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Early childhood education consulting

Research into practice.

Dr. Michelle Peterson helps educators and organizations build stronger early-learning environments. Doctoral research and 20 years in education, applied to your program's needs.

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Expertise shaped around your needs.

Open a service to explore the approach and the experience behind it.

For the people building better beginnings.

  • Preschool owners & directors
  • Daycare centers
  • School districts
  • Churches & faith-based organizations
  • ASD-focused organizations

In-person throughout Illinois.
Virtual nationwide.

NDBI Implementation TrainingNaturalistic, play-based support for children with autism.

Training for preschool and early childhood staff on Naturalistic Developmental Behavioral Interventions — the research-based framework for supporting children with autism through natural play-based interactions.

Relevant experienceEd.D. dissertation research on NDBIs and peer engagement in inclusive preschool settings

Developmental Playroom DesignIntentional environments for child-led learning.

Consultation on designing, equipping, and programming developmental play environments that embed pre-academic skills in student-driven, monthly-rotating play experiences.

Relevant experienceCreator of Spark Academy's signature Developmental Play Room — the only monthly-rotating play environment of its kind in the area

Inclusive Classroom StrategiesPractical support for diverse learning needs.

Strategies for serving children with autism and diverse learning needs in mainstream early childhood settings — without compromising outcomes for any child.

Relevant experienceDoctoral research on peer engagement and autism. 10 years overseeing IEP programming and special education compliance.

Peer Engagement Intervention DesignHelp children connect and learn alongside peers.

Design and implementation support for peer-mediated interventions in inclusive preschool and early childhood classrooms.

Relevant experiencePublished dissertation research on peer engagement in inclusive early childhood settings

Staff Training on Evidence-Based PlayPurposeful play, assessment, and individualized learning.

Professional development workshops on implementing purposeful play strategies, developmental assessment, and individualized learning paths.

Relevant experience20 years of educator training, curriculum coaching, and PBIS implementation

Improvement Science / Cycle of InquiryStructured cycles of assessment, action, and reflection.

Methodology consultation for school leaders seeking structured, data-driven improvement cycles — assess, design, implement, measure, refine.

Relevant experienceCSBO and Superintendent certifications. 10 years of building-level improvement leadership.

Program Evaluation & ObservationObserve your program. Identify actionable next steps.

Observation-based assessment of existing preschool programs with actionable recommendations grounded in evidence-based practice.

Relevant experienceDecade of conducting teacher evaluations, classroom observations, and curriculum audits

Preschool Startup ConsultingFrom the first plan to a functioning preschool.

End-to-end guidance for opening a new preschool — from business planning and licensing to curriculum development, staffing, and facility design.

Relevant experienceFounded Spark Academy from scratch: LLC filing, licensing, curriculum design, staffing, $1.6M facility, and 320+ families served

Speaking Engagements & WorkshopsResearch and practice, shared with your team or audience.

Keynote presentations and workshops on play-based learning, inclusive practices, early childhood leadership, and the intersection of research and practice.

Relevant experienceDoctoral-level researcher and practitioner with 20 years of professional experience

Dr. Michelle Peterson, founder and executive director of Spark Academy

A working school behind the work.

Dr. Peterson is an educator, school leader, and doctoral researcher who founded and operates Spark Academy. Her work connects inclusive practice, peer engagement, and purposeful play with the everyday realities of leading a school.

Explore her background and credentials

A conversation, then a plan.

  1. Share your context.

    Tell us about your organization, your challenge, and what you hope to accomplish.

  2. Talk it through.

    Dr. Peterson reviews every inquiry personally and follows up to understand your needs.

  3. Shape the right scope.

    A tailored proposal, from an observation day to staff training or ongoing support. Day-rate pricing, scoped to your goals.

A few questions, answered.

What are Dr. Peterson's qualifications for consulting?
Dr. Peterson holds a Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) from Illinois State University with dissertation research on peer engagement and inclusive practices in preschool settings. She holds four Illinois certifications — including the Superintendent Certificate and Chief School Business Officer (CSBO) — and has 20 years of professional experience spanning classroom teaching, school administration, doctoral research, and founding Spark Academy. Her consulting is grounded in the same evidence-based methodology she implements daily in her own school. View her full credentials →
Is this consulting based on theory, or does she have practical experience?
Both. Dr. Peterson is a doctoral researcher who also founded and operates Spark Academy — a preschool serving 320+ families with a 5:1 student-to-teacher ratio, degreed teachers, and the Purposeful Play Framework she designed. Every service she offers as a consultant is something she has built, tested, and refined in her own building. Spark Academy is the proof of concept.
Can Dr. Peterson help with our specific situation?
Dr. Peterson offers nine consulting services spanning NDBI implementation, developmental playroom design, inclusive classroom strategies, staff training, program evaluation, preschool startup consulting, improvement science methodology, peer engagement intervention, and speaking engagements. She works with preschool owners, daycare centers, school districts, churches starting programs, and ASD-focused organizations. If your challenge involves early childhood education, she has likely addressed a version of it in her own career.
How much does consulting cost?
Dr. Peterson uses a day-rate model with custom scoping. She begins every engagement with a conversation about your organization's specific needs and develops a tailored proposal from there. There are no rigid packages — every scope is designed to produce the most impact for your investment. To discuss your needs and receive a custom proposal, submit the inquiry form below or email [email protected].
Is Dr. Peterson available, or is consulting secondary to running her school?
Consulting is a natural extension of Dr. Peterson's 20-year career in education — not a side project. She offers both in-person engagements throughout Illinois and virtual consulting nationwide. Her inquiry form includes a timeline field so she can plan engagements around your schedule. She actively manages consulting alongside Spark Academy and is available for engagements ranging from a single observation day to multi-week training programs.

Tell us what you're working toward.

Every engagement begins with your context. Share a little about your organization and the support you're looking for.

Prefer email? [email protected]

Your inquiry is confidential. Dr. Peterson reviews every submission personally.