The Child Care Directors Chair Podcast

Send us Fan Mail Winter is coming… and so are snowstorms, sniffles, and frosty floors! ❄️ In this episode of Childcare Directors Chair , Erica Saccoccio shares practical tips to keep your center running smoothly all winter long . Learn how to prep classrooms for cold-weather fun , keep staff morale high when energy is low , communicate clearly with families, and handle snowstorms and winter emerge...

Send us Fan Mail Ready to turn January inquiries into full classrooms? In this episode, Erica shares 10 practical, proven tips to capture every lead and turn them into enrolled families . From mastering your follow-up, refreshing your tours, and creating urgency without pressure, to polishing your first impressions and leveraging marketing updates, you’ll learn exactly how to make the most of the...

Send us Fan Mail Happy Thanksgiving, friends! Today’s episode is full of gratitude, real-life laughs, and a HUGE surprise for my amazing listeners. Yes… I accidentally released yesterday’s episode on the wrong date (cold-season chaos!), and yes… I even put the outro music in the intro. But if there’s one thing we childcare leaders do well, it’s pivot with grace and humor! To make it up to you — an...

Send us Fan Mail Ater finally getting over a stubborn cold and rolling straight into all the pre–Turkey Day prep (because in ECE, the work never slows down—cold or no cold), Erica jumps on the mic to talk directly to early childhood leaders about gratitude, giving, and finding joy in the middle of everyday operations. Between enrollment, staffing, lesson plans, family questions, and holiday prep,...

Send us Fan Mail Winter is coming… and so are snowstorms, sniffles, and frosty floors! ❄️ In this episode of Childcare Directors Chair , Erica Saccoccio shares practical tips to keep your center running smoothly all winter long . Learn how to prep classrooms for cold-weather fun , keep staff morale high when energy is low , communicate clearly with families, and handle snowstorms and winter emerge...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Childcare Director’s Chair Podcast, Erica Saccoccio breaks down exactly how childcare leaders can close out the year with clarity, confidence, and momentum. Instead of coasting through December, Erica shows you how to use this season to sharpen your systems, elevate your culture, and prepare your team for a stronger year ahead. You’ll learn the five leadersh...

Send us Fan Mail In this powerful end-of-year episode, Erica Saccoccio takes you through a grounded, honest reflection of 2025 and the leadership lessons that shaped the childcare field this year. This isn’t a surface-level recap — it’s a deep dive into who you’ve become as a leader, what truly worked in your program, and where your growth is calling you next. Erica walks you step-by-step through...

Send us Fan Mail I’ve been sick this week, so we decided to bring back one of our most popular episodes. In Case You Missed It , this is a replay from November 15th, 2024. In this episode, I talk about why diversity and inclusion matter so much in childcare. I share how we can create welcoming spaces by choosing multicultural books and materials, hiring diverse staff, offering language support, an...

Send us Fan Mail  Dr. Keena Rush Mosley breaks down her book Launch to Impact and shares her leadership framework for emerging leaders. We dive into the biggest missteps—avoiding accountability, dodging hard conversations, and leading without clear standards—and explore how to step boldly into leadership and make real impact. To hear more from Dr. Rush Mosley and other inspiring leaders, join us a...

Send us Fan Mail You can’t pour from an empty cup — and yet, so many of us in childcare leadership keep trying! In this episode, Erica breaks down why rest isn’t lazy — it’s leadership . From battling burnout to reclaiming your “why,” this conversation will help you shift from surviving to thriving. Learn five powerful strategies to protect your energy, model balance for your team, and refuel your...

Send us Fan Mail  Directors, listen up — saying no doesn’t make you mean, it makes you a leader. Too many of us spend our days exhausted, stressed, and stretched thin because we think every request has to be a “yes.” In this episode of The Child Care Director’s Chair , Erica talks about why boundaries are your secret leadership superpower and how saying no can actually make your “yes” more powerfu...

Send us Fan Mail  Let’s get real for a minute — how can you lead others if you don’t really know yourself? 🤔 In this episode of The Child Care Director’s Chair , we’re diving deep into self-awareness — the secret ingredient to powerful, authentic leadership. Because when you know who you are, why you make the choices you do, and what truly brings you joy, you don’t just lead better — you live bet...

Send us Fan Mail Are you working hard … but not really going anywhere ? Yeah, I’ve been there too. 🙋‍♀️ In this episode of The Child Care Director’s Chair , we’re getting real about what it actually means to be intentional — not just busy. I’m sharing a powerful lesson I learned from John Maxwell’s 15 Laws of Growth that completely changed how I show up as a leader, a mom, and a human being. Spoi...

Send us Fan Mail In this heartfelt episode, Erica reflects on 35 incredible days spent traveling to AEYC conferences across the Northeast — from Connecticut to New Jersey, Maine, and Massachusetts — connecting with early childhood leaders who are making a difference every single day. From the joy of meeting longtime listeners to witnessing educators like Maris celebrate 50 years of impact, Erica s...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Child Care Director's Share podcast, Erica interviews Malik, a vendor at the New Jersey AEYC conference, who discusses his innovative AI tool designed to enhance engagement and retention in childcare settings. The conversation explores the importance of storytelling in education, the challenges of funding, and the future aspirations for integrating tech...

Send us Fan Mail  In this heartfelt Veterans Day episode, Erica Saccoccio sits down with Karen, Director of the Dear to Dream Ranch in Rhode Island, an organization dedicated to supporting veterans. They explore the journey of healing, the importance of teaching children to give back, and how acts of kindness can shape both young hearts and the broader community. Tune in for inspiring stories, pra...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Child Care Directors Chair podcast, Erica and Amber discuss the essential qualities of effective leadership in education, the importance of team building, and the role of observations and assessments in fostering student growth. Amber shares her experiences and insights from her presentation at the njaeyc 80th anniversary conference, emphasizing the need for...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Child Care Directors Share Podcast, host Erica speaks with Cindy Tera Bush, a fellow educator and podcaster, about her journey in early childhood education. They discuss the evolution of Cindy's career from teacher to director to podcaster, the challenges and rewards of navigating career transitions, and the importance of community engagement and advoca...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Child Care Directors Chair podcast, Erica speaks with Hannah from Earth Friends about the importance of environmental education in early childhood. They discuss how to integrate nature into classroom learning, the significance of fostering environmental stewardship in young learners, and the positive impact humans can have on nature. The conversation emphasi...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Child Care Directors Chair podcast, host Erica speaks with Lewis from LENA, a nonprofit focused on early childhood development. They discuss the importance of conversation in shaping children's brains, the role of strengths-based coaching for educators, and the significance of listening in leadership. Lewis shares insights from his experiences at the nj...

Send us Fan Mail In this inspiring episode of The Child Care Directorship Podcast , Erica Saccoccio kicks off her “Building Bridges” series with a heartfelt message about connection — because in early childhood education, success isn’t built on policies or paperwork, it’s built on people. 💛 Erica dives deep into what it really means to build bridges — between leaders and teachers, centers and fam...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The Child Care Directorship Podcast , host Erica Saccoccio dives deep into The Art of Making Genuine Connections — because real leadership isn’t about authority, it’s about authenticity. Erica shares how to create meaningful relationships that fuel collaboration, strengthen your team, and expand your impact beyond your center walls. She explores the leadership h...

Send us Fan Mail In this special listener reply episode, Erica answers a heartfelt message from Wendy, an educator dreaming of opening her own nature preschool and launching a coaching business to support other early childhood professionals. If you’ve ever wondered, “What’s next for me in childcare?” — this episode is your roadmap! Erica breaks down exactly how to start your own childcare business...

Send us Fan Mail  It’s Halloween, friends — and if you work in childcare, you know what that means! Sugar highs, costume drama, glitter explosions, and at least one Elsa who refuses to take off her crown all day. In this hilarious and heartwarming episode, Erica takes you behind the scenes for a real look at one of the wildest days of the year in a childcare center. From teachers dodging frosting...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Child Care Directorship Podcast, Erica speaks with Tirusha Dave, an early childhood educator and entrepreneur, about her experiences in the field of childcare. They discuss the importance of supporting teachers, the impact of curriculum choices on student success, and the significance of servant leadership in early childhood education. Tirusha shares her adv...