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
567 episodes
506 High Fives, Hard Talks, & Trust: Partnering with Families
Family partnerships arenât just about smiles at drop-offâtheyâre about showing up for the high fives and the hard conversations. In this lively episode of The Child Care Directorâs Chair, Erica is joined by Katie and...
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24:46
505 The Magic Is in the Message: Connection Through Conversation
In this heartfelt and practical episode, Erica sits down with Mr. Jay to explore the power of meaningful conversations in early childhood classrooms. Together, they unpack how simple affirmations, inclusive language, and intention...
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21:44
504 From ABCs to âAha!â: Using Data to Build Real Readers
Reading doesnât happen by luckâit happens with intention. In this episode of The Child Care Directorâs Chair, Erica sits down with Tangee Peak, The Toddler Tutor, to talk about how informed data can turn everyday preschoo...
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20:17
503 Let Them Lead: Yes Spaces, Play, and Purposeful Practice
In this energizing episode of The Child Care Directorâs Chair podcast, host Erica sits down with early childhood visionary Carla Ward to unpack the powerful concept of yes spacesâenvironments designed to empower ...
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24:48
502 C is for Collaboration
What happens when leadership stops operating in silos and starts building with their teams instead of above them?In this episode of the Childcare Directorâs Chair, weâre breaking down âC Is for Collaboration...
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26:01
501 Stop Avoiding Conversations: How Tough Talks Can Unlock Your Programâs Potential
In this episode, Erica Saccoccio dives into the conversations youâve been avoidingâthe ones that are silently holding your program back. Learn how to identify toxic behaviors, address challenging staff and parent situations, and lean into tough...
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10:17
500 The Leader Youâre Becoming: Legacy, Alignment, and the Next Chapter
In this episode, Erica Saccoccio dives deep into the leader youâre becomingâthe one who shows up with clarity, courage, and purpose every day. We explore how to step into your authority, navigate tough conversations, break old leadership...
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15:08
499 Leadership Presence: Why Confidence, Clarity, and Calm Matter More Than Words
Leadership presence is what people feel before you ever speak. In this solo episode, Erica explores how confidence, emotional regulation, and clarity shape trust, influence, and culture in early childhood leadership. Building on the langu...
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10:22
498 The Language of Leadership: Why the Way You Speak Changes Everything
If you want 2026 to look different than 2025, the way you leadâand speakâhas to change. In this solo episode, Erica breaks down the language of leadership and how your words, tone, and consistency shape trust, culture, and confidence long...
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11:09
497 Stop Waiting to Be Chosen: How Real Authority Is Built
Too many leaders wait for permission before they leadâand itâs costing them confidence, influence, and impact. In this episode, Erica breaks down how real authority is built from the inside out, not granted by a title or approval. Youâll ...
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10:18
496 Leadership Starts With Onboarding Your Team Right
Strong teams donât happen by accidentâtheyâre built from day one. In this episode, inspired by a listener question from Colby Kanas, we break down the leadership lessons behind effective onboarding and how to create training manuals that ...
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11:32
495 Running a Childcare Center During Christmas Week: What Really Matters
Christmas week in a childcare center can feel overwhelmingâattendance is unpredictable, staff are exhausted, routines are off, and directors are carrying the weight of it all.In this episode of The Childcare Directorâs Chair, we...
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7:48
494 Your Brand, Your Voice, Your Leadership
Your voice mattersâand so does your personal brand. In this episode of The Child Care Directors Chair, Erica talks with Renee Carbone Fleming about how early childhood educators can step into leadership with confidence and authen...
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30:43
493 From Nice to Necessary: The Feedback Shift That Builds Trust
Join Erica on The Childcare Directorâs Chair for an honest conversation about feedback, leadership, and why clarity is one of the greatest forms of care we can offer our teams. In early childhood education, many leaders confuse being n...
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9:20
492 I Just Have to SayâŚI Love You, Listeners!
Hey friends! Today Iâm taking a pause from all the leadership tips and childcare strategies to do something Iâve been meaning to say for a long time: I love you all. Seriously. Whether youâve been here from the very beginning, just found...
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7:41
491 Running on Unsteady Ground: Funding, Staffing, and the Sustainability Crisis in Childcare
Childcare programs arenât struggling because leaders lack passion or skill â theyâre struggling because the system is built on unsecure, short-term funding. In this episode of The Childcare Directorâs Chair, we take an honest look at h...
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7:47
490 Your Most Aligned Year Yet: A Directorâs Guide to Centered, Strategic Leadership
Start your new year with confidence, clarity, and direction. In this episode of The Childcare Directorâs Chair Podcast, we dive deep into how emerging, empowered, and visionary early childhood leaders can step into the new year with a po...
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10:41
489 The Power of Pause: Building Better Classrooms Through Reflective Practice
What happens when educators pause long enough to reflect on their teaching, their children, and themselves? Everything. Join us for a down-to-earth conversation about the role of reflection in building strong teams, supportive re...
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12:07
488 Love First, Lead Second: Why Relationships Are the Real Curriculum
In this episode of The Childcare Directorâs Chair, Erica Saccoccio gets to the heart of what truly drives quality in early learning: relationships. Before the curriculum, before the routines, before the perfect learning environm...
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13:02
487 Spoiler Alert: Kids Donât Grow in a Bubble â Letâs Talk Culture, Language & Real Life
In this episode of The Childcare Directorâs Chair, Erica Saccoccio dives deep into one of the most powerful truths in early childhood education: children grow and learn across multiple worlds. Their families, cultures, languages...
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8:35
486- Understanding Child Development: The Leadership Bridge Every Director Must Build
In this episode of The Childcare Directorâs Chair, Erica takes you deep into one of the most importantâand often overlookedâleadership responsibilities in early childhood education: truly understanding child development from birth thro...
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8:35
485 Leadership as the Engine of Quality Improvement
In this episode of The Childcare Directorâs Chair, we dive into one of the most powerful forces behind high-quality early childhood programs: leadership. Fresh off our centerâs unannounced visit â the final step in our jou...
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12:01
484 Intentional Teaching Starts with Intentional Leadership
In this episode, Erica slows down the noise of day-to-day operations and invites directors to take a thoughtful look at whatâs really happening inside their classrooms. Are your teachers busy â or are they intentional? Are you leading a program...
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9:15
483 Coaching Teachers With Confidence: Building Skill, Trust & Real Growth in Your Center
I n this episode of The Childcare Directorâs Chair, Erica breaks down what confident coaching really looks like inside a thriving early childhood program. No fluff, no corporate jargonâjust real strategies you can use today to guide te...
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9:01
482 Calm in the Candy-Cane Chaos: Your Holiday Rush Survival Guide
The holidays are here, and so is the chaos! In this episode of The Childcare Directorâs Chair, Erica shares her essential survival guide for staying grounded, organized, and joy-filled during Decemberâs whirlwind. From supporting...
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10:12