Today we’d like to introduce you to Ellana Katzberg.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
My journey in Early Childhood Education began at 19 years old when I enrolled in the Early Childhood Education program. Fresh out of high school, I knew with certainty that I wanted to work with young children. Supporting their growth during the most formative years of life felt like a calling, not just a career.
After earning my degree, I began working in the childcare sector in Canada, later transitioning into the School Board system where I supported children with special needs. That experience deepened my understanding of individualized learning, inclusion, and the importance of nurturing each child’s unique strengths.
When I had my first child, I made the decision to stay home and open my own in-home childcare in Thornhill, Ontario, Canada. I named it Thornhill Woods Childcare, after our neighborhood. It quickly became more than a childcare program — it became a community.
One of the mothers who brought her child to my home each day would cheerfully ask, “Do you want to go to Playcare?” The name stuck. So, when I expanded and opened my first centre in Canada, we proudly named it Playcare Early Learning Centre.
From the day it opened, Playcare was a tremendous success. The centre filled immediately and today maintains a waitlist of over 400 children — a true testament to the trust families placed in us and the quality of care we provide.
When COVID hit, it impacted our family deeply. With Canada locked down for over a year, we spent significant time in South Florida, which gradually became our second home. While there, I toured schools, preschools, and daycare centers to better understand the childcare landscape. What I discovered surprised me — programs were either extremely expensive or, unfortunately, lacking in quality.
In that moment, I recognized an opportunity. South Florida families deserved what we had built in Canada: high-quality childcare, an exceptional play-based curriculum, outstanding communication, and a price point accessible to hardworking families.
We understand that parents seeking childcare are balancing careers, responsibilities, and the constant desire to give their children the very best. We see ourselves as partners in that journey — entrusted with their most precious gifts and committed to giving every child the strongest possible start in life.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Opening both centres was THE most challenging experiences for me.
My husband and I often joke about which was harder — Toronto or Florida. He says Toronto. I say Florida.
When I opened Playcare Early Learning Centre in Toronto, I built it entirely from the ground up. Every detail — from architectural design to classroom layout, from furnishings to curriculum programming — was mine. It was a blank canvas, and I poured myself into every inch of it.
Canada is known for having some of the most stringent childcare policies and protocols in the world. The standards are extraordinarily high. The investment in staff training, child development research, and early learning frameworks is remarkable. When I say Canadian childcare represents the highest level of quality, I say it with confidence and pride.
But building a school from scratch — with no roadmap, no outside support, and everything on the line financially — was a massive learning curve. I risked everything to open our first centre. It was equal parts terrifying and exhilarating.
And then came Florida.
Opening my school in Davie was an entirely different challenge.
Unlike Toronto, this centre was already operating when I took it over. It had potential — enormous potential — but it needed vision, structure, and heart. I remember sitting in my car on the very first day, overwhelmed, tears in my eyes, asking myself, where do I even begin?
I officially took over on Valentine’s Day 2025. There were 28 children enrolled.
The community is beautiful. I knew in my heart the school could become something extraordinary. But knowing and building are two very different things.
Today, one year later, I proudly welcome 70 incredible, happy families.
But the real growth wasn’t just in enrollment.
It was in me.
Those children have captured my heart in a way I never expected. Most daycare owners are rarely in their schools — but I am there every single day. I am greeted with the biggest hugs. I sit on the floors. I read the stories. I celebrate the milestones. I watch the learning happen in real time.
I truly believe I bring something special into the school — but what those children have given back to me is immeasurable joy.
Florida hasn’t been easy. It challenged me in new ways. It tested my resilience, my leadership, and my faith.
But my husband, Marty, always reminds me:
The hardest projects bring the greatest reward.
And when I walk through our classrooms and see children learning, laughing, growing, and thriving — I know every challenge was worth it.
This isn’t just a school.
It’s heart work.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
People often assume that as Executive Director, I sit in an office reviewing reports and popping into classrooms from time to time.
That couldn’t be further from the truth.
I joke that I’m the “Jack of All Trades” — but in this business, that’s exactly what leadership requires.
Every morning, I put on my leggings, my Careplay T-shirt, my runners, and grab a very large cup of coffee — because I’m not going to supervise the day… I’m going to live it.
I don’t lead from above.
I lead from beside.
My days are spent “on the floor” in our schools. If you’re looking for me, I’m not behind a desk — my office might as well be a storage room. I don’t believe in sitting back and observing from a distance. I believe in being present.
You’ll find me:
Giving tours to prospective families
Meeting one-on-one with parents
Ordering supplies
Organizing and refreshing classrooms
Jumping into a preschool sing-along
Helping a group of four-year-old’s navigate a social challenge
Supporting teachers in real time
I am involved in every layer of our schools because excellence lives in the details.
Families enroll at Playcare and Careplay because they know the bar is high. That standard starts with me. I expect a lot from my teachers — not because I demand perfection, but because I work alongside them to help them become exceptional at what they do.
My team knows I will never ask them to do something I wouldn’t do myself.
And the beautiful irony? My biggest leadership challenge has been geography. When I’m in Florida, my Canadian teachers miss me. When I’m in Canada, my Florida team wishes I were there. That tells me something powerful — our culture isn’t built on policy manuals. It’s built on connection.
The truth is, this work comes naturally to me. I don’t spend time worrying about what competitors are doing. I don’t chase trends. I focus on doing my very best for the children and families we serve — every single day.
When you commit fully to quality, consistency, and heart, growth happens naturally. I am known for my background in Child Development. I really do know how young children learn best and I’m known for my knowledge in the field and my curriculum.
I like to dream big and hopefully I have one of my amazing schools in many more major cities across the US. Maybe the next one will be in Palm Beach or Dallas. Stay tuned.
We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
When I look at my life, I often say I’m the luckiest person in the world.
But the truth is — it isn’t luck.
It’s love, hard work, and the people who have walked beside me.
I have two extraordinary children who have supported me through every chapter of this journey. My son, Dustin, is here with us in Florida, watching this next season unfold. My daughter, Zoe, is currently in Toronto.
As a proud mom, I boast that she recently earned her degree in Creative Advertising and is truly a talented marketing professional. Beyond that talent, she is an incredible singer/songawriter and a Billboard Top 30 pop artist. For years, I balanced running a full-time business while proudly being a “stage mom,” cheering her on from the audience after long days at work.
Being a mother is my greatest accomplishment.
My children weren’t always easy — they were strong-willed, passionate, and full of energy. But I’ve always believed that God doesn’t give you more than you can handle. Those years of juggling motherhood and entrepreneurship shaped me into the leader I am today.
I am also surrounded by the most loyal and remarkable people.
Some of my staff have been with me for years — growing alongside Playcare, believing in our vision. Many Playcare parents have become some of my closest friends. That’s what happens when you build a school rooted in trust and connection — it becomes a community.
And then there’s Judy.
Judy, my sidekick at Playcare, has been with me since the days of my home daycare. She has stood beside me through every expansion, every challenge, every victory. She isn’t just part of the business — she’s part of my life. The loyalty, history, and trust we share are irreplaceable.
So yes, I feel incredibly blessed.
But I don’t believe success is luck.
Success is early mornings in leggings and runners and risking everything to open my schools.
And when I look at the children, the families, my team, and my own kids — I know this life wasn’t luck.
It was crafted from deep within.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.careplayacademy.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/careplayacademy
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/careplayacademy
