The Child Care Directors Chair Podcast

Erica Saccoccio
  • 5.0 (47)
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  • Updated Weekly

Because childcare leadership deserves a real conversation. If you're looking for another leadership podcast filled with corporate buzzwords and theories from people who haven't stepped inside a childcare center in years... this probably isn't it. I'm Erica Saccoccio—a multi-center childcare owner, leadership coach, keynote speaker, and podcast host who still leads in the work every single day. This podcast is for childcare directors, daycare owners, assistant directors, preschool leaders, and early childhood professionals who are ready to find their voice, build confidence, strengthen their teams, and create programs where children, families, and educators thrive. Each week, you'll hear honest conversations, practical leadership strategies, and inspiring stories from childcare directors, owners, educators, authors, and industry leaders who understand what it really takes to lead in early childhood today. We'll tackle the conversations others avoid, celebrate the wins that matter, and give you practical ideas you can take back to your center tomorrow. Around here, we don't chase perfection—we build confident leaders, multiply future leaders, and create a ripple of impact throughout the early childhood profession. Pull up a chair. Find your voice. Lead with confidence. Create lasting impact. 🎤 Let's Grow Leaders Together Looking for a keynote speaker, breakout session presenter, leadership retreat facilitator, professional development trainer, or leadership coach for your childcare organization? Erica partners with conferences, state associations, childcare organizations, school districts, and leadership teams across the country to deliver engaging presentations that are practical, relatable, and transformational. Every session is designed to inspire audiences, spark meaningful conversations, and equip leaders with strategies they can immediately implement in their programs. Connect with Erica for:  🎤 Keynote Presentations  🎓 Conference Breakout Sessions  🏫 Professional Development Days  🌱 Leadership Coaching  👥 Leadership Retreats  🎙️ Podcast Guest Opportunities 🌐 www.childcaredirectorschair.com Pull up a chair. Find your voice. Lead with confidence. Create lasting impact.

  1. 20h ago

    651 You Take Care of Everyone. Who Takes Care of You?

    Send us Fan Mail Family child care providers are used to doing it all—caring for children, supporting families, managing the business, maintaining the home, and keeping everything moving. But what happens when the person holding it all together needs a reset? In this honest conversation, we talk about the reality of running a family child care business and why taking care of your mind and body is just as important as taking care of your program. We also dig into the Family Child Care CEO™ 60-Day Reset and how providers can become more intentional about their well-being, leadership, and business without waiting until they are completely burned out. If you've been telling yourself, “I'm fine, I'm just tired,” this episode might be the conversation you need. You don't necessarily need to start over. Sometimes, you just need to reset. Support the show The Child Care Director's Chair Podcast is proudly powered by WatchMeGrow, our premier podcast sponsor and a trusted partner in early childhood education. WatchMeGrow helps child care programs strengthen family engagement through secure live-streaming, classroom video access, and communication tools that build transparency, trust, and peace of mind for families. Their innovative technology empowers programs to enhance safety, strengthen relationships, and showcase the incredible learning happening in their classrooms every day. To learn more about how WatchMeGrow can support your program, visit www.watchmegrow.com. Thank you to WatchMeGrow for supporting our mission to inspire, equip, and empower child care leaders around the world.

  2. 3d ago

    650 The One Thing That Makes Children Love Coming to School

    Send us Fan Mail What separates a good early childhood educator from a truly great one? Eva from Church Early Learning Center makes the case that the answer is not just curriculum—it’s consistency, compassion, and a deep commitment to helping children feel safe, inspired, and seen. Recorded live at the Connecticut AEYC conference, this conversation with host Erica Saccoccio gets to the heart of what early childhood leadership really looks like on the ground. Eva shares what it means to be more than a classroom teacher—from supporting imagination and open-ended play to partnering with families, standing beside coworkers, and creating a program where kids and adults alike can thrive. Support the show The Child Care Director's Chair Podcast is proudly powered by WatchMeGrow, our premier podcast sponsor and a trusted partner in early childhood education. WatchMeGrow helps child care programs strengthen family engagement through secure live-streaming, classroom video access, and communication tools that build transparency, trust, and peace of mind for families. Their innovative technology empowers programs to enhance safety, strengthen relationships, and showcase the incredible learning happening in their classrooms every day. To learn more about how WatchMeGrow can support your program, visit www.watchmegrow.com. Thank you to WatchMeGrow for supporting our mission to inspire, equip, and empower child care leaders around the world.

  3. 4d ago

    649 Stop Leading Alone: Why ECE Leaders Need Community

    Send us Fan Mail Early childhood leadership can feel lonely, especially when you are carrying the needs of children, families, staff, and an entire program. But strong leaders are not meant to grow in isolation. In this episode of The Child Care Director’s Chair, Erica sits down with Dr. Stephanie Hinton, President of Oklahoma AEYC, for an important conversation about mentorship, professional connection, advocacy, and building stronger leaders across early childhood education. They talk about what professional associations can offer beyond conferences, why emerging leaders need access to mentors and meaningful relationships, and how teachers, directors, owners, students, and advocates can all play a role in strengthening the profession. Dr. Hinton also shares how Oklahoma AEYC is creating more opportunities for educators to connect and grow, including the upcoming OKAEYC Leadership Symposium, “Leading Where You Are: Every Role. Every Voice. Every Leader.” You’ll hear why leadership can begin long before someone receives a title, why getting involved in professional organizations can open unexpected doors, and why directors should be helping their educators build networks outside of their own programs. If you have been feeling isolated, looking for your next professional connection, or wondering how to grow your leadership beyond the walls of your center, this conversation is for you. Learn more about Oklahoma AEYC, upcoming professional development, and the Leadership Symposium at: https://www.okaeyc.org Support the show The Child Care Director's Chair Podcast is proudly powered by WatchMeGrow, our premier podcast sponsor and a trusted partner in early childhood education. WatchMeGrow helps child care programs strengthen family engagement through secure live-streaming, classroom video access, and communication tools that build transparency, trust, and peace of mind for families. Their innovative technology empowers programs to enhance safety, strengthen relationships, and showcase the incredible learning happening in their classrooms every day. To learn more about how WatchMeGrow can support your program, visit www.watchmegrow.com. Thank you to WatchMeGrow for supporting our mission to inspire, equip, and empower child care leaders around the world.

  4. 5d ago

    648 The Leadership Mistake Early Childhood Directors Keep Making

    Send us Fan Mail What if the fastest way to strengthen your early childhood program is not tighter control, but more accountability, empathy, and support? Ruth shares the leadership shifts that help educators feel seen, stay motivated, and do their best work for children and families. Recorded live at the CTAEYC conference in Connecticut, Erica Saccoccio sits down with Ruth Baugh for an honest conversation about what truly separates good programs from great ones. Ruth discusses mentoring new early childhood educators, why communication has to flow both ways, and why directors who want stronger classrooms need to stop waiting for burnout to force change. In this episode, you’ll hear:  Why accountability is a key trait of strong leaders The difference between a good teacher and a great teacher How healthy director-educator relationships are built on trust, communication, and respectWhy educator mental health affects classroom qualityWhat genuine appreciation looks like beyond pizza partiesHow paid professional development and growth opportunities can support staffWhy leaders should spend time in classrooms, not just behind the office doorRuth also shares what keeps her going, how being supported helped shape her own journey, and why directors should remember that the educator in front of them may become a future leader. Her perspective is a reminder that great childcare leaders don’t just manage people—they help them grow.This episode is for childcare directors, educators, and owners who want stronger teams, healthier programs, and more inspired classrooms. Support the show The Child Care Director's Chair Podcast is proudly powered by WatchMeGrow, our premier podcast sponsor and a trusted partner in early childhood education. WatchMeGrow helps child care programs strengthen family engagement through secure live-streaming, classroom video access, and communication tools that build transparency, trust, and peace of mind for families. Their innovative technology empowers programs to enhance safety, strengthen relationships, and showcase the incredible learning happening in their classrooms every day. To learn more about how WatchMeGrow can support your program, visit www.watchmegrow.com. Thank you to WatchMeGrow for supporting our mission to inspire, equip, and empower child care leaders around the world.

  5. 6d ago

    647 Lead Beside Them: What Great Directors Do Differently

    Send us Fan Mail What separates a director who simply manages a program from a leader teachers actually want to work for? In this episode of The Child Care Director’s Chair, Erica Saccoccio sits down with Nicole, a preschool owner and director from Seymour, Connecticut, live at the Connecticut AEYC Conference for an honest conversation about leadership, staff support, culture, and what it really takes to build a strong early childhood program. Nicole shares why great directors cannot lead from behind a desk. They have to show up, communicate clearly, support their educators, and be willing to stand beside their team when challenges arise. Erica and Nicole talk about the difference between a good teacher and a great one, why appreciation has to be personal, and how leaders can create space for every educator to have a voice. They also dig into some of the realities affecting the field right now, including burnout, parent pressure, staff retention, compensation, and the importance of building relationships across generations and experience levels. Nicole shares practical ideas for strengthening morale, recognizing staff, creating shared goals, and bringing a team back together when the work starts to feel heavy. This episode is for directors, owners, administrators, and educators who want to build programs where teachers feel supported, children remain at the center, and leadership is something people experience every day, not just something written in a handbook. Because strong programs are built when leaders are willing to work beside the people they lead. Support the show The Child Care Director's Chair Podcast is proudly powered by WatchMeGrow, our premier podcast sponsor and a trusted partner in early childhood education. WatchMeGrow helps child care programs strengthen family engagement through secure live-streaming, classroom video access, and communication tools that build transparency, trust, and peace of mind for families. Their innovative technology empowers programs to enhance safety, strengthen relationships, and showcase the incredible learning happening in their classrooms every day. To learn more about how WatchMeGrow can support your program, visit www.watchmegrow.com. Thank you to WatchMeGrow for supporting our mission to inspire, equip, and empower child care leaders around the world.

  6. Sep 28

    646 What Educators Need From Their Directors

    Send us Fan Mail What makes an educator feel truly supported by their director? In this episode of The Child Care Director’s Chair, Erica Saccoccio sits down with Reva Deonarine, a teacher assistant at Southfield Children’s Center, for a candid conversation about leadership from the educator’s side of the classroom. Reva shares why compassion, flexibility, trust, and transparency matter, and what it meant to have a director stand beside her during a difficult family interaction. She also talks about the power of small leadership moments: listening when a teacher needs a break, recognizing someone’s strengths, planning together, and simply saying, “I’m proud of you.” The conversation also explores play-based learning, giving children meaningful responsibilities, and understanding the emotional realities educators carry into the classroom each day. For directors, this episode is an important reminder that strong programs are built when educators feel seen, trusted, supported, and valued. If you lead educators, ask yourself: Do the people on my team know I have their back? Support the show The Child Care Director's Chair Podcast is proudly powered by WatchMeGrow, our premier podcast sponsor and a trusted partner in early childhood education. WatchMeGrow helps child care programs strengthen family engagement through secure live-streaming, classroom video access, and communication tools that build transparency, trust, and peace of mind for families. Their innovative technology empowers programs to enhance safety, strengthen relationships, and showcase the incredible learning happening in their classrooms every day. To learn more about how WatchMeGrow can support your program, visit www.watchmegrow.com. Thank you to WatchMeGrow for supporting our mission to inspire, equip, and empower child care leaders around the world.

  7. Sep 25

    645 Why Women Keep Minimizing Their Authority at the Table

    Send us Fan Mail Women in early childhood education aren’t “just” anything. They’re business leaders, employers, community builders, and decision-makers—and this conversation with Kate Woodward Young makes the case for why it’s time to stop apologizing for that power. Kate and host Erica Saccoccio unpack the hidden economic force behind child care: the millions in community revenue, the jobs supported by quality programs, and the leadership authority so many experienced women have been taught to minimize. In this episode, you’ll discover:  Why a child care center is a serious business—not just a caregiving service How to think about revenue, profit, payroll, and community impact  The difference between being present in the room and having authority in it  Why women in child care are still overlooked in leadership spaces  How to communicate with confidence without becoming loud, harsh, or arrogant  Kate shares powerful stories from decades in the field, including what happens when women minimize their expertise, the cost of being introduced as someone else’s wife instead of as a leader, and why you shouldn’t wait for validation before claiming your seat at the table. This is essential listening for child care owners, directors, teachers, advocates, and women leaders who are ready to own their expertise, protect their future, and create space for the next generation to rise. Because the work you do is bigger than your building—and it’s time your voice reflected that.https://www.courier-journal.com/press-release/story/231949/kate-woodward-young-launches-authority-without-apology-on-the-most-meaningful-day-for-women-at-work/ Support the show The Child Care Director's Chair Podcast is proudly powered by WatchMeGrow, our premier podcast sponsor and a trusted partner in early childhood education. WatchMeGrow helps child care programs strengthen family engagement through secure live-streaming, classroom video access, and communication tools that build transparency, trust, and peace of mind for families. Their innovative technology empowers programs to enhance safety, strengthen relationships, and showcase the incredible learning happening in their classrooms every day. To learn more about how WatchMeGrow can support your program, visit www.watchmegrow.com. Thank you to WatchMeGrow for supporting our mission to inspire, equip, and empower child care leaders around the world.

  8. Sep 24

    646 A Few Closing Words from Kevin ( Part 2)

    Send us Fan Mail One of my favorite moments from my conversation with Kevin from WatchMeGrow came at the very end. After talking about his work, the relationships he has built in early childhood education, and the role WatchMeGrow plays in supporting programs, Kevin took a moment to speak directly to the teachers doing this work every single day. His message was simple, heartfelt, and important: thank you. Thank you for showing up. Thank you for caring for children through the long days, the hard days, and the beautiful ones. Thank you for creating safe spaces, building relationships with families, and giving children the consistency, patience, and love they need to grow. Sometimes the people doing the most important work do not hear “thank you” nearly enough. This conversation was a great reminder that behind every classroom, every child care program, and every piece of technology designed to support our field, there are people. And the teachers standing in those classrooms each day deserve to know that their work is seen, valued, and deeply appreciated. A heartfelt thank you to Kevin for joining me on The Child Care Director’s Chair and for taking the time to recognize the educators who truly make this field what it is. Support the show The Child Care Director's Chair Podcast is proudly powered by WatchMeGrow, our premier podcast sponsor and a trusted partner in early childhood education. WatchMeGrow helps child care programs strengthen family engagement through secure live-streaming, classroom video access, and communication tools that build transparency, trust, and peace of mind for families. Their innovative technology empowers programs to enhance safety, strengthen relationships, and showcase the incredible learning happening in their classrooms every day. To learn more about how WatchMeGrow can support your program, visit www.watchmegrow.com. Thank you to WatchMeGrow for supporting our mission to inspire, equip, and empower child care leaders around the world.

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About

Because childcare leadership deserves a real conversation. If you're looking for another leadership podcast filled with corporate buzzwords and theories from people who haven't stepped inside a childcare center in years... this probably isn't it. I'm Erica Saccoccio—a multi-center childcare owner, leadership coach, keynote speaker, and podcast host who still leads in the work every single day. This podcast is for childcare directors, daycare owners, assistant directors, preschool leaders, and early childhood professionals who are ready to find their voice, build confidence, strengthen their teams, and create programs where children, families, and educators thrive. Each week, you'll hear honest conversations, practical leadership strategies, and inspiring stories from childcare directors, owners, educators, authors, and industry leaders who understand what it really takes to lead in early childhood today. We'll tackle the conversations others avoid, celebrate the wins that matter, and give you practical ideas you can take back to your center tomorrow. Around here, we don't chase perfection—we build confident leaders, multiply future leaders, and create a ripple of impact throughout the early childhood profession. Pull up a chair. Find your voice. Lead with confidence. Create lasting impact. 🎤 Let's Grow Leaders Together Looking for a keynote speaker, breakout session presenter, leadership retreat facilitator, professional development trainer, or leadership coach for your childcare organization? Erica partners with conferences, state associations, childcare organizations, school districts, and leadership teams across the country to deliver engaging presentations that are practical, relatable, and transformational. Every session is designed to inspire audiences, spark meaningful conversations, and equip leaders with strategies they can immediately implement in their programs. Connect with Erica for:  🎤 Keynote Presentations  🎓 Conference Breakout Sessions  🏫 Professional Development Days  🌱 Leadership Coaching  👥 Leadership Retreats  🎙️ Podcast Guest Opportunities 🌐 www.childcaredirectorschair.com Pull up a chair. Find your voice. Lead with confidence. Create lasting impact.

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