I didn’t just study this industry. I built inside it, nearly lost it all, and rebuilt it into something I’m proud to lead every single day.
I spent a year in a PhD program for Educational Leadership at Arcadia University. And then I stopped. Not because I couldn’t do it — but because I realized the knowledge I was chasing in a classroom, I was already building in real time, in the real world.
I stepped out of the academic track and into some of the most rigorous business masterminds in the country.
I invested in rooms where operators were building 7- and 8-figure businesses. I studied systems, strategy, and scale from people who were doing it. And I brought every lesson directly back into my centers and into the work I do with childcare owners today.
My education didn’t stop. It just moved out of the lecture hall and into the boardroom. That decision changed everything about how I lead, how I teach, and how I help owners like you scale without sacrificing their quality or their sanity.
Aliya Johnson Roberts is the Executive Director and Co-owner of Pratt Street Learning Center and Bustleton Learning Center in Philadelphia, PA—serving over 250 children.
A Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses alumna, she serves on the Board of Directors for Tree House Books and the Pennsylvania Child Care Association (PACCA), and has contributed to the PHMC Fiscal Planning Committee. She is also a sought-after speaker, sharing insights on Early Childhood Education operations, leadership, and business growth.
Under her leadership, both centers have achieved and maintained Pennsylvania’s highest quality rating: STAR 4.
Today, Aliya partners with childcare owners nationwide, equipping them with the systems, strategies, and leadership needed to build strong, scalable businesses.
Her mission is to bridge passion with proven systems—so childcare owners can grow with clarity, confidence, and long-term success.
- 17+ Years in Early Childhood Education
- 2 STAR-4 Rated Centers | Pratt Street & Bustleton Learning Centers
- 250+ Children Served Annually
- Goldman Sachs 10KSB Alumni + Mentor
- National Consultant serving owners across multiple states
- Board of Directors: PACCA + Tree House Books
THE ORIGIN OF THE CHILDCARE SCALE SYSTEM™
The Childcare Scale System™ (CSS™) was not created in theory—it was built out of necessity.
After experiencing a near-crisis that exposed critical gaps in operations, team structure, and leadership, it became clear that growth without systems is unsustainable. What followed was a complete rebuild—grounded in structure, clarity, and proven business principles.
Through high-level masterminds and real-world application inside our own centers, these systems were refined, tested, and optimized—ensuring they didn’t just work in concept, but in daily operations.
The result is the Childcare Scale System™—a practical, proven framework designed to help childcare owners scale with confidence, consistency, and control—without burnout.
The vision extends beyond individual centers—to building a scalable, systems-driven model that elevates childcare nationwide.
Through franchising and strategic expansion, the goal is to create a national brand rooted in quality, consistency, and strong leadership.
At its core, this mission is about developing a new generation of childcare owners—equipped with the systems, structure, and integrity to grow sustainable, high-performing businesses.
THIS IS MORE THAN GROWTH.
It’s about building a lasting legacy that redefines what’s possible in childcare.
