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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

education how to

All Episodes

29:21

614 Bet on Yourself: Turning Your Skills Into...

The Child Care Directors Chair Podcast ·

2026/08/05

Send us Fan Mail What happens when you stop waiting for permission and finally decide to bet on yourself? In today’s episode of The Child Care Director’s Chair, I sit down with Adva Hanan for an honest conversation about believing in your skills, recognizing the value of what you already know, and building opportunities beyond the classroom. We talk about what it feels like to leave the comfort of working for someone else, take the leap into entrepreneurship, and begin creating a business and...

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35:00

613 Grow Your People, Grow Your Organization

The Child Care Directors Chair Podcast ·

2026/08/04

Send us Fan Mail Organizational growth does not begin with a new program, a bigger building, or a longer strategic plan. It begins with developing the people who will help carry the vision forward. In this episode of The Child Care Director’s Chair, Erica sits down with Niki Da’Jon to discuss the connection between internal confidence, leadership development, and strategic planning. Together, they explore why directors must look beyond the immediate needs of the day and intentionally prepare ...

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38:38

612 Beyond Management: Becoming a Pedagogical Leader

The Child Care Directors Chair Podcast ·

2026/08/03

Send us Fan Mail What does it truly mean to lead learning in an early childhood program? In this episode of The Child Care Director’s Chair, Erica sits down with Jessica Karpathios, a forest school practitioner, pedagogical leader, presenter, and the voice behind The Curious Educator Collective, for a meaningful conversation about pedagogical leadership. Together, they explore how early childhood leaders can move beyond managing schedules, paperwork, staffing, and compliance to become more de...

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25:24

610 Why Your Best Teacher Struggles to Become a...

The Child Care Directors Chair Podcast ·

2026/08/01

Send us Fan Mail Your best teacher may be dependable, respected, and amazing with children, but that does not always mean they are prepared to lead adults. In this episode of The Child Care Director’s Chair Podcast, Erica breaks down why strong teachers often struggle when they move into supervisory roles. From navigating friendships and difficult conversations to learning how to delegate, give feedback, and make decisions, this episode explores the leadership skills that are often missing af...

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17:32

609 The Workforce Is Not Failing—Our Leadership...

The Child Care Directors Chair Podcast ·

2026/07/29

Send us Fan Mail Passion may bring educators into early childhood education, but passion alone will not keep them there. In this episode of The Child Care Director’s Chair, Erica Saccoccio explores why the childcare workforce cannot continue surviving on dedication, sacrifice, and love for children without the leadership, support, compensation, respect, and working conditions educators need to stay. This conversation challenges leaders to move from asking employees to give more to examining t...

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25:49

608 You May Not Have a Staffing Problem

The Child Care Directors Chair Podcast ·

2026/07/28

Send us Fan Mail What if the real problem is not that good teachers are impossible to find—but that something inside your program is making it difficult for them to stay? In this episode, Erica Saccoccio challenges childcare leaders to look beyond job postings, callouts, and constant hiring. She explores how workplace culture, communication, expectations, support, onboarding, and leadership practices can quietly create what looks like a staffing problem. Before you hire another person, it may...

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22:33

607 Who Is Holding the Childcare Director Together?

The Child Care Directors Chair Podcast ·

2026/07/27

Send us Fan Mail Childcare directors spend their days holding everything together—the classrooms, the staff, the families, the schedules, licensing requirements, enrollment, and every unexpected challenge that walks through the door. But while everyone depends on the director, who is checking on the person carrying it all? In this honest and personal episode, Erica Saccoccio talks about the emotional weight of childcare leadership, the hidden signs of director burnout, and why exhaustion shou...

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65:20

606 Decode the Behavior, Reach the Child.

The Child Care Directors Chair Podcast ·

2026/07/22

Send us Fan Mail What if the behavior challenging your classroom is actually a child’s way of asking for help? In this episode of The Child Care Director’s Chair Podcast, Erica sits down with school counselors and authors Ashley Zomalt and Kacy Brubaker to uncover what children’s big emotions and challenging behaviors may really be communicating. Together, they share how educators and child care leaders can move beyond simply stopping a behavior and begin identifying the feelings, unmet needs...

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22:57

605 Are You Taking Your Best Teachers for Granted?

The Child Care Directors Chair Podcast ·

2026/07/21

Send us Fan Mail Your best teachers are often the ones who show up, step in, solve problems, support others, and quietly hold everything together. But because they are dependable, they can also become the most overlooked, overworked, and taken for granted. In this episode, we are talking about what extraordinary teachers truly need from their leaders. We will explore how to recognize burnout before it is too late, support their professional growth, listen to their ideas, and make sure appreci...

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12:14

604 Are Great Leaders Born? The Leadership Myth...

The Child Care Directors Chair Podcast ·

2026/07/20

Send us Fan Mail Are great leaders born, or are they built? It's one of the oldest leadership debates, but I believe we've been asking the wrong question. Some people seem to have natural leadership abilities from a young age, while others grow into leadership over time. The real question isn't how you started—it's what you're doing with the leadership you've been given. In this first episode of our new series, Leadership Myths That Are Holding You Back, I'm sharing my own leadership journey—...

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32:58

603 Sisters, Stories & Family Child Care

The Child Care Directors Chair Podcast ·

2026/07/17

Send us Fan Mail What happens when two sisters each run their own family child care program? You get honest conversations, plenty of laughter, real-life lessons, and a passion for supporting the profession they love. In this special podcast swap episode, Erica Saccoccio, host of The Child Care Director's Chair, sits down with the hosts of The Daycare Sisters Podcast to talk about the unique journey of owning separate family child care businesses while leaning on each other every step of the w...

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10:57

602 Family Child Care: More Alike Than Different

The Child Care Directors Chair Podcast ·

2026/07/16

Send us Fan Mail After spending time with incredible family child care providers at the National Family Child Care Association Conference in Chicago and the Florida Family Child Care Home Association event, I've found myself reflecting on just how much we have in common. As a center owner, I've always admired the heart, dedication, and resilience it takes to open your home to children every single day. While our businesses may look different on the outside, our mission is exactly the same—we'...

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46:54

601 Finding Your Way

The Child Care Directors Chair Podcast ·

2026/07/15

Send us Fan Mail Finding your way as a leader isn't always a straight path—and in early childhood education, every experience shapes the leader you become. In this episode of The Child Care Director's Chair Podcast, Annie Watkins joins Erica Saccoccio to share her leadership journey, from unexpectedly entering the childcare profession to becoming a confident childcare director. Together, they discuss finding your voice, overcoming self-doubt, building confidence, and leading with purpose, eve...

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37:44

600 The Secret to Strong Childcare Teams

The Child Care Directors Chair Podcast ·

2026/07/14

Send us Fan Mail How can collaboration transform your childcare center and strengthen your leadership? In this episode of The Child Care Director's Chair Podcast, Erica Saccoccio celebrates the podcast's 3-year anniversary with special guest LaTroya B., founder of The Preschool Posse, for an inspiring conversation about why collaboration beats competition in early childhood education. If you're a childcare director, childcare owner, preschool director, assistant director, instructional coach,...

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49:30

599 The Surprising Power of Intentional Collaboration...

The Child Care Directors Chair Podcast ·

2026/07/13

Send us Fan Mail Unlock the secret to transforming your early childhood program by cultivating a culture of genuine collaboration. If you're a director feeling the weight of disjointed teams, or a teacher craving deeper connections, this episode is your game-changer. Imagine classrooms where teachers step in seamlessly, communication flows effortlessly, and a positive, trusting environment is the norm—not the exception. Coach Ray from New Orleans reveals the practical, evidence-based strategi...

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9:21

598 Lead Smarter with AI

The Child Care Directors Chair Podcast ·

2026/07/08

Send us Fan Mail Artificial intelligence is here, and it's changing the way child care leaders work. But before you worry about AI replacing educators, let's set the record straight—it never will. In this episode of the Child Care Director's Chair Podcast, Erica Saccoccio explores how child care directors and owners can use AI to become more organized, communicate more effectively, and reclaim valuable time without sacrificing the relationships that make early childhood education so special. ...

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19:05

597 Stop Leading Alone: Build Stronger Child Care...

The Child Care Directors Chair Podcast ·

2026/07/07

Send us Fan Mail What if one of the biggest myths in early childhood education is that great leaders have to carry everything alone? In this episode of The Child Care Directors Chair, Erica sits down with Tacita Bateman, founder of Childcare Culture and Company, to talk about why collaboration, culture, and leadership pipelines matter more than ever. They dig into burnout, broken systems, innovative solutions, and the power of sharing ideas with other child care leaders. If you’re ready to st...

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13:36

596 Stop Going Through the Motions.

The Child Care Directors Chair Podcast ·

2026/07/06

Send us Fan Mail What if the most important part of your leadership isn't what you accomplish—but how you make people feel? In this episode of the Child Care Director's Chair Podcast, Erica Saccoccio challenges educators to stop simply going through the motions and start creating moments that people will remember for a lifetime. Through personal stories, leadership insights, and practical encouragement, you'll discover how small, intentional moments can transform your team, your culture, your...

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20:12

595 The Ripple Effect: The Leadership Decisions You...

The Child Care Directors Chair Podcast ·

2026/06/29

Send us Fan Mail Every leader creates a ripple. The conversations you have, the feedback you give, the trust you extend, and the opportunities you provide don't end in the moment—they continue shaping confidence, culture, and future leaders long after you've moved on. In this powerful episode of the Child Care Director's Chair Podcast, Erica Saccoccio explores one of the most overlooked truths about leadership: your greatest impact isn't found in the tasks you complete—it's found in the peopl...

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16:12

594 Confidence vs. Control: The Leadership Shift That...

The Child Care Directors Chair Podcast ·

2026/06/24

Send us Fan Mail In this powerful leadership episode, Erica Saccoccio explores one of the most misunderstood dynamics in early childhood leadership: the difference between confidence and control. At first glance, these two approaches can seem similar—both can reflect structure, high standards, and strong leadership. But beneath the surface, they produce very different outcomes in teams, culture, and organizational sustainability. Erica breaks down how control, while sometimes necessary for sa...

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719 results

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