Joan Mendel is an  Early Childhood Consultant, specializing in supporting programs in their NAEYC Accreditation journey.

 With more than 30 years of experience as an NAEYC Validator and Assessor, Joan brings unmatched depth of knowledge and firsthand insight into the NAEYC Accreditation process. Over the course of her career, she has scheduled and conducted more than 1,000 accreditation site visits, giving her a rich understanding of program quality, educator practices, and what truly supports successful accreditation.

In February 2022, after NAEYC transitioned assessor roles in-house, Joan completed her final onsite visits for the organization.

Today, she continues her work with the same passion and commitment—supporting early childhood programs as they navigate their NAEYC Accreditation journey. Joan partners closely with programs to address their unique challenges, strengthen quality practices, and build confidence every step of the way.

Joan's consulting work spans a wide range of early childhood organizations, including school systems, owner-operated centers, non-profits, Early Learning Coalitions, national brands, franchises, and state conferences. Her expertise supports programs of all sizes and stages in their accreditation journey.

Based in Florida, Joan partners with programs across the country, with recent clients in California, Virginia, Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Florida—providing guidance that is both highly responsive and informed.