We know this job can feel overwhelming.
Running a preschool means juggling staff supervision, parent relationships, licensing, enrollment, curriculum, and classroom dynamics — all at once. And somehow, you’re expected to do it all without a roadmap.
We’ve been there. That’s why we built Rooted.
What makes us different?
Support that’s built just for directors.
Rooted is the only platform designed exclusively for early childhood directors. That’s our lane — and we know it deeply.
We combine real-world leadership experience with strategic systems-thinking to offer training, coaching, and tools that actually work in the messiness of real programs.
The Rooted Mission
At Rooted Development, we are deeply committed to nurturing the growth and well-being of Early Childhood Directors, their teaching teams, and the families they serve. We do this by providing ongoing, high-quality professional development, reflective coaching, and a community of support grounded in best practices and systems theory.
We believe that empowered directors who cultivate strong, connected teaching teams create high-quality programs where children and families thrive. By investing in the development of leadership, fostering self-awareness, and encouraging reflective practice, we aim to build resilient, intentional early childhood communities that are aligned in purpose and philosophy.
Equally vital to our mission is the education and support of parents. We offer parent seminars, resources, and ongoing guidance that bridge the gap between home and school. We believe that when parents, teachers, and directors collaborate meaningfully, children receive consistent, informed care that supports their full development.
Rooted Development exists to cultivate a shared journey of continuous learning—where mastery, wellness, and connection are the foundation of sustainable, thriving early childhood programs.
Hear from our founders
David Shapiro
Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
Robin Shapiro
Co-Founder & Chief Learning Officer (CLO)
Meet our team
-
Robin Shapiro
Co-Founder & Chief Learning Officer (CLO)
Robin Shapiro has spent over 40 years as a teacher, director, therapist, founder, and leadership coach—all in pursuit of one vision: to create the highest-quality early childhood experience for children, families, and educators.
From the very beginning, Robin approached her work through a systems-thinking lens, recognizing a pattern across most early childhood programs: directors were burning out, teachers were undervalued and under-supported, and families lacked the consistency and guidance they needed. Programs were missing the deeper purpose behind why teachers enter the field—and failed to build structures that could sustain that purpose.
Robin set out to create something different. Drawing from decades of hands-on experience, she developed a new model of early childhood education rooted in four core principles:
1. Teachers must be continuously learning, growing, nurtured, and appreciated to sustain their energy and effectiveness. Strong programs are built through systems thinking: what affects one part of the community impacts the whole.
2. The best interest of the child must guide every decision—always. This unwavering commitment shapes classroom practice, leadership, and school culture.
3. Sound financial management and strong, strategic leadership are essential to building stable, high-quality programs where teachers, children, and families can thrive.
4. Supporting parents in their parenting journey can transform the trajectory of a child’s life. Building collaborative relationships between teachers, directors, and families creates an aligned community that supports development and wellness for everyone involved.
Starting with one teacher and one child in a church basement, Robin grew her vision into four state-of-the-art early childhood centers serving over 300 students and employing more than 80 teachers. Her programs became known for exceptional quality and industry-leading staff retention.
Today, Robin brings her unmatched insight, warmth, and hard-earned wisdom to every training and every director she supports—creating strong leadership, nurturing school communities, and building systems where educators, families, and children all flourish.
-
David Shapiro
Co-Founder & CEO
David began his career as a strategy and management consultant at the Boston Consulting Group (BCG), where he advised CEOs of some of the world’s largest companies, governments, and nonprofits. At BCG—widely recognized as one of the top three most influential strategy firms in the world and the birthplace of modern business strategy—David developed a deep understanding of how to help organizations of all sizes solve their most complex human and business challenges.
During his time at BCG, David sharpened his skills in first principles thinking, business strategy, and modern management practices.
After BCG, David became a founder. He launched a venture-backed software company in the fitness and wellness industry, which was acquired in 2024.
Today, he applies his experience as a consultant and operator to help small businesses grow stronger and smarter—bringing them the tools, strategies, and insights typically reserved for the world’s most powerful organizations.
At Rooted, David brings expertise in strategy, operations, marketing, financial planning, and software.
His approach is grounded in 80/20 thinking, first principles reasoning, and hypothesis-driven decision-making.
He combines this with a deep respect for the work of early childhood educators and an unwavering commitment to Rooted’s mission.
We believe in a better future for early childhood leadership.
We seek to catalyze a nationwide shift on how Early Childhood Education and its leaders are valued, developed, appreciated and sustained.
Our vision is a future where every early childhood program is led by confident, capable, and inspired leaders — directors who have the support, training, and tools they need to thrive.
What directors are saying
Let’s talk about your program.
Whether you're just getting started or have been a director for decades, we’d love to hear more about your challenges and goals — and see how Rooted can help.