Business & Tech

Acworth Business Owner: 'This Was My Real Calling'

Pauline Webster talks to Patch about opening Discovery Point childcare franchise.

Pauline Webster talked to Patch about her decision to change careers and open up a Discovery Point childcare franchise in Acworth.

1. What was your background before opening the center?

I grew up in a family of 13 children, I was the 10th! I have always loved children and always thought I would be a teacher some day. I went to college with that thought in mind but found through some of my core classes that I had a great affinity for math and subsequently veered off my initial path. I ended up graduating with a double major in accounting and business and worked for Hormel Foods as a cost accountant for five years before going to work for 10 years at C. R. Bard (a medical manufacturer) in various accounting positions ending with a position at the Acquisitions and Divestiture Manager for the Urological Division. 

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2. What made you decide to open the center? Why did you decide to choose franchising, and specifically with Discovery Point?

Having three young children of my own and having them in childcare while I worked full time, I fully understood the decision-making process every parent encounters in their search for a clean, safe, reliable, loving and educational childcare center for their children. When I became a mother, my desire to return to the teaching profession became more pronounced. I was contemplating quitting my job to go back to school when a friend approached me to consider partnering with her in a Discovery Point Child Development Center. She and her husband owned their own center but wanted to open a second center. They needed a partner who could be on-site at the second center as their focus and presence was needed and required at their own center.  

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I decided to work for a year at their current center to make sure Discovery Point was an environment that I could thrive in as well as all the children who were enrolled there. I worked as the assistant director but also taught in every classroom as well. The longer I was in the childcare environment, the more convinced I became that this was my real calling. I loved it! I owned and operated, in partnership with my friend, a Discovery Point center for six years before striking out on my own with my center in the north part of Acworth ( at the intersection of Highway 41 and Cedarcrest Road behind the Rite Aid).  

I chose to own a franchise verses just managing a corporately own center for many, many reasons but will list the two main reasons here. Firstly, I fell in love with Discovery Point and all it stood for. Secondly, I wanted to be in control of the quality of my center and be involved in the day-to-day decisions. I had a strong financial background and felt that owning a Discovery Point Child Development Center was an ideal way to marry my education and work experience with my love of children and desire to be in a child development environment where I could positively impact the world around me through our young children.

3. How did the corporate model help you when opening your franchise?

Each new owner undergoes fairly intensive training on how to open, staff, grow, and maintain a Discovery Point center by training and studying at the corporate offices as well as gaining working experience at a designated training center. My prior year of working experience with Discovery Point definitely helped me readily see how well the structure Discovery Point is built upon plays out so well in the classroom.

4. What made you so confident about the Discovery Point franchise model and that your business will thrive?

Working at a Discovery Point Center prior to committing to the franchise was the best way to really see all the ins and outs of the childcare business, and in particular, how Discovery Point addresses the regulations on our industry and the need for higher quality in childcare.  

Each center is visited at least once a month (unannounced) by corporate quality consultants. They are a resource to each owner and their staff to field any questions or concerns we have about regulations, teaching methods, equipment recommendations, etc., as well as passing on successful ideas and applications implemented at the other Discovery Point centers they visit.  

Discovery Point Franchising Inc. was at the forefront of the Quality Rated initiative, arranging training and giving corporate commitment as well as staff to aid franchisees on their road to become Quality Rated. Discovery Point Franchising Inc. also has an internal quality rating system called High Five where each center is rated throughout the entire year (not just once or twice) on how well they are meeting all state requirements and going over and beyond with Quality Rated and community outreach activities.  

My center was among the highest of center ratings, earning Center of Excellence this last year. With such a strong focus on exceeding expectations in the field of quality care for our children, it became the natural choice for me to turn to Discovery Point to open my own center.

5. How did you adjust to the changing economy?

The economy has been very tough to grow a childcare business in. Several of my parents lost their jobs, took cuts in pay or hours, or did not receive expected raises or promotions. As childcare is an important and substantial home budget item, some parents were forced to look for alternate childcare options (neighbors, grand parents, friends) to help them out. We have not increased our tuitions for the last five years to help our parents through this tough time. We have also tried to provide options additional services to our programs (monthly haircuts, parents night out, quarterly professional pictures, ABC Mouse, weekly fitness classes…).  We have also created additional enrollment options for two day, three day, five ½ day options, as well as hourly drop in plan.

6. What trends are you seeing now?

Ultimately, parents want a childcare center that provides a clean and safe environment with friendly, loving staff who provide interesting and developmentally appropriate curriculum for their children. We really focus on that. Parents don’t want to see a revolving door with staff. I take great pride in my staff. Not only do I have great longevity with my staff, they are also very highly qualified.  

Over 50 percent of my staff are degreed with the majority of the remaining staff having their CDA (Child Development Accreditation) certification or currently attending school earning their degrees in Early Childhood Education. Years ago, there was not a great demand on increasing the educational level of teachers in the early childcare environment. With this increased spotlight, classrooms are more productive as they focus on the accomplishment of developmental skills and how to cross over the next hurdle for each child. Lesson plans are individualized for the specific children in each class. It is a wonderful thing to see and experience.

7. What are your future plans with the business?

I love what I do, the people I interact with on a daily basis, and the children I am privileged to be around. My center will continue to strive each day to accomplish one more thing with each child we come in contact with. Discovery Point currently has 40 locations in the greater Atlanta metro area and expects to add three to five locations in the area within the next three years. Discovery Point began franchising in 1991 and currently has 51 locations in Georgia, Florida and Tennessee and a new location opening in North Carolina in 2014.


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