Built by Childcare Leaders, for Childcare Leaders.
Director Zen was created by people who’ve spent decades in your shoes—owning and operating childcare programs through just about everything.
We’ve seen the highs: thriving enrollment, amazing teams, and families who feel like home. And we’ve weathered the lows: burnout, staffing shortages, licensing changes, economic downturns, even a global pandemic.
We know the weight directors carry—because we’ve carried it too!
Meet Our Founder
For more than 30 years, Michael “Mick” Mehl has dedicated his career to creating childcare programs where children, families, and staff thrive. Starting as a camp counselor, he’s worn many hats—teacher, director, vice president, and owner of multiple childcare programs. Along the way, he has expanded preschools and school-age programs and partnered with local districts to bring innovative learning opportunities to life.
Today, Mick’s focus is on supporting the leaders behind the programs. Through Director Zen, he equips childcare directors and owners with the tools, strategies, and resources they need to lead with less stress and more confidence. From leadership growth and staff development to sustainable practices and self-care, his mission is simple: to help directors find calm in the chaos, and the space to lead with confidence.
.svg)
Find Your Calm, Fuel Your Center
You shouldn’t have to figure it all out alone—or start from scratch every time a new challenge hits. Inside our premium membership, you’ll find the systems, strategies, and customizable tools that help you stay steady as a leader while keeping your center strong and sustainable. Here are the five core areas you’ll explore as a member:
Director's Toolkit
Build confidence, strengthen connections, and lead with clarity. Explore leadership growth, communication strategies, and tools that help you thrive.
Growth Academy
Strengthen your center with resources on culture, staff development, retention, automation, and building lasting relationships with children and families.
Resource Hub
Find what you need fast. A growing library of guides, templates, and tools designed to simplify operations and lighten your daily load.
Self-Care Tips
Stay energized and steady. Discover strategies for stress relief, mindset shifts, and work-life balance—because self-care isn’t selfish, it’s strategic.
My Community
Connect with fellow directors who understand your journey. Share insights, ask questions, and grow together in a supportive, collaborative space.
Take Childcare Further
Join our Zen Empowerment Membership today and discover how much lighter leadership can feel when you have the right tools and the right community behind you.
FAQs
Have any questions? Check out our frequently asked questions. We're just one message away if you can’t find the answer you’re looking for.
We chose the name Director Zen because leadership in childcare can feel anything but calm. Our mission is to help provide a space where chaos meets clarity. It’s about more than resources; it’s about giving directors and owners a place to breathe, reset, and lead with confidence.
Director Zen is an online membership built to lighten the load of childcare directors and owners. Our mission is to help leaders balance the chaos of running a center with calm and confidence—through practical tools, strategies, and resources that strengthen both the leader and the program. This is your space where practicality meets peace of mind, and where you’ll find solutions, encouragement, and the reminder that you don’t have to do it alone.
Many options exist for childcare leaders—Etsy downloads, online memberships, and high-priced consulting companies. But most of these either give you one-off templates without context, lock resources behind workshops, or charge outlandish fees that put them out of reach. And very few even address one of the most important pieces: leadership development.
Director Zen is different. Our membership is built on decades of real-world childcare leadership experience and designed to be both affordable and instantly accessible. Inside, you’ll find leadership tools, operational resources, staff development strategies, and self-care practices—all in one place. And with My Community, you’ll connect with other directors and owners to share ideas, swap solutions, and lighten the load together.
We get it—most directors and owners are already stretched thin. Between staff needs, parent concerns, and the daily demands of children, the thought of carving out extra time to research and learn can feel impossible. But here’s the truth: to free up time, you need to invest a little time. If you don’t fix the squeaky wheel, it keeps squeaking.
That’s why Director Zen is designed for busy leaders. Many of our resources take just a few minutes to read or watch, yet they give you strategies that save hours in the long run. From improving efficiency and strengthening standard operating procedures to learning quick tips that ease daily stress, small investments of time today pay off with big returns tomorrow.
Director Zen keeps our membership pricing simple and transparent. We offer two membership options—monthly or annual—and both give you full access to everything inside the platform. There are no hidden fees, upsells, or paywalls.
As a member, you’ll enjoy an ever-growing database of resources, with new tools, guides, and trainings added each month. This includes recorded webinars, future conference content, and fresh materials designed to help you lead with confidence and balance—all included in your membership.
Visit our Pricing Page for current membership details.
We offer two membership options: a monthly membership and an annual membership (with a discounted monthly rate). Both are set to auto-renew for your convenience.
Monthly Memberships: Cancel before your next monthly payment is processed. Your access continues until the end of your current cycle, and then your plan won’t renew.
Annual Memberships (Save 20%): Cancel before your annual renewal date. The full year is paid upfront, and your access continues until the end of the paid year, after which your plan won’t renew.If you have any questions about your membership or need assistance, our support team is here to help.
Our website provides you access to free blogs and our newsletter. This is a great way to explore the kind of practical, real-world content Director Zen provides before you decide to join our premium membership.
No special software is required. Everything is hosted online and accessible through your secure member login. You can browse resources, watch trainings, and download templates right from your computer, tablet, or phone. Most forms are customizable, so you can quickly adapt them to fit your program’s needs.
You can reach us via email at support@directorzen.com or through the Contact Us form on our website. Our team is here to help.