The Child Care Directors Chair Podcast
đď¸ The Child Care Directorâs Chair â Where Big Dreams and Bigger Leadership Collide!
Ready to level up your child care career? Whether you're a teacher assistant dreaming of that lead teacher badge, a lead ready to snag that director title, or a director with your sights set on owning your own center (or multiple ones đ)âthis is your seat at the table. And spoiler alert: leadership isnât a title, itâs an action.
Hosted by the one and only Erica Saccoccioâpart coach, part cheerleader, and full-time leadership hype manâyouâll get daily doses of real talk, big laughs, and bold leadership truths. Weâre talking practical strategies, mindset shifts, and serious elevation vibes... all served with love (and a little sass đ).
⨠New episodes drop MondayâFriday at 1 AM ESTâso you can sip your coffee, set your goals, and strut into your center like the boss youâre becoming.
This show is a great addition to your leadership toolbox or the perfect resource for your team onboarding sessionsâbecause the best programs grow their teams from within. đŞ
Pull up your chair, future leader. Letâs do this thing. đźđĽ
Episodes
436 episodes
439 Leading with Excellence in Tough Financial Times
In this insightful episode, host Erica Saccoccio speaks directly to child care leaders facing the challenge of maintaining program excellence during financially difficult times. She reminds us that true leadership isnât about having the ...
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8:43
432 Systems = Stability: Why Great Directors Lead with Structure
In tough times, strong leadership isnât just about making big decisionsâitâs about building solid systems that keep your program steady, no matter what chaos shows up.In Episode 2 of our special series Who Leads When Times Are...
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7:02
432 Leading When You Donât Have All the Answers
In this episode, weâre talking about what it really means to lead when youâre overwhelmed, unsure, or completely in the dark about what to do next. (Yes, even when two teachers call out and the coffee hasnât kicked in yet.)Youâll learn:<...
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11:08
431 How to Stand Out in a Sea of Centers: Making Families Choose YOU
The early education landscape is changing fast. With more choices than everâstate Pre-K, pop-up pods, microschools, and corporate centersâfamilies are shopping for care differently.So how do YOU stand out as a traditional early ...
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10:12
430 What You Say Matters: Why Great Communicators Make Great Leaders in Early Childhood
Description: In this episode, we dive into why communication is the ultimate leadership superpower in early childhood education. Discover how mastering your tone, clarity, timing, and listening skills can transform your leadership st...
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15:13
429 How John Maxwell Shifted My Leadership Forever: 10 Must-Know Lessons
What happens when you sit under one of the greatest leadership teachers of all time?In this powerful episode of The Childcare Directorâs Chair, Iâm sharing the 10 transformational leadership lessons I learned from John Maxwel...
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20:28
428 From Boomers to Zoomers: Leading Across the Generational Divide
What happens when Baby Boomers, Gen X, Millennials, and Gen Z all show up to work at your centerâwith different values, tech styles, and vibes?You either end up in conflictâor you lean in, learn from each other, and build something b...
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15:32
427 First-Year Frenzy: What New Directors Really Want to Know
Just stepped into the role of childcare director and feeling overwhelmed? Youâre not aloneâand youâre in the right chair. In this episode of The Childcare Directorâs Chair, weâre diving into the Top 5 Questions New Directors Ask in ...
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12:58
426 Why I Invested in My Leadership â Even When I Was Already Winning
What do you do when everything looks like itâs workingâbut deep down, you know thereâs another level of growth waiting?In this episode of The Childcare Directorâs Chair, Iâm sharing why I chose to invest in my leader...
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11:52
425 A Lesson from Mr. Ty â The Childcare Whisperer
Why We Canât Pour From Empty Cups (And Shouldnât Be Expected To) This episode was recorded in response to a powerful and vulnerable moment shared by Mr. Tyâwidely known in our field as The Childcare Whispererâon TikT...
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9:39
424 Lead Better, Teach Better: Pedagogical Leadership That Works
Are you tired of just managing your childcare center and ready to actually lead your teachers to success? In this episode, I break down the essentials of pedagogical leadershipâhow to guide your team, align your curriculum, ...
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19:26
423 What I learned 27 Years of Lessons: Top 10 Back-to-School Tips
After 27 years in early childhood education, Iâve seen it allâand learned what really works to start the school year off strong. In this episode of The Childcare Directorâs Chair, Iâm sharing my Top 10 Tips for Getting Ready for Bac...
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15:07
422 Spark Joy: Directors Who Donât Do Boring
Back-to-school week doesnât have to be boringâor stressful! In this episode of The Childcare Directorâs Chair, weâre taking a bold, fun approach to leading your childcare center. Iâm sharing out-of-the-box strategies to support your te...
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7:46
421 Back-to-School Hustle: Lead Your Teachers & Wow Your Families
Apple Podcast Description:Back-to-school season is here, and yesâit can feel like a hot mess sometimes. But leaders, this is your moment to shine! In this episode of The Childcare Directorâs Chair, Iâm giving you the real...
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11:03
420 Unapologetically You
Take off that mask â you're not perfect, and guess what? You donât have to be. In this episode, weâre getting real about what it means to lead with transparency as a childcare director. When you let your families and staff see the real...
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40:43
419 Show Me the Money: Childcare Finances Made Simple
Running a childcare center takes heartâbut it also takes smart money management. In this episode, Erica is joined by Kathy Jensen from Jackrabbit Care to spill the real tea on keeping tuition, billing, and forecasting stress-free. Youâll ...
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21:23
418 Make Them Feel the LoveâŚThen They Enroll
Want families lining up to enroll without feeling pushy? In this episode, weâre spilling the real tea on turning your enrollment process into a smooth, stress-free, trust-building experience. Learn how to follow up like a pro, simplify the pape...
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24:34
417 Stay Ready So You Donât Have to Get Ready: Nailing Those Unannounced Inspections
Today on The Childcare Directorâs Chair, weâre talking all things state visits â the kind that pop up when you're mid-diaper change, short-staffed, and your copier just broke. Yep⌠that visit. But hereâs ...
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37:11
416 Pinterest Who? Real Lesson Plans for Real Learning
Today on The Childcare Directorâs Chair, weâre getting into the kind of lesson planning that actually works â not the overpriced, color-coded nonsense that looks good on Instagram but doesnât help your kids grow. Whether you're a parent, runnin...
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35:38
415 Keep It, Sell It, Grow It: The Bold Choices Every Childcare Owner Must Make
Feeling like somethingâs shifting in your childcare journey? Whether you're burned out, booked out, or ready to boss up to the next level, this episode spills the real tea on what to do when the season changes. Do you keep building what youâve ...
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31:00
413 Pay Transparency in Childcare: Empowering or Divisive?
Letâs talk about the money talk. You knowâthe one that happens in whispers behind closed doors or in the breakroom when someone finds out what someone else is making. Today, weâre pulling back the curtain. Pay transparency: it sounds like equit...
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12:54
412 Hello to Heck Yes! Teachers Who Help Seal the Deal
Letâs be realâfamilies donât enroll because of your brochure. They enroll because of how your program feels. And guess who creates that feeling? Your teachers. In this episode, weâll break down how your teaching team can help seal the ...
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24:32
411 How to Fill Those Classrooms Without Losing Your Mind
Letâs be realâfilling classrooms can feel like shouting into the void while juggling a clipboard and a cup of cold coffee. But hereâs the thing: enrollment isnât just a numbers game. Itâs an influence game. In this episode, Iâm b...
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25:44
410 Teacher, Say That Louder! Using Your Voice to Lead Change
đ Podcast Description with Sponsor Shout-Out:In this episode of the Childcare Directorâs Chair, host Erica is joined by Becca from New Yorkâan ECE powerhouse with over 30 years of experienceâto talk all about teacher voice
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24:03
409 You Asked, We Spilled: 5 Juicy Leadership Questions
Our inbox? Full. Our DMs? Overflowing. And guess whatâthey're all about leadership! In this episode, weâre diving into the top 5 questions *you* asked us about leading teams, staying confident, handling tough calls, and everything in between. N...
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18:02