The Child Care Directors Chair Podcast

Erica Saccoccio
  • 5.0 (47)
  • How To
  • 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. 2d ago

    655 Bust a Move: Dr. Jamie Lewis on Leadership, Resilience & What Comes Next

    Send us Fan Mail What do you do when leadership gets hard, business gets heavy, and the path forward does not look anything like you expected? Dr. Jamie Lewis joins Erica Saccoccio for a powerful conversation about resilience, rebuilding, opportunity, and making your next move with intention. As one of the featured speakers at Culture Shock: Bust a Move, Jamie shares what called her to bring her story of resilience to a larger stage, what she hopes leaders take away from her message, and why she believes some of our greatest opportunities can come during the seasons that challenge us most. Erica and Jamie also talk about Jamie’s recent Evening of Opportunity, the importance of creating doors instead of waiting for them to open, and what early childhood owners should be thinking about as the industry continues to change. They also look ahead to the Culture Shock Ownership Track, where leaders will roll up their sleeves and have real conversations about business, growth, sustainability, opportunity, and what it means to make bold moves in early childhood. If you are an owner, director, entrepreneur, or leader who knows something needs to change but has not figured out your next move yet, this episode will give you plenty to think about. Join us at Culture Shock: Bust a Move and hear Dr. Jamie Lewis live. https://childcarecultureco.com/bustamove 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

    654 Would You Want to Work for You on a Monday Morning?

    Send us Fan Mail Great teachers don’t always leave because of the labor market. Sometimes, they leave because of their experience at work. On this episode of The Child Care Directors Chair, Erica Saccoccio challenges childcare directors and owners to look beyond the staffing crisis and ask a harder question: Why would a great educator want to stay here? Drawing on her experience operating childcare programs, Erica explores how unclear expectations, inconsistent communication, favoritism, and over-reliance on dependable staff can affect retention. She also explains why appreciation matters—but can’t replace meaningful support—and why giving a talented teacher more tasks isn’t the same as developing them as a leader. You’ll hear practical questions to help you understand turnover, check in with the employees you most want to keep, and build a culture where people feel heard, supported, and able to grow. Because while leaders can’t solve every workforce challenge, they can take an honest look at the experience their teams are having. A candid conversation for childcare owners, directors, administrators, and emerging leaders ready to reflect on leadership, culture, and staff retention. 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. 3d ago

    Bonus: Making Waves in ECE: Why This Weekend Matters

    Send us Fan Mail This weekend, Rhode Island’s early childhood community is coming together—and this episode is about more than just attending another conference. Erica shares what to expect at the 2026 RIAEYC Early Childhood Conference, including keynote speaker Anthony “Ant” Toombs Sr., breakout sessions, networking, resources, and opportunities to connect with educators and leaders from across the field. But the real conversation is about what happens when we get outside of our own programs, meet new people, exchange ideas, and remember that we are part of something bigger. The Child Care Director’s Chair Podcast will also be recording live at the conference, giving educators, directors, owners, students, and advocates a chance to step up to the mic and share their voices. If you are heading to Warwick this Saturday, come ready to learn, connect, and make a few waves of your own. Get your tickets here:Rhode Island Early Childhood Conference 2026 Tickets, Saturday, October 10  •  8 AM - 4 PM | Eventbrite 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. 4d ago

    653 The Toxic Teacher Problem: When Is Enough?

    Send us Fan Mail You know the teacher. She may be great with children. Families may love her. She may have been with you for years. But the gossip, negativity, eye rolling, complaining, and constant conflict are slowly changing the culture of your entire program. So what do you do—especially when you’re already short staffed? In this episode of The Child Care Director’s Chair, Erica Saccoccio gets real about one of the hardest responsibilities of early childhood leadership: dealing with toxic behavior on your team. But before we start labeling people “toxic,” there’s an important distinction to make. Is this a difficult employee—or an employee going through something difficult? Erica breaks down how to recognize behaviors that are truly damaging your culture, have the conversation before resentment builds, stop workplace gossip and unhealthy communication, coach employees who can grow, and recognize when coaching needs to become accountability. And there’s a bigger question every director needs to consider: How much energy are you spending managing your most negative employee while your strongest teachers are waiting for your leadership? Compassion matters. Grace matters. Coaching matters. But protecting the culture you are building matters too. If you’ve ever thought, “I know I need to address this, but I can’t afford to lose another teacher,” this episode is for you. 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. 5d ago

    652 Check In Before They Check Out: Supporting Your Teachers

    Send us Fan Mail What if one of the most powerful things a director could do for an educator was simply ask, “How are you doing?”—and actually listen to the answer? Recorded at the Connecticut AEYC Conference, Erica Saccoccio sits down with Teresa Reynolds, a preschool teacher at Stonington Community Center and former registered behavior technician, for an honest conversation about what educators really need from the people leading them. Teresa shares why open communication matters, how small check-ins can help educators feel seen before burnout takes over, and why there is a big difference between offering advice and simply criticizing someone who is trying to grow. They also talk about understanding behavior as communication, navigating difficult conversations with families, supporting children with different needs, and extending grace to educators who may be carrying more than we realize. For directors, this episode is an opportunity to hear leadership from the teacher’s side of the classroom. For educators, it’s a reminder that you deserve to be heard, supported, and valued. Because sometimes great leadership doesn’t start with fixing the problem. It starts with listening.   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

    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.

  7. Oct 2

    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.

  8. Oct 1

    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.

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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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