Most multi-site childcare owners believe the goal is to get out of the buildings, hire the right directors, build the right dashboard, and manage everything from a spreadsheet. But after opening his first Kids 'R' Kids in 2007 and growing to six locations across the Houston area, Kevin Kilgore found the opposite to be true: the numbers only tell you what already happened, and by then you're reacting instead of leading. In this episode, Kevin breaks down what he calls leading with a "dad heart," why his teams would rather have his presence than his presents, the four questions he asks every morning that give him the real heartbeat of a school, and how he identifies a "focus school" each week without micromanaging his directors. He also shares the stay interview, the conversation he has with team members before they ever think about leaving, how he pays out registration fees to teachers on their very next check instead of making them wait, and why promoting from within was the single move that kept him from burning out as he scaled from one school to six. Plus, the one thing he'd do differently if he could go back to the beginning: stop scrolling and start dialing.

Connect with Kevin Kilgore:

Phone: 281-798-7458

Email: krklakeshore@gmail.com

Websites:

https://kidsrkids.com/katy/

https://kidsrkids.com/cypress/

https://kidsrkids.com/woodsons-reserve/

https://kidsrkids.com/legends/

https://kidsrkids.com/kings-river/

https://kidsrkids.com/eagle-springs/

Most childcare operators think struggling schools need a complete rebrand and overhaul. But Dr. Jason Lody discovered the real levers for turnaround are far more targeted, and they work fast. After building a network of three thriving schools and selling to a national provider, Jason founded Eventus Education and scaled to 21 schools across six states in just 18 months by acquiring underperforming programs in high-need communities. In this episode, he breaks down his exact framework for assessing acquisition targets (reputation, staffing, program quality), the three non-negotiable pillars for enrollment growth (tour protocol, staff training, and follow-up), and why your teachers, not your marketing, are your biggest sales tool. You'll also hear his predictions for where the childcare landscape is heading in the next 3-5 years, why systems matter before growth (not after), and the one move every owner should make right now to prepare for scaling. Plus: why a small differentiator, like raised garden beds or a unique pickup route, can completely change how parents perceive your school.

🏫 Connect with Dr. Jason Lody and Eventus Education:

Website: https://www.eventuseducation.com

Email: jlody@eventuseducation.com

Early Years Exchange Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/44BoEEItY2mHSg69hs387M?si=94f514e880f4477a

🎙️ The Childcare Growth Podcast helps childcare center and preschool owners grow, covering marketing, staffing, operations, and leadership from the most experienced voices in early education.

Book a FREE strategy meeting with our team: https://britchildcare.com/book-a-call

Most childcare owners think scaling from one to multiple locations is about finding the right real estate or perfecting your operations. But after 15+ years building three thriving Kids 'R' Kids locations in Dallas, Hemant and Sejal Patel discovered the real bottleneck is personal leadership growth. In this episode, they break down why the owner who works the tour desk can't be the same person managing three schools, how to earn trust when you acquire an existing center, why culture is non-negotiable to scaling, and the specific mistake they made expanding to their second location that they'd do differently today. You'll also hear how they transformed from "operators doing everything" to "leaders developing leaders", and why that shift is what actually unlocks growth beyond one school.

🏫 Visit Hemant & Sejal's schools:

Kids 'R' Kids of Castle Hills: https://kidsrkids.com/castle-hills/

Kids 'R' Kids of Flower Mound: https://kidsrkids.com/flower-mound/

Kids 'R' Kids of Keller: https://kidsrkids.com/keller/

🎙️ The Childcare Growth Podcast helps childcare center and preschool owners grow, covering marketing, staffing, operations, and leadership from the most experienced voices in early education.

Book a FREE strategy meeting with our team: https://britchildcare.com/book-a-call