About RaChe’
Early childhood leadership, support, and systems — one step at a time.
RaChe’ Step by Step ECE Consulting was created from real early childhood experience, leadership lessons, and a deep belief that programs grow stronger when educators, leaders, children, and families are supported with purpose.
I understand the real work of early childhood. I know what it feels like to support classrooms, guide teams, manage expectations, respond to program needs, and keep children and families at the center.
Through coaching, training, consulting, and technical assistance, I help early childhood programs strengthen systems, support staff, improve classroom practices, and create meaningful outcomes — step by step.
Meet RaChe’
My name is RaChe’ Russell-Van, and I am an early childhood leader, coach, trainer, and consultant with experience supporting Head Start, Early Head Start, childcare programs, educators, leaders, children, and families.
My work is grounded in real early childhood experience across program leadership, staff coaching, classroom support, family engagement, school readiness, compliance readiness, and systems development. I have served in roles that required me to support teachers, coach leaders, strengthen documentation, guide program planning, and help teams navigate the day-to-day realities of early childhood education.
RaChe’ Step by Step ECE Consulting allows me to walk beside programs in a supportive and practical way. My goal is not to overwhelm programs with more work. My goal is to help programs find clarity, strengthen what already exists, and build systems that support children, families, educators, and leaders.
My Approach
I believe early childhood work is both heart work and systems work.
Programs need warmth, care, and relationships — but they also need clear expectations, consistent routines, thoughtful planning, strong communication, and practical systems that people can actually use.
My approach is:
Practical
Strategies that make sense in real early childhood settings.
Supportive
Support for educators and leaders without shame, blame, or judgment.
Reflective
Space to look at what is working, what needs attention, and what can be strengthened step by step.
Purposeful
Planning, coaching, training, and leadership connected to purpose.
Relationship-centered
Thoughtful support for children, families, teachers, and leaders.
Why Step by Step?
I chose the name RaChe’ Step by Step ECE Consulting because growth does not happen all at once.
Programs do not strengthen systems overnight. Teachers do not build confidence from one conversation. Leaders do not create clarity without support, reflection, and time.
Step by step means we slow down enough to understand the need, identify the right support, and create next steps that feel realistic, meaningful, and sustainable.
It means programs do not have to figure everything out alone.
It means we walk beside you every step of the way.
Experience That Supports the Work
Over the past 26 years, I have served children, families, educators, and programs in a variety of roles ranging from classroom teacher to program leadership. Those experiences have given me a deep understanding of both the daily realities of early childhood programs and the systems that support them.
My professional experience includes:
Early childhood leadership
Head Start and Early Head Start program support
Multi-site operations
School readiness planning
Staff supervision and coaching
Professional development
Classroom observation and reflective practice
Family engagement
Compliance readiness
Data-informed planning
Teacher support
Program systems and continuous improvement
More importantly, this experience has helped me understand the challenges leaders and educators face every day.
Early childhood professionals are often balancing people, paperwork, planning, compliance requirements, family needs, classroom concerns, staffing challenges, and program goals—all at the same time.
I know the work because I have lived the work.
That is why my approach focuses on practical support, meaningful partnership, and realistic next steps. My goal is not to add more to your plate. My goal is to help create stronger systems, support stronger leaders, and improve outcomes for children and families.
Together, we identify what is working, address areas of need, and develop solutions that help your program move forward with confidence and clarity.
Professional Background
RaChe’ Russell-Van holds a Master of Arts in Education with a focus on Teacher Leadership and a Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies.
She also holds Illinois Gateways credentials, including Early Childhood Credential Level 5, Infant Toddler Credential Level 4, and Director Credential Level 2.
Her professional background includes leadership roles in Head Start and Early Head Start programs, including director-level leadership, regional operations, education management, coaching, inclusion support, classroom teaching, and program support.
A Little More About Me
I was born and raised on the South Side of Chicago, and people have always told me I sound a little country. My grandmother, who was from Fort Smith, Arkansas, raised me, and many of the values that guide my life and work today came from her.
I am a wife, mother, bonus mom, grandmother, pet mom, and a woman of faith. My family is one of my greatest blessings, and they remind me every day why strong families, supportive communities, and meaningful relationships matter so much.
Those experiences have shaped the way I lead, serve, and support others.
I bring professionalism, but I also bring heart. I believe people can be supported with honesty and care at the same time. I believe teachers deserve support, leaders deserve clarity, families deserve partnership, and children deserve learning environments that see and support the whole child.
My connection to early childhood is both professional and personal. I am a proud Head Start alum, and my own children attended Head Start as well. I have spent more than 26 years serving children, families, educators, and programs in a variety of roles, from the classroom to leadership.
This work matters deeply to me because I have lived the real work of early childhood. I understand the challenges, the responsibilities, the victories, and the moments that often go unseen.
Programs do not need more pressure. They need practical support, clear steps, meaningful partnerships, and someone who understands the work from both the systems level and the classroom level.
That belief is the foundation of RaChe’ Step by Step ECE Consulting.
Because growth does not happen all at once. Stronger systems, stronger leaders, and stronger outcomes are built one step at a time.
Ready for Step by Step Support?
Whether you are a director looking for leadership support, a program needing professional development, a team working to strengthen systems, or an educator needing space to reflect, RaChe’ Step by Step ECE Consulting is here to support you.