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PODCAST

The Child Care Directors Chair Podcast

Erica Saccoccio

Because childcare leadership deserves a real conversation.If you"re looking for another leadership podcast filled with corporate buzzwords and theories from people who haven"t stepped inside a childcare center in years... this probably isn"t it.I"m Erica Saccoccio—a multi-center childcare owner, leadership coach, keynote speaker, and podcast host who still leads in the work every single day.This podcast is for childcare directors, daycare owners, assistant directors, preschool leaders, and early

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All Episodes

18:20

634 When Things Change: Leading Through the Hard...

The Child Care Directors Chair Podcast ·

2026/09/04

Send us Fan Mail Change is one of the hardest parts of leadership, especially when you care deeply about your program, your team, and the families you serve. Staff leave. Families move on. Children transition to new classrooms. Plans you thought were solid suddenly shift, and sometimes those changes can leave you feeling hurt, disappointed, frustrated, or even angry. In this episode of the Child Care Director’s Chair Podcast, Erica has a real conversation about what it means to lead when thin...

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20:10

633 The Confident Childcare Director

The Child Care Directors Chair Podcast ·

2026/09/02

Send us Fan Mail If you’re waiting to feel confident before you lead, this episode is your wake-up call. Erica Saccoccio breaks down why confidence in childcare leadership is built through action, not personality, and how John Maxwell’s leadership principles can help you become a stronger director right now. For childcare directors who are juggling staff conflict, licensing stress, enrollment pressure, hard conversations, and the daily weight of keeping a center running, this conversation hit...

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15:52

632 Your Center Doesn’t Need More Rules—It Needs...

The Child Care Directors Chair Podcast ·

2026/09/01

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Childcare Directors Chair, Erica makes the case that many childcare centers don’t need another policy, memo, or handbook update—they need clearer leadership. She explains the difference between managing people with rules and leading with expectations, relationships, coaching, and accountability. Erica walks through why repeated problems often point to unclear standards, weak follow-through, or avoided conversations, not a missing rule. She shares practical ...

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37:38

631 Beyond Babysitting: Professionalism in Family...

The Child Care Directors Chair Podcast ·

2026/08/31

Send us Fan Mail Family child care is not babysitting, and this conversation makes that impossible to ignore. Erica Saccoccio and Dacia Dumas unpack how home-based providers can lead with warmth and operate like the professionals and business owners they are, without apologizing for policies, tuition, or boundaries. Erica opens with the reality so many providers live every day: families may come through your door because of the love and personal connection, but that does not mean your program...

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23:48

630 Louisiana Family Child Care Grants

The Child Care Directors Chair Podcast ·

2026/08/28

Send us Fan Mail Louisiana family child care providers are leaving money, support, and growth opportunities on the table - and Cierra Amar shows you exactly how to stop. If you run a home-based program, this conversation breaks down the licensing, registration, CCAP, academic approval, and tax credit pathways that can turn a small operation into a high-quality business with real funding behind it. Erica Saccoccio and Cierra Amar unpack what it actually takes to grow a family child care home i...

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32:25

628 HR in Childcare: Protecting Your Program, Team,...

The Child Care Directors Chair Podcast ·

2026/08/27

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Child Care Directors Chair, Erica sits down with Sheika Petteway to break down the HR side of childcare leadership. They discuss what actually falls under HR in an early childhood program, the most common documentation and compliance mistakes, how SOPs can protect your team, and when it’s time to bring in an HR specialist. If you’re an owner or director trying to balance operations, compliance, and the day-to-day needs of your staff, this conversation offer...

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36:36

628 Your Contract Ended, Your Career Didn’t

The Child Care Directors Chair Podcast ·

2026/08/26

Send us Fan Mail What happens when you’ve poured your heart into teaching, built relationships with children and families, and then suddenly hear the words: “Your contract will not be renewed”? In this episode, I sit down with Stephanie Panico for an important conversation about something we do not talk about enough in education: what it feels like to be a teacher who is not renewed and what comes next. We talk about the emotional side of non-renewal, how quickly it can shake your confidence,...

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21:45

627 You’re Not Rebuilding the Old Program—You’re...

The Child Care Directors Chair Podcast ·

2026/08/25

Send us Fan Mail For years, child care leaders have been trying to recover from staff turnover, burnout, constant hiring, and the disruption that changed so many programs after COVID. Maybe you had a dream team once. Maybe your center ran with a rhythm that felt easier, stronger, and more connected. But what if the goal is not to get that old team back? What if this is your opportunity to build something even better? In this episode of the Child Care Director’s Chair, Erica talks about what i...

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32:10

626 Leadership Beyond the Classroom with Carolyn...

The Child Care Directors Chair Podcast ·

2026/08/21

Send us Fan Mail What happens when early childhood professionals stop working in silos and start building stronger connections across classrooms, programs, and professional associations? In this episode of the Child Care Director’s Chair Podcast, Erica Saccoccio sits down with Carolyn Bobby Green for a conversation about leadership, professional growth, mentorship, and the power of staying connected in early childhood education. Carolyn shares why great training needs follow-through, how ment...

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48:54

625 Childcare Leadership: How to Grow Without Burning...

The Child Care Directors Chair Podcast ·

2026/08/20

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Child Care Director’s Chair Podcast, Erica Saccoccio sits down with Danni Christine, who shares her journey from assistant teacher to home daycare owner to operating four childcare centers in New York. Danni opens up about the leadership lessons that shaped her growth, including why relationships should come before correction, how to build a leadership team you can trust, and why owners have to stop trying to do everything themselves. You’ll also hear h...

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37:38

624 Stop Buying Yourself a Job: From Child Care Owner...

The Child Care Directors Chair Podcast ·

2026/08/19

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Child Care Directors Chair, Erica Saccoccio sits down with Shelbra McKnight to unpack one of the biggest challenges in child care ownership: how to stop building yourself a job and start building a true business. Shelbra shares how systems, leadership development, and a CEO mindset can help child care owners step out of the daily fires and create more freedom, profit, and legacy. They talk about the difference between being needed and being effective, why...

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30:13

623 Leading Childcare Programs That Help Families,...

The Child Care Directors Chair Podcast ·

2026/08/19

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Childcare Directors Chair, Erica sits down with Julie Amy to explore why great childcare is about much more than getting through the day. Julie shares how her “Best Day Ever” framework helps leaders build sustainable programs rooted in consistency, strong relationships, and intentional systems that support children, educators, and families alike.Together, they dig into why childcare is a vital part of workforce and community infrastructure, how culture is b...

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62:22

622 Your Next Chapter in Education: From Classroom...

The Child Care Directors Chair Podcast ·

2026/08/17

Send us Fan Mail Every year, this small group of educators comes back to the mic for a Power Hour conversation about leadership, play, growth, and the evolving journey of the educator. This year, the conversation goes even deeper. Carla Ward, Kate Woodward Young, Jamie Wagler, Sueie Beghin, Laura Shea, Adva Hanan, and Melysa Mei share what happened when they allowed their work in education to grow beyond the classroom. From stages to pages, these women have written books, launched and expande...

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36:01

621 Own Your Story: Confidence to Be Seen & Heard...

The Child Care Directors Chair Podcast ·

2026/08/14

Send us Fan Mail What if the opportunity you’ve been waiting for is one you’re supposed to create? In this episode of the Child Care Director’s Chair Podcast, Erica sits down with Shemeka Maddox for an energizing conversation about confidence, telling your story, building your brand, and using your voice beyond the four walls of your program. Shemeka shares how she moved from surviving to building legacy, why your experience has value, and why educators need to stop waiting for permission to ...

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48:15

620 Play Isn’t Just for Kids: Anthony Toombs on Joy,...

The Child Care Directors Chair Podcast ·

2026/08/13

Send us Fan Mail What happens when we stop treating play as something only children need? In this engaging and energizing conversation, Erica Saccoccio sits down with Anthony Toombs of the Life is Good Playmaker Project to talk about where early childhood education is right now, where we are headed, and why joy, connection, and play are critical to the future of our field. Anthony shares his journey, the work he is doing with educators across the country, and why creating space, opportunity, ...

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46:54

619 Before the Doors Open: The Leadership Reset Every...

The Child Care Directors Chair Podcast ·

2026/08/12

Send us Fan Mail A successful school year doesn’t begin with decorated classrooms, completed checklists, or perfectly organized supply closets. It begins with the way we lead. In this episode, Erica Saccoccio and Melonie Kareem go beyond traditional back-to-school preparation to talk about what early childhood leaders really need to reset before children and families walk through the doors. From communication and team buy-in to clear systems, emotional regulation, and leadership presence, thi...

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50:59

618 The Power of Advocacy with Tim Kaminski

The Child Care Directors Chair Podcast ·

2026/08/11

Send us Fan Mail Child care leaders are often expected to follow rules created by people who may not fully understand what it takes to run a program. In this episode, Erica sits down with Tim Kaminski, child care operator, advocate, and Texas Licensed Child Care Association leader, to talk about what happens when owners, directors, and educators stop sitting on the sidelines and start using their voices to influence the future of the industry. Tim shares how he went from feeling intimidated b...

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33:04

617: When the Job Costs You Your Health with Dr....

The Child Care Directors Chair Podcast ·

2026/08/10

Send us Fan Mail How many times have we put our jobs before our health and convinced ourselves that it was simply part of being committed? In this powerful episode, Erica sits down with Dr. Yvette Ledford, author of Teacher by Day: The No-Guilt Guide to Setting Boundaries, for an honest conversation about burnout, boundaries, and the pressure educators and childcare leaders feel to keep pushing even when their bodies are telling them to stop. They discuss why so many professionals feel guilty...

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28:34

616 What It Really Takes to Be a Childcare Director

The Child Care Directors Chair Podcast ·

2026/08/07

Send us Fan Mail Being a childcare director can be deeply rewarding, but it can also be one of the hardest leadership roles in early childhood education. In this honest and relatable episode of The Child Care Director’s Chair, I sit down with Jolynn Wendt, one of the most real childcare directors sharing her journey today. Jolynn loves the work she does, but she is also open about the pressure, responsibility, and emotional weight that come with leading a childcare program. We talk about what...

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39:55

615 The Surprising Power of Music and Movement in...

The Child Care Directors Chair Podcast ·

2026/08/06

Send us Fan Mail How can music and movement help young children build stronger language and literacy skills? In this episode of The Child Care Director’s Chair, I sit down with Alyssa Jewell, MLIS, and Melissa McCall to explore how songs, rhythm, movement, and playful classroom experiences can support early literacy development in preschool and Pre-K classrooms. We talk about practical ways educators can use music to strengthen vocabulary, phonological awareness, listening skills, memory, and...

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719 results

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