Founder & Executive Director, National CDA Training

Ed.S. · MBA · Ph.D. Candidate, National University

Mary Wardlaw, Ed.S., MBA, is a nationally recognized leader in early childhood education, Child Development Associate (CDA) training, childcare leadership, teacher mentoring, and professional development for early childhood educators.

For more than 30 years, Mary has dedicated her career to improving the quality of early childhood education by developing exceptional teachers, strengthening childcare organizations, and creating innovative training that prepares educators for the classroom—not just a compliance checkbox.

Mary’s Career and Leadership

Mary began her career as a preschool teacher and childcare center director in 1993 and has since served in nearly every role within the early childhood profession. In 2004, she founded The Children’s Center, a private preschool and childcare organization that has grown into a multi-site program serving hundreds of children each year. That hands-on leadership experience is the practical foundation behind every training program she develops.

Her work has been recognized with state and national honors. In 2024, The Children’s Center was named one of the Michigan 50 Companies to Watch by Michigan Celebrates Small Business, recognizing the organization’s growth, innovation, and economic impact across the state. In 2018, The Children’s Center received the National Child Care Program of Excellence Award, honoring its commitment to educational quality and leadership in early childhood education.

Mary’s Background and Credentials

Mary earned her Bachelor of Arts in Child Development from Concordia University and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Jones International University. She holds an Education Specialist (Ed.S.) degree in Early Childhood Education—one of the most advanced credentials available in the field below the doctoral level—and is currently completing her Ph.D. in Education at National University, where her research focuses on teacher mentoring, professional growth, and improving outcomes for early childhood educators in private preschool and childcare programs.

Her graduate work in child development research, curriculum design, and adult learning theory is woven directly into the National CDA Training curriculum. And before she ever built a course, she owned and operated a childcare center—so she understands firsthand the staffing, licensing, and professional development challenges that directors and teachers face every day.

The Philosophy Behind National CDA Training

Mary’s training philosophy centers on what researchers call scenario-based learning—presenting learners with realistic situations and asking them to think through responses before seeing best-practice guidance. This approach works because the brain processes imagined scenarios similarly to real experiences, building genuine competence rather than surface-level familiarity. Educators who train this way report feeling more confident, calmer, and better prepared when challenging situations arise in their actual classrooms.

Mary designed every module in the National CDA Training curriculum with this principle in mind. No passive video lectures. No copy-and-paste content. Every learning activity is built around the real world of early childhood classrooms—the unpredictable moments, the developmental nuances, and the relationship dynamics that make this work both demanding and deeply rewarding.

Building the Profession Beyond the CDA

As the founder of National CDA Training, Mary has developed comprehensive online, self-paced, scenario-based training for educators pursuing or renewing their CDA credential. But her work extends across the wider profession. She is also the creator of professional development systems for childcare organizations—including teacher mentoring frameworks, leadership development programs, apprenticeship pathways, competency-based training, and relationship-centered instructional models designed to improve teacher retention and elevate program quality.

Throughout her career, Mary has trained, coached, and mentored hundreds of early childhood professionals.

Mary’s Areas of Expertise

• CDA credential training — Preschool and Infant/Toddler
• CDA renewal training
• Scenario-based professional development design
• Early childhood teacher mentoring and coaching
• Childcare leadership and center operations
• Adult learning and online learning design
• Social-emotional and relationship-based teaching
• Child development from birth through age 5
• Classroom management
• Early childhood workforce development
• Childcare licensing and quality improvement
• Trauma-informed care in early childhood programs

Mary’s Mission

Mary’s mission is to elevate the early childhood profession by providing engaging, practical, research-informed training that helps educators build stronger relationships, create exceptional learning environments, and positively impact the lives of children and families. Every CDA credential earned through National CDA Training represents one more educator who has grown in knowledge, skill, and confidence—and through that work, she continues to advance high-quality online CDA training, renewal programs, and leadership development for early childhood educators across the United States.

Learn From Mary

If you are ready to earn your CDA credential or renew an existing one, Mary’s curriculum is waiting for you.

• CDA Courses for Individual Training — Earn your initial CDA credential with 120 hours of online, scenario-based training.
• CDA Renewal Training — Complete your 45-hour renewal requirement online, at your own pace.
• Blog & Resources — Read Mary’s articles on CDA, child development, and early childhood professional development.