Omaha, NE – Each month, the Nebraska Early Childhood Collaborative highlights a dedicated provider from our Family Child Care Network who goes above and beyond for children and families. Get to know this month’s provider!
Rachel Pierce
Step Up To Quality: Step 5 Provider
A mom of 2, president of her school’s PTO, and a seamstress at the Buckle!
Earning her Inclusive Endorsement in Early Childhood.
Tell us a little bit about yourself, your background, and your family.
I am married to Tate (Deputy Sheriff) and we have two kids, Hadley (12) and Linkoln (8), and a couple of fur babies too! I have a Bachelor of Science in Family Studies and am currently working on my Inclusive Endorsement in Early Childhood. As if being a mom and going back to school isn’t enough, in my ‘spare time’ I work for Buckle as their seamstress, I’m the president of our school’s PTO, and I am a Childcare Champion for 6 Regions One Nebraska (6R1NE) Central Region, helping those interested in starting a child care go through the licensing process.
How did you become a Family Child Care Provider? Have you always worked with children?
I wanted to stay home when my firstborn arrived, but I knew it would be rough living on one income. I added a few children at first as a little side gig, but over time, I built it into a full-blown, successful business to be proud of! I have always loved babies. I’m creative and always up for fun. I spent my summers growing up babysitting. When taking development classes during college, the desire to work with children grew.
What early childhood or business credential have you earned?
- Bachelor of Science in Family Studies with a Minor in Psychology
- Provider for 12 years
- W.A.G.E.$. Recipient
- Rooted in Relationships Graduate
- Sixpence Partner
- SUTQ Step 5 Provider
- Co-Founder of Midwest Childcare Network
What is unique about your program?
Definitely wasn’t planned, but one unique thing about my program currently is I have 8 kiddos enrolled and they are ALL girls! From princess dress up, makeup, and crafts, everything is glitter and glam, and I really can’t complain about that! Also, my house is set up differently. We live in our fully finished basement, and the entire upstairs is dedicated to my child care. Not quite unique but another rarity is I transport and we go out on adventures. I purchased a larger vehicle and multiple car seats last summer so we can go to the library, parks, splash pads, etc. My husband works in law enforcement, so he is home 2-3 days a week and is a great help! Being able to venture out was mostly for the kids, but it has been a huge support for my own sanity, working from home.
What have been your biggest business challenges?
Honestly, my biggest business challenge is something that isn’t talked about enough. The major wear and tear that happens to your own home. The dings and paint chips in the wall, scratches/stains in the flooring, or the holes in the window screens. Not to forget the front door handle that has been replaced more than 5 times. The areas of your yard that have so much traffic that grass refuses to grow. Aside from that, working from home on your own can be isolating. I have learned to connect with friends on the regular, we always have a group chat going. I also love to switch things up often, repaint a wall, or redecorate a room to keep it fresh and lively here.
What do you attribute to your success?
Involvement. Signing up for extra training and programs. Opening my home to coaching opportunities and accepting advice from other early childhood educators. Phoning other amazing providers in my area for advice when I’m struggling with a behavior. Being vulnerable and eager to learn.
What is a business accomplishment you are proud of?
SUTQ Step 5 Provider
Ask me about SUTQ in 2013, I would have said you’re crazy. Well, 2023 me must have been that crazy person, and I have zero regrets about it! Thanks to a great friend for leading me on to bigger and better things. I took a chance with Sixpence and felt so supported to make the improvements I needed. This past March, I was awarded a Step 5 with SUTQ.
What is your vision for your child care business?
My vision has changed and adapted over the years as my own children have grown and entered school. Where I am right now, partnership is my focus. We are raising babies TOGETHER as a team with parents. Open communication and similar practices are important to me. I want children to feel safe, loved, and supported in my environment as if it’s their own. Children in my care are involved in all aspects of the day, from meals to clean up, play, planning, and helping with the recycling and unloading groceries. They absolutely love being big helpers, encouraging independence skills, and freedoms to make choices. Yes, messes are made, but I feel like hands-on experiences and constant verbalizing are when children learn the most. It’s truly amazing to see what a two-year-old can accomplish with the right structure and encouragement!
If you had one piece of advice to give someone, what would it be?
Be brave and get involved. I’m not sure what that looks like in your area, maybe it’s connecting with local providers or it’s joining a child care program (i.e., Sixpences, Rooted in Relationships, etc.). Trainings are awesome opportunities, but now with the Zoom option, they can still feel isolating. Get out, go in person, and make connections. Invest in yourself, your business, and your children will see the benefits too!
Learn more about this year’s featured providers!
Michelle Decker | April 2025
Tell us a little bit about yourself, your background, and your family.
Hi there! I have a blended family consisting of 7 children! I have 2 sons and 5 daughters. I was a single mother with two daughters when I met my husband in 2010. He had 4 children (3 girls and 1 boy), and we decided to have a Brady Bunch and add one of our own after we were married. Our two older daughters have given us 5 grandsons, and we have two more grandbabies on the way!
How did you become a Family Child Care Provider? Have you always worked with children?
I have always loved working with little ones. I taught Sunday school and really enjoyed working with the kids. Growing up in a small town, I was THE babysitter. My first full-time job was watching 2 children every day after school till their mom got off work. I was 11 years old. After my divorce, I moved to Lincoln, Nebraska, and decided to go work at the Nebraska State Penitentiary because working at Walmart as a single mother wasn’t cutting it. I worked there for 15 years. I always had a dream to run a daycare in my home, but landlords never approved it. In 2023, my husband and I left the big city and bought an acreage outside of Beatrice, Nebraska, and I knew my dream was about to come true.
What early childhood or business credential have you earned?
I have completed the Getting Down to Business course. I have taken 4 out of the 7 Early Learning Guideline courses. I am currently taking the Family Child Care Business Series. I also have a BA degree in Criminal Justice and an AA in Psychology.
What is unique about your program?
I have developed a program based off of what I liked about the daycares that my children were in and even what I remembered as a kid. I removed the things I didn’t care for. I think one of the biggest things about my program is that I have no screen time. I’m guilty of giving my children my phone to keep them occupied while I had to do something. However, this is my business. I get paid to take care of your child. We occasionally have a dance party with my phone every couple of weeks, but having no screen time is helping these children learn better through play. Imaginations are growing, and we have a good time.
What have been your biggest business challenges?
The biggest challenge is being new to a town and trying to open a daycare. I quit the prison and only had one child enrolled with a couple of drop-ins here and there. I am finally full after 3 months. It took some time, but it was worth it.
What do you attribute to your success?
God! He helped me get here and answered my prayers! Secondly, my husband’s support. I could not have done this without him. My family and friends have really been helpful with sharing my business page and supporting me through all of this. The support from all of my important people has been great. I have put lots of time and energy into creating my daycare to make it what I envisioned. I had to spend late nights and weekends creating a curriculum, menus, activities for the children, and decorating, and they all understood.
What is a business accomplishment you are proud of?
The daycare is open!!! Leaving a career of 15 years to pursue my dream of having my own in-home daycare is an amazing accomplishment!
What is your vision for your child care business?
The early years are the most important times to nurture a child’s love of learning. I have created a quality program for the children filled with care and learning. Children learn best in a safe and welcoming environment and through play. My vision is to keep going strong with what I have created, and help prepare children for school and their future.
If you had one piece of advice to give someone, what would it be?
“Never give up on a dream just because of the time it takes to achieve it.” – Earl Nightingale. I read this years ago, and it has stuck with me, especially when I was starting my daycare.
Elida Canjura | March 2025
Háblenos un poco de usted, de su pasado y de su familia.
Soy una maestra graduada en mi país de origen, El Salvador, CA donde ejercí mi carrera por 10 años
Luego emigré a este país a través de mi mamá, y me radique en, Fremont NE, donde trabajé en todas áreas de producción que existen a qui en Fremont, y dia a día me daba cuenta la necesidad de tener un cuidado infantil donde podría dejar a mis hijos tranquilamente y poder salir todos los días a trabajar.
¿Cómo llegó a ser cuidador familiar de niños? ¿Siempre ha trabajado con niños?
Un día vi un anuncio en redes sociales que iba aver unas clases de cuidado infantil a qui en fremont, y me fui suscribir para poder a sistir, y a si concluí el proceso, muy agradecida en esta ruta de mi preparación encontré a muchas personas que me ayudaron y guiaron para poder concluir con todos los permisos estatales y poder obtener mi licencia de cuidado infantil, y ser el primer cuidado infantil hispano a qui en Fremont.
¿Qué credenciales de educación infantil o empresarial ha obtenido?
A qui en el estado tengo todos la preparación de cuidado infantil requerida por el estado, me gradué el año pasado de, serie de negocios en cuidado infantil familiar. ( continuo prerandome mas)
¿Qué tiene de especial su programa?
- Tenemos un ambiente educativo y estimulante
- Clases preescolares
- Actividades educativas
- Enseñanza de español / inglés
- Estimulación temprana
¿Cuáles han sido sus mayores retos empresariales?
El abrir puertas como mercado en un lugar, donde esta área de cuidado infantil eres la primera en cuidado infantil.
¿A qué atribuye su éxito?
A Dios y a mi familia por qué somos un equipo que me apoyan y me ayudan en todo momento
¿Cuál es el logro empresarial del que se siente orgulloso?
Ser un líder en cuidado infantil de calidad ,proporcionar un entorno seguro y enriquecedor donde cada niño pueda crecer feliz y seguro.
¿Cuál es su visión de su negocio de cuidado de niños?
El abrir puertas como mercado en un lugar, donde esta área de cuidado infantil eres la primera en cuidado infantil.
Si tuviera que dar un consejo a alguien, ¿cuál sería?
Que siempre sigamos nuestros sueños y nos dediquemos hacer lo que amemos hacer.
