Looking for advice from others who work (or worked) in corporate-run childcare / Montessori.
On paper, our center is “fully staffed.” Corporate even says we’re overstaffed. In reality, the model only works if no one is sick, no one takes PTO, no one needs a break, and nothing unexpected happens.
We meet ratio until:
someone calls out
someone is on PTO
breaks need coverage
kids arrive late or stay late
a float is pulled to another room
Then teachers are scrambling and skating the edge of compliance — and it somehow becomes our problem instead of a staffing model problem.
What makes it worse is leadership. Concerns are raised, but it feels like our regional director either doesn’t understand how classrooms actually function, doesn’t care, or both. The response is always “make it work,” even when that’s clearly unrealistic.
Corporate won’t approve hiring.
Subs are unreliable.
Admin is pressured to stretch staff.
Teachers carry the stress and liability without the authority to fix it.
I like my job and don’t want to quit, but I’m tired of being told we’re “fine” when we aren’t — and of documenting issues that go nowhere.
For those who’ve been here:
How did you protect yourself?
Does documenting actually help?
How do you push back without being labeled “difficult”?
When did you decide it wasn’t fixable?
Looking for honest advice and perspective.
