Conversations with Rolanda Cotton-Spell

Today we’d like to introduce you to Rolanda Cotton-Spell.

Hi Rolanda, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
My journey in early childhood education began in 2003, long before I could fully imagine what it would grow into.

My senior year at Texas Woman’s University I had the opportunity to complete and intern ship at The Rise School of Dallas, which sparked my interest in working with young children. At that time I had the opportunity to begin a Directors training at Tom Thumb. I knew that working with children was where my heart was so that is what I went with. That early exposure laid the foundation for what would become a lifelong passion. After graduating college, I stepped into my first professional role as a PreK 4 Teacher’s Assistant at The Rise School of Dallas, where I spent a year learning the daily rhythms of the classroom, different children with different developmental skills and developing a deeper understanding of child development.

From there, my career advanced to Head Start of Greater Dallas, where I served as a PreK Teacher. Teaching in Head Start was transformational- it strengthened my instructional skills and exposed me to the importance of quality early education, family engagement, and comprehensive child support. My dedication and leadership did not go unnoticed, I was soon promoted to Education Specialist, a role I held for approximately nine and a half years. In this position, I supported teachers, ensured program quality, mentored teachers, and helped ensure the children where received quality education as well with preparation for kindergarten.

Alongside my professional growth, my faith journey was also deepening. I have been a member of The Link Church for 11 years, where I was given the opportunity to lead the Children’s Ministry. Serving in this role allowed me to combine my professional expertise with my passion for ministry- nurturing children spiritually while equipping volunteers and creating engaging, faith-centered learning environments. This experience further affirmed my belief that working with children is not just a career, but a calling.

Seeking to expand my impact further, I transitioned into the role of a Texas Rising Star Mentor within ChildCare Group. This opportunity allowed me to coach, mentor and guide childcare centers directors, owners, and staff toward higher quality standards. My work and leadership again lead to growth, and I was promoted to Texas Rising Star Supervisor. The position I oversaw mentors and supported childcare centers on a broader scale.

Mu journey then led me to into the nonprofit sector, where I served as Senior Program Director for Educational First Steps for 2 years. In this role, I worked closely with managers, childcare programs, funding partners, and community leaders continuing to elevate early childhood education and strengthen systems that support children, families, and childcare centers with higher quality of being NAC or NAEYC accredited.

I remember being in college studying Child Development, saying out loud that I wanted to open a childcare center. At the time, I didn’t know what that would like. I didn’t know how it would happen. And to be honest, I didn’t even dully believe that it actually would, but the desire never left me. While working on my master’s in Curriculum and Instruction the desire was even stronger because I would think about the curriculums that centers where using and the implementation of the lesson from the teachers. I noticed that for some teachers the instruction and implementation of the lesson plans would be a challenge. I wanted to understand curriculum and how to train teachers to where they could fully understand and be able implement and teach the children to their full capacity.

In 2024, that long-held dream became reality when Brilliant Butterflies Academy opened its doors. Before accepting the position at ChildCare Group, I remember writing in my journal the plan of opening an In-home child care. I remember writing the name, the number of classrooms, as well as the different professionals that I wanted to partner with so that the services that I saw that most families needed would be in house.

Stepping into the role of childcare owner and director has been one of the most rewarding experience of my life. It has also been one of the most challenging. There are real ups and downs-navigating staffing, supporting children with diverse needs, partnering with parents, and carrying the responsibility of leadership every single day.

Through it all, I’ve come to understand one thing very clearly: this work is my ministry,

What continues to keep me going is my commitment to obedience- being faithful to what God has called me to do. Even on the hard days, I’m reminded that my journey was never accidental. Every role, every promotion, every challenge prepared me for this moment.

Brilliant Butterflies Academy is not just a business- it is fulfillment of a calling that began over two decades ago, rooted in service, leadership, and a deep belief in the power of early learning.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has not been a smooth road. Some struggles that came along the way was staffing, finding teachers that did not just want a paycheck, but have the desire and heart to teach children. Meeting the needs of children with challenging behaviors or disabilities in the absence of sufficient support and resources. Parent involvement was a challenge particularly helping families understand that engagement is essential from infancy through every stage of development, and how parent involvement plays a critical role in a child’s educational success, YES even while attending childcare.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
One thing that I did not mention prior is that I am a trainer, coach, and speaker. I love to train early childhood professionals and help them learn and be better at their roles. In 2025, I began speaking with young women about embracing their purpose and trusting that their calling is not defined by their current circumstances. I had the opportunity to speak for The Women of Gold group at Texas Woman’s University in October of 2025. This was an experience to pour into the young women and provide with them knowledge and practical ways to be successful in college despite the challenges they will face. This was my most proud of moment because during Covid is when God gave me this vision for young adult women.

What sets me apart is not only my experience, but a faith-driven purpose to mentor, lead, and transform the lives of children, women, and emerging young women.

Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
What I like most about our city is its continued growth, which creates meaningful opportunities for small business owners to expand and thrive.

What I like least about our city is ” As a child care leader, I’ve learned that our work is deeply needed but often misunderstood. Child care professionals are educators, nurturers, first responders, and foundation builders-yet the respect given to the role rarely matches the weight of the responsibility.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.brilliantbutterfliesacademy.com
• Instagram: brilliantbutterfliesacademy
• Facebook: Brilliant Butterflies Academy
• Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/rolanda-cotton-spell-23b22270

Image Credits
Photo credit first photo upload and one with colorful background love ECE We Build Legacy Brands.<br>