Introducing: Luke Winter, your Community Coordinator
If you’re already in the Smart Sitting network, you know that the whole team is here to support you as a nanny or babysitter. They help match you with your ideal position, connect you with continued training, and help resolve conflicts if any come up. But did you also know you now have a dedicated community coordinator, whose entire job it is to support you in your childcare profession journey?
Meet Luke Winter, Smart Sitting’s community coordinator.
Luke Winter
We sat down with Luke to hear about his background in childcare, why he loves helping sitters and nannies, and what he hopes the community coordinator role can do for the Smart Sitting network.
“I originally joined Smart Sitting in 2017 as a sitter, but when I saw the ad for this job, I thought this is already what I’m doing with my friends for free. I enjoyed the idea of being able to do it in a more structured capacity,” Luke tells us.
As community coordinator, he sees a chance to be the designated support person for the community.
New initiatives
Lately, he’s started up a few initiatives to help sitters get their ideal jobs and thrive in their profession. These initiatives include:
Rewarding family referrals
Assisting with profile overhauls and bio
“I feel like my role here is to help align the vibe I get from a candidate when talking with them with what’s in their bio. This gives parents a sense of how that person really is just by looking at the bio, and understanding if that could be the right person for them.”
Another effort is the twice-weekly support group on Zoom. Here, caregivers have the chance to chat about whatever is on their mind. Some show up with a specific question, or just to hang out with other sitters.
“It’s designed for caregivers who want advice on how to approach an issue. It may be something very specific that is going on in their current job, or something more general about their job search or career. Last week we were able to help a sitter work through a super specific issue with their family, and I thought, ‘Yes! This is why we’re here!’”
“I’ve lost track of how many families I’ve worked with”
Luke leans heavily on his long career in childcare when advising caregivers. Having worked as a temp sitter and back up care sitter as well as a regular caregiver for families, he has met hundreds of different families with different needs and setups.
“I’ve lost track of how many families I’ve worked with, but it’s at least 150-200,” he tells us. “I’ve worked with all ages, from babies to teenagers, and I’ve seen so many different family dynamics.”
A love for working with kids
It comes as no surprise that Luke loves working with kids. He says at the base of it is the chance to be a positive influence for kids.
“I love helping them grow as people and forming a relationship with them. I get to see them grow before my eyes and have a hand in helping them become better people and preparing them for their life.
…and sitters, too
Luke feels just as strongly about working with sitters.
“In a way, I can help them grow, too. In this profession, we rarely have that support. We really are doing this on our own and learning as we go. We are here because we love this job.”
He ties in his work as community coordinator to Smart Sitting’s core values, which help guide everyone on the team in their work with caregivers as well as with families.
“One of the things I appreciate at Smart Sitting is that we’re guided by the core values. We’re not here to just be a positivity fountain and pretend everything is sunshine and smiles. Conflicts do come up, and through our core values we are able to work through it in a respectful and helpful way. I think that’s a bigger kindness than just agreeing with people and saying that they’re right.”
Upcoming initiatives
There’s a lot in the works from the community coordinator. There’s babysitting coaching and live professional development workshops. For New York sitters, there are also regular in-person meet-ups. Luke works together with Ashley, who is Smart Sitting’s Assistant recruitment manager but who also works as a community coordinator with Luke.
How can you get help?
Remember, the community coordinator is here to help you and to be a resource in your career as a childcare professional. So you might as well take advantage of this resource!
Join the weekly support group
Go to the live professional development workshops
Contact Luke directly for questions or advice
Attend in-person meet-ups if you are in the New York area
Events, workshops, and other happenings will be sent out to the network via email, so make sure you are signed up for those emails and that they’re not ending up in your spam.
Luke wraps up our interview by emphasizing that he, and the Smart Sitting team, are here for you as a nanny. We have an amazing community of nannies, and we are here to support you.
“You’re not alone in this job,” he stresses. “It seems like it sometimes, but when you’re in the Smart Sitting network, you have the whole team and a childcare community with you. That’s the feeling I, as the community coordinator, want you to have. You are not alone in this! So don’t be afraid to reach out.”
Not yet a Smartsitter?
Are you a nanny or babysitter looking for work in this kind of supportive environment but not yet part of the Smart Sitting community? We are always looking for dedicated, experienced caregivers to join our network! If you think you have what it takes, fill out an application online to get started. We can’t wait to hear from you!