The Child Care Directors Chair Podcast

485 Leadership as the Engine of Quality Improvement

Erica Saccoccio

Send us a text

 In this episode of The Childcare Director’s Chair, we dive into one of the most powerful forces behind high-quality early childhood programs: leadership. Fresh off our center’s unannounced visit — the final step in our journey toward a five-star quality rating — I’m sharing what leadership looks like in real life, not just on paper.

You’ll hear how my experience serving on our state’s Quality Rating and Improvement System workgroup shaped my understanding of what quality should look like, why I believed so strongly in the process, and why I encouraged other directors to join it long before my own center began our star-rating journey.

We’ll break down:

  • Why vision and purpose create the foundation for quality
  • How systems and structure make everyday excellence possible
  • The role of people development in creating strong classrooms
  • Why continuous improvement is a culture, not a checklist
  • Practical leadership strategies you can use right now

Whether you’re working toward your first star rating or refining your fifth, this episode will encourage, equip, and remind you that quality improvement begins with leadership — and leadership begins with you.


Support the show

We invite you to join our community of dedicated listeners by supporting our podcast with a monthly subscription. Your contribution plays a vital role in enabling us to continue producing valuable content that empowers you to effectively lead your team and childcare business to success. By subscribing, you not only gain access to exclusive benefits, but you also help us in our mission to provide you with practical and actionable bite-sized strategies on a daily basis that you can implement immediately.

Investing in our podcast is an investment in your own growth and the success of your business. We firmly believe that by prioritizing the well-being of your team, you are paving the way for long-term success. Join us in this journey towards excellence and subscribe today to unlock a wealth of knowledge and resources that will propel you towards your goals. Your support means the world to us, and together, we can achieve greatness. Thank you for considering a monthly subscription to our podcast.