Meet Rachel Pierce, director of Rachel’s Creative Kids in Kearney, Nebraska. A passion for early childhood development led her to starting her own family child care home. Learn more about how Step Up to Quality helped Rachel forge partnerships with families to provide high-quality care.

What inspired you to work in the early childhood field?

I’ve always loved kids. I was a babysitter when I was younger, but when I went to college, I majored in family studies with the intention of becoming an addiction counselor. I ended up taking some development classes and absolutely loved learning development theories. When I had a kid of my own, I decided to start a business watching a few other children part time, which then turned into my full-time job.

What is your child care philosophy?

I have a play-based philosophy. I believe that every child is unique and learns best through play. My environment is designed to encourage exploration, creativity and discovery, allowing children to follow their interests and develop at their own pace.

I view parents as essential partners in this whole process. By instilling open communication and collaboration, I aim to create a supportive community that respects each family’s values and goals.

My approach nurtures the whole child — socially, emotionally, physically and cognitively. Through play, children develop critical skills such as problem-solving, empathy and cooperation. I provide a variety of play opportunities, including free play, guided activities and group projects to cater to different learning styles.

How did you learn about Step Up to Quality? Why did you decide to join?

My friend Lacey enrolled in Step Up to Quality around a year before I did and shared her excitement with me. I hadn’t considered enrolling before then, and I was a little nervous about observations. But after hearing about her positive experience, I took the leap and worked my way up to Step 5. I don’t know if I ever would have done it without her recommendation. Home-based child care providers don’t really have coworkers or leaders, but having her as my “coworker” inspired me, and it was nice to have her support.

What was it like to experience observations?

As a perfectionist, I tend to reevaluate and overthink, so I was a little intimidated before the observation. But once it was happening, and you’re in motion and the kids are steering the day, it felt natural.

I think observations are the one thing people panic about, which may deter some providers from participating in Step Up to Quality. But observers are not there to judge you. They’re evaluating your program to help you be the best provider you can be. If it doesn’t go perfectly, that’s OK.

How does it feel to have achieved a Step 5 rating?

It feels really good. In the child care world, we put a lot of time and energy into providing high-quality care. It’s a big investment, so to reach this step feels like a great accomplishment.

Did you work with a Step Up to Quality coach? How was the experience?

I had partnered with Rooted in Relationships coaches and a Sixpence coach in the past, so I decided to go through Step Up to Quality on my own. While I opted to not have a Step Up to Quality coach, I think it’s a great opportunity to have a support system while going through the steps.

In what ways has Step Up to Quality helped boost the quality of your child care practices? What have you learned and implemented?

It’s reinforced my professionalism. We aren’t just babysitters; we are actual child care professionals. With Step Up to Quality, I learned how to forge partnerships with families, access curriculum and trainings, and establish policies and procedures. The program guide opened my eyes to all of it. It’s all been a wealth of knowledge.

What words of encouragement do you have for providers who are considering joining Step Up to Quality or still working through the steps?

Don’t wait — I think your business deserves it, the families deserve it and your children deserve it. I think you should take the leap of faith and enroll in Step Up to Quality.