares her perspective on centering community connections, building team culture, and developing consistent processes across all sites. She also reflects on her growth from shy teacher to confident presenter, the importance of celebrating wins through initiatives like the Hammy Awards, and how servant leadership, inflatable silly Santa costumes, and "yellow box" muffin runs all play a role in culture-building.

Key Takeaways:

[7:24] Megan shares about her family life, including her 17-year-old and 12-year-old sons and her love of camping with her husband of 18 years.
[8:01] She began working in early childhood during high school and has now been with Hamilton Heights for over 16 years.
[9:12] Her leadership journey has included roles as a preschool teacher, toddler teacher, assistant director, director of special projects, and now regional director.
[13:06] Megan emphasizes the importance of building brand recognition and making your center a household name in the community.
[14:17] Community outreach strategies and partnerships with early childhood networks.

[17:43] She encourages leaders to recenter on their program's unique strengths to maintain and grow enrollment.
[19:52] In her new company-wide compliance role, Megan oversees SOP alignment, staff file audits, and training expiration alerts using BambooHR.
[24:05] She finds value in the Academy's team program for helping leaders feel less alone and more connected.

[27:05] Megan uses playful leadership tactics like inflatable costumes, scavenger hunts, and holiday games to boost team morale.
[30:27] She prioritizes understanding how each team member feels appreciated using workplace love languages.
[33:59] Megan shares how her leadership team supports one another through challenges with trust and shared commitment.
[34:24] She defines a childcare rockstar as someone who shows up every day to serve children and families with heart.
[36:28] Hamilton Heights recognizes excellence through company-wide shoutouts and the annual "Hammy Awards" celebration.

Quotes:

"The thing that I've recognized about myself is that I'm a lifelong learner. That fuels me. So being able to do that and put it into my toolkit is just great." — Megan [12:31]

"I think the big thing to learn in all of this is that it's important that you put your footprint in the community that you're serving." — Megan [14:09]

"I think that in that team room, something special happens. In the main room, too. You don't feel alone; you're hearing that people are struggling with the same issue you are, and it makes you feel better. And that you're not in it alone." — Megan [24:02]

"Not everybody has the same heart and drive that I do, and that's okay. It's what sets me apart." — Megan [37:44]

Sponsored By:

ChildCare Education Institute (CCEI)

Use code CCSC5 to claim a free course!

Mentioned in This Episode:

Kris Murray

@iamkrismurray

The Child Care Success Company

The Child Care Success Academy

The Child Care Success Summit

Grow Your Center

Childcare Education Institute: Use code CDARenewal22 to get $100 off your renewal

Ep 202 with Adrianne Agulla

Hamilton Heights Child Development Center

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 up the community programs she's launched and why she might just run for office one day. This is a powerful look at what it means to lead with heart, purpose, and unapologetic commitment.

Key Takeaways:

[7:37] LaVonda shares the origin of Small Impressions, which she's led for 19 years. With 90 students currently enrolled, she prioritizes quality over quantity and deep relationships with families.

[8:57] Her journey in early childhood education began at the Urban League of the Upstate and in after-school programs, where she realized the impact she could make by working with younger children.

[10:13] LaVonda reflects on launching her center while going through a divorce, raising a one-year-old. Her leap of faith led to a thriving business — now co-run with her husband, Curtis.

[11:40] Fun fact: LaVonda is afraid to fly, but that doesn't stop her from being a world traveler!

[13:34] LaVonda details what sets her center apart: low staff turnover, deep parent engagement, teacher-parent conferences, onsite therapy, and advocacy for families.

[17:27] She's active at the state level, working with lawmakers and Chambers of Commerce to advocate for childcare investment and workforce development in South Carolina.

[18:06] LaVonda explains her entrepreneurial drive as generational — a fourth-generation business owner who didn't want to live with "shoulda, coulda, woulda" regrets.

[19:41] LaVonda explains running her school like a real school, where she acts as more principal than babysitter.

[21:53] Kris and LaVonda talk about the importance of taking ownership when mistakes happen.

[31:59] Lavonda's advocacy work includes training for childcare workers, as well as expanded services and access for children with behavioral or developmental needs.

[33:06] What's next for LaVonda and Small Impressions?

Quotes:

"I'm about quality as opposed to quantity. I don't want to pack out my classroom because I don't want to lose my sense of being able to connect with my students, um, being able to connect with my families." — LaVonda [8:10]

"That speaks volumes within itself, that children and families believe in our program here, that they stay with us, five, six years. I have a family here that's been here for 12 years." — LaVonda [9:02]

"I'm a risk taker. I'm gonna jump off that cliff. One or two things are going to happen, either God's going to catch me before I fall, or he's going to give me wings and teach me how to fly, but he's taught me how to soar." — LaVonda [10:40]

"It's better to have tried and failed than never to have tried at all. So why not try to create something special with my own ideas?" — LaVonda [18:32]

"Take ownership when you screw up. Take ownership when you don't always get it right." — Kris [22:34]

Sponsored By:

ChildCare Education Institute (CCEI)

Use code CCSC5 to claim a free course!

Mentioned in This Episode:

Kris Murray

@iamkrismurray

The Child Care Success Company

The Child Care Success Academy

The Child Care Success Summit

Grow Your Center

Childcare Education Institute: Use code CDARenewal22 to get $100 off your renewal

Small Impressions

Small Impressions Facebook

First Steps South Carolina

It's solo episode time! Kris shares insights from her new book, The Antidote to Fear, and outlines three practical ways to trust yourself and the process. She talks about embracing fear and self-doubt, including her "yoga mat" moment that changed her career direction. Kris discusses manifestation as a giving process and highlights the importance of creating quiet spaces for intuition and growth. She also gives an update on her recent women's retreat in Maui.

Key Takeaways:

[2:22] Kris explains the concept of "trust the process" from the Success Academy's guiding principles.

[11:11] How fear can come in and stop us from taking action on following our intuition and going towards our calling.

[14:28] The yoga mat moment that came from a moment of stillness and changed Kris's life.

[15:00] Hug your fear? Why going towards your fear is actually one of the best things you can do to alchemize it.

[17:25] The importance of tapping into gratitude.

[18:08] Overcoming self-doubt.

[21:24] Calling out the "B.S." in your life, and why having a coach or mentor to help you through the process is great.

[22:04] Manifestation as a giving process.

[33:26] Kris talks about manifesting a fun book club where she is surrounded by sisterhood, and her beautiful partnership.

Quotes:

"When you feel fear, the ultimate strategy, the ultimate antidote to fear, is to move towards it. It's to actually embrace it and to feel it and hug it." — Kris [15:24]

"The opposite of fear is actually love. So the way to alchemize the fear is to love it, and to tap into gratitude." — Kris [17:25]

"Manifest from the giving energy, the loving energy, and everything in your world can change." — Kris [33:26]

Sponsored By:

ChildCare Education Institute (CCEI)

Use code CCSC5 to claim a free course!

Mentioned in This Episode:

Kris Murray

@iamkrismurray

The Child Care Success Company

The Child Care Success Academy

The Child Care Success Summit

Grow Your Center

Childcare Education Institute: Use code CDARenewal22 to get $100 off your renewal

Mana Awakening

The Antidote to Fear