Tracy Nardo of South Carolina has dedicated more than 35 years to early childhood education, establishing herself as an expert in licensing, compliance, and safety. Since 2024, she has excelled as a licensing specialist at the Celebree School, a leader in early childhood education. In her role, Ms. Nardo plays a pivotal part in guiding franchisees through the intricate process of obtaining state licenses. Her responsibilities include managing paperwork, assisting with health department applications, and ensuring architects and construction teams have the necessary information to meet regulatory standards.
Before joining the Celebree School, Ms. Nardo was a safety manager at Child Development Schools from 2022 to 2024, where she focused on implementing safety protocols and conducting assessments to ensure the well-being of children and staff. From 2017 to 2022, she served as a field safety auditor for Learning Care Group and was a senior health and safety representative at KinderCare Education from 2010 to 2017.
Ms. Nardo began her career at the Stonewall Daycare Center and Childtime from 1989 to 2005, where she progressed from child care roles to leadership positions, including serving as an assistant director and district manager. She then served as general manager at The Goddard School in Maryland from 2005 to 2010, where she was recognized as director of the year in 2010. Throughout her career, Ms. Nardo has remained passionate about mentoring and coaching individuals for personal development, leading numerous licensing trainings.
In addition, Ms. Nardo has contributed to various publications and podcasts, including Coaching Conversations with Kate, Compliance Alliance, and Bertelsen Education. As an author for The Compliance Alliance Blog, she has shared her expertise on standard operating procedures related to compliance. Ms. Nardo is also actively involved with the National Association for the Education of Young Children and has served as fundraising co-chair for the Kiwanis Club since 2024.
Ms. Nardo laid a strong educational foundation, earning an associate degree in teacher education from Harford Community College in 1992, a bachelor’s degree in liberal arts with a focus on education from the College of Notre Dame of Maryland in 2002, and a Master of Arts in adult education and training from the University of Phoenix in 2015.
Ms. Nardo enjoys spending time with her family and engaging in outdoor activities such as boating, kayaking, swimming, and gardening. Looking to the future, she aims to continue advocating for safety excellence through public speaking engagements and collaborations with franchisees while expanding her presence on podcasts and blogs to emphasize the importance of safety in early childhood education environments.