How to Build Career Pathways for Child Care Workers

One of the biggest reasons teachers leave child care centers isn’t pay — it’s the feeling that they’ve hit a ceiling.

Even the most dedicated educators want to grow. When staff feel stuck — with no opportunity to advance, lead, or expand their skills — they often start looking elsewhere. That’s why one of the most effective ways to retain great staff is to give them a clear path forward within your center.

Whether you're a large program or a small one, this blog walks through how to build internal career pathways that help your staff develop, stay longer, and contribute more deeply to your center’s mission.

Why Career Pathways Matter

In an industry with limited financial flexibility, growth opportunities can be the most powerful incentive you have. Career pathways show staff:

• They are valued

• They are growing professionally

• There is a long-term role for them at your center

This isn’t just about promotion. It’s about offering purpose and progress, even in small ways.

3 Ways to Build Career Pathways at Your Center

1. Define Roles Beyond “Teacher”

Most centers rely on a flat structure: assistant → lead teacher → director.
That’s a big leap — and leaves a lot of room in between.

Instead, consider layering in additional roles such as:

• Mentor Teacher – supports new hires, helps with onboarding, shares best practices

• Team Lead – coordinates across multiple classrooms or age groups

• Curriculum Specialist – supports planning, assessment, or special programming

• Family Liaison – helps communicate with families or leads events

Each role can include a small increase in pay or hours — or simply a new set of responsibilities that recognizes leadership and experience.

2. Provide Structured Learning Opportunities

Growth doesn’t always mean promotion. For many teachers, it means gaining knowledge and new skills.

Consider offering:

• Stipends for CDA or further credentialing

• In-house workshops on behavior guidance, family communication, or curriculum

• Opportunities to attend local or state child care conferences

• “Stretch” assignments, like co-leading staff meetings or organizing classroom transitions

Small investments in development build loyalty — and help your team do their jobs better.

For centers using Tandem, we’ve seen that pairing experienced floaters with newer hires also becomes a hands-on, real-time development opportunity — a soft version of mentorship.

3. Make Growth Visible and Celebrated

Career development isn’t just about offering opportunities — it’s about naming them, celebrating them, and helping staff see what’s possible.

Ideas to try:

• Create a one-pager that shows staff possible advancement paths (from new hire to team lead, etc.)

• Publicly recognize when a teacher moves into a new role or earns a new credential

• Ask staff what areas they want to grow in — and align their goals with your opportunities

• Include “internal promotion stories” in newsletters or staff meetings

When staff see their peers growing, they’re more likely to picture a future for themselves at your center too.

(Pair this with tips from Celebrating Your Staff Publicly: Why Parents Should See It Too to reinforce growth through visibility.)

🧸 Crib Notes

Like Cliff Notes, but for child care:

• Staff leave when they feel stuck — not just underpaid. Career paths help them grow and stay.
• Add small but meaningful roles (mentor, team lead) to build leadership from within.
• Offer learning opportunities and stretch assignments to develop skills over time.
• Celebrate progress, promotions, and credential achievements publicly and often.