ChildCare Conversations with Kate and Carrie

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of "Child Care Conversations," co-hosts Kate and Carrie sit down with Ericca Saccoccio, a childcare director with 25 years of experience and owner of three centers in Rhode Island. They dive into the importance of building strategic partnerships to boost enrollment and retain quality staff. Ericca shares her wisdom on focusing on customer retention, foste...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of "Child Care Conversations," Carrie sits down with Kate to chat about their new book, "From Oh Sh*t to I Got This." Kate opens up about her journey as a female entrepreneur and the ups and downs of her personal life, including her two marriages. She shares valuable insights on the importance of financial independence and the power of communica...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of "Child Care Conversations," Kate chats with her cousin and co-author, Carrie Casey, about their upcoming book, "From Oh Sh*t to I Got This." 🎉 Carrie shares her entrepreneurial journey, from her childhood in her mom's printing business to navigating the 2008 real estate crisis. She emphasizes the importance of mentorship and building a...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of "Child Care Conversations with Kate and Carrie," our dynamic duo dives into boosting staff engagement in early childhood education. They chat about motivating competent but less enthusiastic staff through positive reinforcement, mentoring, and goal-setting. Kate and Carrie emphasize the importance of recognizing good work, understanding individual moti...

Send us Fan Mail Hey there! 🌟 In this episode of Child Care Conversations, Kate and Carrie chat about the exciting yet challenging journey from being a childcare director to becoming a center owner. They dive into a recent client story where Carrie helped someone explore buying a franchise childcare center. They discuss the importance of due diligence, understanding personal goals, and the pros a...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Child Care Conversations, Kate and Carrie chat with Sarah Schreiner, the CEO of Childminder, about the big challenges in staffing childcare programs. They dive into why attracting and keeping quality staff is crucial and how onboarding can make or break this process. Sarah shares her wisdom on hiring for values over experience and understanding different communi...

Send us Fan Mail In this podcast episode, Carrie and Kate discuss directors' challenges in managing childcare staff. They emphasize the importance of setting clear expectations and boundaries, providing necessary resources, and actively listening to staff concerns. Carrie highlights the need for directors to support and defend their staff, even when mistakes are made. At the same time, Kate u...

Send us Fan Mail In this podcast episode, Carrie and Kate discuss the importance of planning staff events and reviewing calendars to avoid missing key dates. They highlight Amazon Prime Day as an opportunity to purchase their book and workbook at a discount. They share the fun tradition of "Polka Dot Thursday" in Carrie's family and invite listeners to the Texas Workforce Commission...

Send us Fan Mail In this podcast episode, Carrie, Kate, and guest Jenna Warriner discuss the necessity of raising tuition rates in childcare centers. They provide strategies for determining appropriate increases, such as benchmarking against local centers, considering inflation, and evaluating the cost of quality care. The speakers emphasize aligning staff pay with tuition rates and ensuring budge...

Send us Fan Mail In this podcast episode, Carrie and Kate delve into the complexities of administering medication in childcare settings. They discuss legal, safety, and practical aspects, including medication policies, state regulations, and the importance of proper documentation. The conversation covers the challenges of distinguishing symptoms from various conditions and the legal implications o...

Send us Fan Mail In this podcast episode, Carrie and Kate discuss the importance of hiring new staff from outside the childcare industry and the necessity of pre-service training. They advocate for recruiting individuals from fields like hospitality and retail to bring fresh perspectives. The hosts emphasize the need for thorough training, including eight-hour and 24-hour pre-service courses, to e...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Kate and Carrie welcome Christian Muraira, director of an early childcare center, to the show! Christian shares his inspiring journey in the early childcare field, offering a unique perspective as a male teacher. He talks about starting out as a volunteer and working his way up to director, as well as what it’s like working alongside family members.  The conversat...

Send us Fan Mail In this podcast episode, Carrie and Kate discuss the importance of directors taking vacations and their impact on their centers. They explore the challenges and benefits of stepping away and share strategies for preparing staff and parents for the director's absence. The episode also offers practical tips for directors on effectively disconnecting and delegating responsibilit...

Send us Fan Mail In this podcast episode, Kate and Carrie host Summer Picha, an expert in early childhood education with 23 years of experience. Summer discusses her journey from working in a program kitchen to owning schools and her shift to consulting and training during the pandemic. She introduces her Conscious Classroom Certification Model, which focuses on aligning staff with organizational...

Send us Fan Mail In this podcast episode, Kate and Carrie explore the delicate issue of handling health problems within a childcare center's leadership team. They emphasize empathy and practicality in managing the increased workload, suggesting strategies like private meetings, task delegation, and creating temporary positions to support the affected team. They advise against firing individua...

Send us Fan Mail In this podcast episode, Carrie and Kate explore solutions to the persistent staffing shortages in childcare facilities. They discuss the potential of hiring young adults, particularly those aged 18 to 25, for temporary summer positions, which could lead to long-term employment. They also consider the benefits of employing teachers and retirees, offering strategies to accommodate...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of ChildCare Conversations, Kate and Carrie discuss the complexities of insurance for childcare programs with Blake, an insurance professional. They delve into the necessity of accurate insurance coverage, considering the increased construction and materials costs over time. Blake advises on the importance of general liability, abuse, molestation coverage, professi...

Send us Fan Mail In this podcast episode, Blake, an expert in childcare insurance joins Kate and Carrie to discuss the challenges childcare directors and owners face in obtaining suitable insurance coverage. He shares his journey from being a childcare director to an owner and the difficulties he encountered in finding the right insurance guidance. Blake emphasizes the need for specialized knowled...

Send us Fan Mail In this podcast episode, Carrie, Kate, and guest Prerna Richards discuss a new certification program aimed at coaching and mentoring early childhood education teachers. Prerna introduces the program, which is designed to help individuals such as education managers and directors support classroom teachers. The conversation covers the program's commitment, content, and the bene...

Send us Fan Mail In this podcast episode, Carrie and Kate explore various business models for starting a childcare business, including nature-based preschools, partnerships with faith-based entities, and collaborations with dance or martial arts studios. They also consider the potential for working with schools or businesses to provide childcare services. The hosts emphasize the importance of plan...

Send us Fan Mail In this podcast episode, Carrie and Kate discuss the complexities of expanding a childcare center. They cover the benefits of scaling up, the timing of enrollment spikes, and the importance of market demand, zoning, and financial considerations. The speakers highlight the need for thorough due diligence, such as understanding local market dynamics, checking licensing reports, and...

Send us Fan Mail In this podcast episode, Carrie and Kate explore the significance of advocacy in the early childcare sector. They highlight the benefits of joining professional organizations and networking to amplify voices in the industry. The duo offers actionable advice on how to effectively engage with legislators and participate in advocacy initiatives. They discuss the power of forming pers...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Carrie and Kate outline a strategy for advocating childcare tax reduction in Pflugerville, Texas. They discuss identifying city council members, researching legislation, and contacting officials with a clear proposal. Emphasizing community involvement, they suggest attending local events, like Farm Day, to promote childcare programs. While focused on Pflugerville,...

Send us Fan Mail In part two of the Childcare Conversations advocacy series, Kate and Carrie focus on the vital role of advocacy in the early childhood profession, particularly in Texas. They stress that professionals are more than caretakers; they have a powerful voice to influence the childcare industry and policy. The duo provides practical advice on engaging with legislators, especially during...

Send us Fan Mail In part one of the Childcare Conversations advocacy series, Carrie and Kate emphasize the critical role of advocacy in the childcare industry, focusing on legislative actions in Texas. They discuss the importance of education and speaking up for the sector and children, highlighting a legislative directive on tax credits for childcare centers. They urge early childhood professiona...