Beyond State Qualified: Celebree School Launches “Celebree Certified” Teacher Certification Program

New Program Raises the Standard for Teacher Readiness in Early Childhood Education

Program launch

BALTIMORE — Celebree School, a leader in early childhood education offering infant and toddler care, preschool, and summer camp programs, proudly announces the launch of Celebree Certified, a new teacher certification initiative designed to ensure every classroom is led by an educator who has been trained, coached, observed, and verified to deliver the high-quality experience families expect.

Already implemented across Celebree’s corporate schools and expanding systemwide to franchise locations early 2027, Celebree Certified establishes a new benchmark in early childhood education, moving beyond traditional onboarding to create a measurable standard for teacher preparedness, classroom excellence, and consistent childcare quality.

While teachers may meet state requirements, classroom success requires more than qualifications alone. Celebree Certified was created to close that gap by transforming onboarding into a structured certification process that confirms teachers are ready to lead with confidence.

“Choosing childcare is one of the most important decisions a family makes, and parents should feel confident in who is leading their child’s classroom,” said Lisa Bricker, Chief Talent Officer at Celebree School. “Celebree Certified was built to make sure our teachers are not only qualified, but truly prepared with training, coaching, and real classroom experience before they lead independently. When we invest in our educators, children and families benefit too.”

Certification process

Strengthening Quality Across Every Celebree School Through what has been coined as The First 30, Celebree’s certification journey combines orientation, classroom immersion, mentorship, leadership coaching, and real-time observation to evaluate readiness in authentic classroom environments.

The process includes:

• Celebree Training Institute to build foundational classroom and culture alignment

• Shadow Week for guided observation and hands-on learning

• 20 days of in-class coaching and mentorship

• Five hours per week of leadership support and feedback

• Performance evaluation through real classroom experiences

• A clear certification decision on Day 30

To become Celebree Certified, Teachers in Development must demonstrate proficiency in Celebree’s Core Competencies before independently leading a classroom.

For families, the result is greater confidence that their child is learning in a classroom led by a teacher who has demonstrated readiness, not simply completed onboarding and state-mandated coursework.

Competitive advantage

For prospective franchisees, Celebree Certified represents a powerful competitive advantage: a scalable talent model designed to protect classroom quality, drive operational consistency, strengthen retention, and support long-term growth.

The launch of Celebree Certified reinforces the Celebree Promise to Grow People Big and Small™. For more than 30 years, Celebree School has focused on supporting not only children, but also families, educators, and communities through meaningful relationships, high-quality education, and a culture centered on growth and care.

As demand continues to grow for trusted, high-quality childcare and early education options, Celebree Certified reinforces the brand’s position as a leader in early childhood education franchising and a destination for families seeking excellence in childcare.

In 2019, Celebree School launched its franchise offering. In 2024, Celebree School’s founder, Richard Huffman, launched a new parent company called Huffman Family Brands, merging Celebree affiliated concepts under one multi-brand company structure. Learn more about how we grow confident children who are prepared for school and life at Celebree.