Hello Center Directors and Administrators,
Struggling to find the time to properly train your new hires? Spiral Up Academy can handle it for you—free of charge.
Starting April 7th (English) and April 8th (Spanish*) 2026, the University of Nevada, Reno Extension is launching a new session of their Early Childhood Spiral Up Academy, an 8-week, fully virtual training and coaching program for new hires in the early childhood field. All seven of their live weekly trainings have been updated to reflect current research and best practices in the Early Childhood field.
Their goal is simple: to give your staff the skills, confidence, and support they need to succeed while taking part of the onboarding burden off your plate
What’s Included (at no cost to you or your staff):
• ✅ 14 hours of Nevada Registry–approved live training via Zoom (Tuesdays in English / Wednesdays in Spanish) covering foundational Early Childhood topics.
• ✅ 16 hours of online initial trainings required by NV Child Care Licensing (CPR/First Aid not included). This includes the now fee-based online courses on campus.extension.org.
• ✅ Weekly 30-minute small group coaching sessions on Zoom, with flexible scheduling; Up to five hours of personalized coaching during the program.
• ✅ Participant AND Director Orientations before Week 1 (Throughout the week of March 30) and a Coaching Transition Meeting in Week 8 (The weeks of May 26 and June 1).
Who Can Join:
• New hires in Nevada within 90 days of employment by the start date.
• A limited number of staff beyond 90 days if they would benefit from the program.
How to Refer Your Staff:
1. Review the referral form, schedule, and program overview (FAQ included) at this link. (Google Chrome is the recommended browser for Nevada Box.)
2. Meet with your new hire(s) and complete the referral form together if possible.
3. Email the form to Danielle Pertile at: dpertile@unr.edu
4. Their enrollment will be confirmed, and the UNR team will connect with each participant directly.
5. A couple weeks before the program starts, you’ll get your 30-minute Director Orientation invite.
🚨 Enrollment closes March 20th, and space fills up fast—secure your staff’s spot now!
If you have questions, please contact Danielle Pertile who looks forward to partnering with you and your new hires in the new year!
*(The Spanish session is contingent upon sufficient enrollment and may be subject to cancellation if minimum participation is not met.)