Texas Rising Star: Staff Training Plans, Documentation Tips, and PD Ideas for Directors - post

Running a Texas Rising Star (TRS) program can feel like you are doing two big jobs at once: improving quality and keeping great records. The good news is that a simple training plan and an easy documentation system can make TRS much less stressful for directors and teachers.

What is Texas Rising Star (and why do directors focus so much on training and documentation)?

Texas Rising Star is Texas’ quality rating system for child care and early learning programs. TRS looks at several areas (like staff training, key teacher behaviors, family engagement, and program management) and uses tools and forms to support certification and higher quality.

For directors, this usually means:

• Building a plan for staff professional development (PD)

• Keeping proof of training and coaching

• Staying ready for visits, forms, and assessments

That’s why people search for “Texas Rising Star training plan,” “TRS documentation,” and “TRS PD ideas.” #TexasRisingStar

What should a Texas Rising Star staff training plan include?

A strong TRS training plan is simple, clear, and easy to track. Texas Rising Star support sites even prompt programs to think about yearly goals, how staff choose PD, and how they document it.

Here is a director-friendly way to build it:

• A goal for the year (example: “Improve teacher-child interactions”)

• A plan for each role (infant teacher, preschool teacher, floater, assistant director)

• A training calendar (monthly or quarterly)

• A tracking system (so nothing gets lost)

Tip: Keep the plan short enough that teachers will actually use it. #ChildCareDirector

How can directors build a training plan that teachers will follow?

Start with a “one-page plan” for each staff member. You can do this in a table or checklist.

Include these 5 parts:

• 1) Staff member name + classroom/role

• 2) Strengths (what they already do well)

• 3) One growth goal (one thing to improve next)

• 4) 2–4 training choices that match the goal

• 5) A due date (example: “Complete by May 30”)

Make it feel doable:

• Choose training in small chunks (1–2 hours at a time)

• Give teachers one “PD hour” each month during planning time (if possible)

• Celebrate completions (even a quick shout-out helps)

What are easy PD goal ideas that match Texas Rising Star?

Texas Rising Star resources organize quality areas into categories (including training/qualifications, family education, and program management).

Here are PD goals directors can use (and teachers understand):

• Teacher-child interactions

  • warm greetings, listening, back-and-forth talk

  • calming strategies for challenging behavior

• Learning environment

  • room arrangement, centers, materials, routines

• Family engagement

  • stronger daily communication, family conferences, cultural respect

• Program management

  • smoother schedules, staff teamwork, fewer last-minute problems

These goals are also easy to document (more on that next). #EarlyChildhoodEducation

What documentation should directors keep ready for TRS?

Think “proof folder.” TRS has official tools, forms, and record pages programs can use during their certification journey.

A simple TRS documentation system usually includes:

Training proof

• Certificates of completion (PDF or printed)

• A training log for each staff member (date, topic, hours)

• Notes showing how the training matches the staff member’s goal

Coaching and support proof

• Observation notes (short is fine)

• Feedback notes (what went well + next step)

• Follow-up check-ins (even a quick email can count as proof of support)

Program systems

• PD plan (yearly and monthly)

• Staff meeting agendas (with training topics)

• Family engagement activities and communication samples

How do I organize TRS documentation without making a giant mess?

Use a “3-folder system.” It works for paper or digital.

Folder 1: Staff Training (by person)

• One folder per staff member

• Training log + certificates + goals

Folder 2: Classroom Evidence (by classroom)

• Monthly “wins” (photos of centers, lesson plans, routines)

• Observation/feedback notes

Folder 3: Program Evidence (director folder)

• PD calendar

• Staff meeting notes

• Family engagement plan and events

If you want a checklist made for TRS preparation, TECPDS shares a Texas Rising Star toolkit checklist to help directors and classroom staff get their professional development accounts ready for assessment.

What are smart “once-a-week” habits that keep you TRS-ready?

Directors don’t need to “catch up” if they do small steps weekly.

Try this weekly routine:

• Monday: Add any new certificates to staff folders

• Wednesday: Do one 10-minute classroom walk-through

• Friday: Write one short feedback note (2 compliments + 1 next step)

That’s it. In one month, you’ll have real documentation—without panic.

Which ChildCareEd training courses can support TRS staff training plans?

When you choose training, it helps to pick courses that match real director needs: staff coaching, program leadership, and family engagement.

Here are 3 ChildCareEd courses that fit this topic well:

• 30 hour Texas Director Annual ONLINE (annual training for Texas directors and primary caregivers)
  https://www.childcareed.com/courses-30-hour-texas-director-annual-online.html

• Staff Supervision, Observation & Feedback (great for coaching systems and documentation)
  https://www.childcareed.com/courses-staff-supervision-observation-feedback-3805.html

• Community and Family Engagement in Childcare (strong support for family education goals)
  https://www.childcareed.com/courses-community-and-family-engagement-in-childcare.html

ChildCareEd resource for Texas directors and teachers:
Use the Texas portal to quickly find popular Texas-approved training and options for your team

Related ChildCareEd article (great for internal linking):
https://www.childcareed.com/a/texas-rising-star.html

What are “PD ideas” directors can use that cost nothing?

Not all PD has to be a paid course. Directors can build skills with simple routines.

Try these no-cost PD ideas:

• Video reflection: watch a short teaching clip and discuss one “teacher move”

• Peer buddy system: pair two teachers to share one tip per week

• One focus per month: (example: “better transitions”)

• Mini learning during staff meetings: 10 minutes of PD + one action step

The key is to document it:

• date

• topic

• who attended

• one takeaway

Where can directors find official TRS tools and forms?

Use Texas’ official TRS tools and resources page for current forms and category resources:
(You can search it by name online if you prefer not to bookmark links.)

Also, keep the TRS Certification Guidelines nearby for the “big picture” and expectations.

Want more Texas director tips (and quick training reminders)?

Follow ChildCareEd on YouTube for helpful updates and easy training ideas:
Youtube

If you’re building your TRS plan right now, start small: pick one program goal, give each staff member one training goal, and set up your 3-folder documentation system. That’s how TRS progress becomes something you can actually manage—week by week.