The Child Care Directors Chair Podcast

Erica Saccoccio
  • 5.0 (47)
  • How To
  • 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. 1d ago

    The Other Side of Child Care: What Our Own Children Experience

    Send us Fan Mail Have you ever wondered what your own children really think about growing up with a parent who works in child care? As early childhood teachers, directors, and leaders, we spend our days caring for other people's children. We bring home the stress, the long hours, the exhaustion, and sometimes even the emotional weight of the work we do. But have you ever thought about how that impacts our own children? In this very special episode of Child Care Director's Chair, I sit down with 14-year-old Raine, the daughter of early childhood educator Ruth Baugh, for what I can honestly say is one of my favorite interviews. Raine gives us a perspective we don't often hear in our profession: what it's really like to be the child of someone who spends so much of their time caring for others. She opens up about the good, the bad, and the lessons she has learned along the way. What touched me most was hearing her explain how she believes she is a better young person because of the values her mother has instilled in her. From compassion and empathy to a strong work ethic and treating others with kindness, Raine recognizes the example her mother sets every single day. As educators, we spend so much time thinking about the impact we have on the children in our classrooms, but sometimes we forget that our own children are watching, too. They see our dedication. They see our sacrifices. They see how we treat others, even on the days when we have very little left to give. And sometimes, without even realizing it, we are teaching them some of life's most important lessons. I also want to wish a very special Happy Birthday to one amazing young lady, Raine! Thank you for being so open, honest, and willing to share your experiences. Your mom has certainly raised a thoughtful and compassionate young person, and I hope you know how much your voice matters. This conversation reminded me that our influence as early childhood professionals doesn't stop when we leave the classroom. The work we do shapes more than the children we teach. It also shapes the children we raise. I truly loved this interview, and I think every child care teacher, director, and parent will take something meaningful away from it. Join us for a heartfelt conversation about family, sacrifice, compassion, and the lasting influence of an early childhood educator. Listen now on Child Care Director's Chair. #EarlyChildhoodEducation #ChildCareDirectors #ChildCareTeachers #ECELeadership #WorkingParents #ChildCareProfessionals 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. 1d ago

    677 Great Teachers Don't Stay by Accident: Tamara Preston

    Send us Fan Mail What makes great teachers stay, and what causes them to walk away? Recorded live at FLAEYC 2026, Erica Saccoccio welcomes Tamara Preston, Director of Early Learning at Crossroad Academy Charter School, for a conversation every child care director and early childhood leader needs to hear. With 26 years in early childhood education, Tamara knows that strong programs begin with strong relationships, supported teachers, and leaders who recognize the value of the people in their classrooms. Together, they explore teacher burnout, staff retention, the importance of early learning, and why investing in educators is just as important as investing in children. Tamara also shares lessons from her leadership journey, the value of coaching, and why flexibility and resilience matter when moving from the classroom into administration. Because building a strong early childhood program isn't just about preparing children for the future. It's about creating a workplace where great educators want to stay. 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. 2d ago

    676 Early Childhood Is More Than Play: Samantha Barclay Speaks Up

    Send us Fan Mail Why are early childhood educators still fighting for the respect they deserve? Recorded live at FLAEYC in Florida, Erica Saccoccio sits down with Gainesville VPK teacher Samantha Barclay for an honest conversation about teacher pay, professional respect, play-based learning, and the future of early childhood education. Samantha shares how a Head Start teacher inspired her career, why early childhood education extends from birth through age eight, and why educators need leaders who listen, support, and value their voices. From advocating for better working conditions to helping new teachers find their confidence, this conversation is a reminder that early childhood educators do far more than play. They build the foundation for lifelong learning. 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. 3d ago

    Leading Shouldn't Feel So Lonely: Mariah Burnley & Kristy Ritz

    Send us Fan Mail Who supports the leaders who spend every day supporting everyone else? Erica Saccoccio sits down with Mariah Burnley, president of the West Virginia Association for Young Children (WVAYC), and Executive Director Kristy Ritz to talk about the real challenges of early childhood leadership, from staffing and financial pressures to advocacy, mentorship, and building a community of support. And we're taking this conversation beyond the podcast! I'm excited to be a keynote speaker and leadership expert at the West Virginia Directors Retreat, November 12–13, alongside my friends Kate Woodward Young, sharing her expertise on the business side of child care, and Annette Eberhart, focusing on building resilience in early childhood educators. Together, we're bringing real conversations, practical strategies, and meaningful connections to directors who give so much of themselves every day. This isn't just another professional development event. It's an opportunity for leaders to be supported, inspired, and reminded that they don't have to do it alone. Join us! Register at wvayc.org. Because even the strongest directors need someone in their corner. 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. 4d ago

    Trailblazer Weekly Session: The Power of What's Going Right | Reflect. Recognize. Reignite.

    Send us Fan Mail Trailblazers, we've spent almost a year growing together, working through challenges, sharing experiences, and becoming stronger leaders. This month, I want us to focus on something different. I want us to appreciate how far we've come, the people who have supported us, and the lives we're building beyond our programs. This episode is a personal reminder that while we're busy making a difference for everyone else, we deserve to find joy in our own lives, too. Take some time for yourself, listen, reflect, and think about one small change you can make this November. I'm grateful for each of you and the community we're building together. With gratitude, Erica 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. 6d ago

    675 Stop Leaving Teachers Behind! with Jennifer Michaud of MaineAEYC

    Send us Fan Mail Why are child care directors attending professional development conferences while their teachers stay behind? Recorded live at the MaineAEYC Conference in Bangor, Maine, host Erica Saccoccio sits down with Jennifer Michaud, President of the MaineAEYC Board of Directors, to discuss early childhood leadership, educator advocacy, and why investing in your entire team matters. From operating a family child care program to opening a child care center, Jennifer shares her leadership journey and how Maine's LEAP educator advocacy program helped her find her voice and become an advocate for early childhood educators. Together, Erica and Jennifer explore the importance of professional development for preschool teachers, the power of advocacy, and how child care directors can build stronger teams by creating opportunities for educators to learn, connect, and grow. Jennifer's challenge to directors: Stop being the only one at the conference. Bring your teachers, invest in their growth, and give them a seat at the table. Whether you're a child care director, preschool teacher, child care owner, or early childhood education advocate, this conversation will inspire you to lead beyond your own professional development and create opportunities for the educators you lead. Because stronger educators build stronger teams, and stronger teams build a stronger future for early childhood education. 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. Oct 27

    674 Family Child Care Is NOT Babysitting! The Business Behind Home-Based Child Care

    Send us Fan Mail Family child care is more than babysitting. It's early childhood education, business ownership, and leadership—all happening under one roof. So why are home-based child care providers still fighting for the same recognition as traditional childcare centers? Recorded live at the 2026 FLAEYC Conference, host Erica Saccoccio sits down with Myrna Wright, a former registered nurse, family child care owner, and association president in Jacksonville, Florida, to uncover what it really takes to operate a successful home-based early learning program. From managing staffing, tuition, and rising operating costs to securing grants, providing employee benefits, and delivering high-quality, play-based learning, Myrna shares the opportunities and challenges that make family child care unique. Together, Erica and Myrna explore the value of smaller learning environments, individualized teaching, and the important role family child care plays in solving America's childcare challenges. As childcare costs rise and the early education landscape changes, one question remains: Are we overlooking one of the most important parts of our early childhood workforce? Whether you're a family child care provider, childcare director, preschool owner, or early childhood educator, this conversation delivers real insight into the business of child care, the power of play-based learning, and why home-based providers deserve a stronger voice in the industry. Family child care isn't the alternative to quality early education. It IS quality early education. 🎙️ Child Care Director's Chair Podcast with Erica Saccoccio 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. Oct 26

    673 Are We Overlooking the Next Generation of Early Childhood Educators?

    Send us Fan Mail What if the solution to our early childhood staffing challenges is already sitting in a high school classroom—and we're overlooking it? Recorded live at the 2026 FLAEYC Conference, host Erica Saccoccio sits down with Chelsea Watkins, a high school early childhood education teacher and preschool director in Duval County, Florida, to explore an exciting pathway for developing the next generation of educators. Chelsea is doing more than teaching teenagers about early childhood education. She's giving students in grades 9–12 real classroom experience, professional training, and the opportunity to earn their Child Development Associate (CDA) credential before they even graduate high school. But here's the bigger question: If these young educators are gaining the skills, credentials, and hands-on experience our industry desperately needs, why are some childcare centers hesitant to hire them? In this conversation, Erica and Chelsea challeng 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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