The Child Care Directors Chair Podcast

Hosted by Erica Saccoccio

Business Education

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Episodes

694

Latest episode

Aug 2026

Language

EN-US

About the show

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 childhood professionals who are ready to find their voice, build confidence, strengthen their teams, and create programs where children, families, and educators thrive. Each week, you'll hear honest conversations, practical leadership strategies, and inspiring stories from childcare directors, owners, educators, authors, and industry leaders who understand what it really takes to lead in early childhood today. We'll tackle the conversations others avoid, celebrate the wins that matter, and give you practical ideas you can take back to your center tomorrow. Around here, we don't chase perfection—we build confident leaders, multiply future leaders, and create a ripple of impact throughout the early childhood profession. Pull up a chair. Find your voice. Lead with confidence. Create lasting impact. 🎤 Let's Grow Leaders Together Looking for a keynote speaker, breakout session presenter, leadership retreat facilitator, professional development trainer, or leadership coach for your childcare organization? Erica partners with conferences, state associations, childcare organizations, school districts, and leadership teams across the country to deliver engaging presentations that are practical, relatable, and transformational. Every session is designed to inspire audiences, spark meaningful conversations, and equip leaders with strategies they can immediately implement in their programs. Connect with Erica for: 🎤 Keynote Presentations 🎓 Conference Breakout Sessions 🏫 Professional Development Days 🌱 Leadership Coaching 👥 Leadership Retreats 🎙️ Podcast Guest Opportunities 🌐 www.childcaredirectorschair.com Pull up a chair. Find your voice. Lead with confidence. Create lasting impact.

Listen to episodes

60 recent

September 10, 202618 min

639 Do They Feel Like They Belong? Building Real Connections With School-Age Children

Send us Fan Mail School-age children need more than supervision, snacks, homework help, and activities. They need connection, belonging, respect, and adults who truly see them. In this episode of the Child Care Director’s Chair Podcast, Erica talks directly to school-age directors and teachers about how relationship-building looks different with older children than it does in preschool. She explores why belonging matters so deeply during the school-age years, how our energy impacts children, and why simply saying “welcome” is not the same as making a child feel known. Erica also challenges school-age teams to think differently about engagement. When a child says, “I don’t want to do anything,” does that really mean they are not interested, or have we just not discovered what they care about yet? This conversation looks at empathy, respect, autonomy, reciprocal relationships, and the importance of giving school-age children a voice in how they spend their time. Most importantly, it asks every educator one question: How are you showing up for the children who walk through your doors every day? Support the show The Child Care Director's Chair Podcast is proudly powered by WatchMeGrow, our premier podcast sponsor and a trusted partner in early childhood education. WatchMeGrow helps child care programs strengthen family engagement through secure live-streaming, classroom video access, and communication tools that build transparency, trust, and peace of mind for families. Their innovative technology empowers programs to enhance safety, strengthen relationships, and showcase the incredible learning happening in their classrooms every day. To learn more about how WatchMeGrow can support your program, visit www.watchmegrow.com . Thank you to WatchMeGrow for supporting our mission to inspire, equip, and empower child care leaders around the world.

September 9, 20268 min

637 Why Her After-School Program Became the Smartest Move She Made

Send us Fan Mail The quiet advantage in childcare ownership is not scale—it is fit. A director in Atlanta shares how she built a center around real demand, a homey culture, and the kind of trust families feel the moment they walk in. Erica Saccoccio catches up live at the ECE Pep Rally with a six-year childcare professional who bet on herself during COVID, opened a program for 25 children, and then expanded into a second shift when she saw a gap in her community. What starts as a simple Director’s Chair conversation turns into a sharp look at what it actually takes to run a center that works for families, staff, and the owner. You’ll hear how she thinks about serving working parents, why her favorite age group is pre-K, and how a smaller, converted-home center can create the kind of connection families keep coming back for. She also shares how she builds trust with parents, why being active and present matters, and what makes a program feel personal instead of transactional. Erica also digs into the hard realities of ownership: pricing in a market where you’re competing with free care, using security cameras, balancing day-shift and after-school care, and leading a team like they are your own family. If you’re an early childhood owner, director, or aspiring program leader, this episode gives you a grounded look at what happens when purpose meets practical leadership. It is especially valuable if you’re trying to grow without losing the family feel that makes families trust you in the first place. Support the show The Child Care Director's Chair Podcast is proudly powered by WatchMeGrow, our premier podcast sponsor and a trusted partner in early childhood education. WatchMeGrow helps child care programs strengthen family engagement through secure live-streaming, classroom video access, and communication tools that build transparency, trust, and peace of mind for families. Their innovative technology empowers programs to enhance safety, strengthen relationships, and showcase the incredible learning happening in their classrooms every day. To learn more about how WatchMeGrow can support your program, visit www.watchmegrow.com . Thank you to WatchMeGrow for supporting our mission to inspire, equip, and empower child care leaders around the world.

September 8, 20269 min

636 Build Your Child Care Business Like a Business, Not a Feeling

Send us Fan Mail Miranda Moore on the child care policies that protect your business, your staff, and your sanity If you are a child care owner who is ready to grow but knows you need stronger systems first, Miranda Moore delivers the mindset shift that can save you from expensive mistakes. She explains why running a center with your heart alone is not enough, and why standing on your policies is the difference between a smooth operation and constant chaos. Miranda runs a small center in Valdosta, Georgia, serving about 18 children with a 23-child capacity, and she brings the perspective of an owner who is building carefully, not recklessly. She shares what she is focused on before expanding, including staffing, leadership, and the foundation every new owner needs if they want to scale without losing control. You'll discover why Miranda believes great leadership starts with modeling the behavior you expect, how she builds trust with families through open communication and community connection, and why she treats policies as a non-negotiable rather than a suggestion. She also breaks down practical systems that still work in the real world, including her binder-based organization method, monthly safety routines, and the family events and date nights that keep parent relationships strong. Miranda also gets honest about modern child care risks, especially the pressure of cameras and social media. She explains why not every incident looks the way it appears on video, why constant surveillance can damage trust with staff, and why protecting privacy matters just as much as transparency. Her perspective is a timely reminder that what happens in child care settings is often more nuanced than a clip online can show. This conversation is especially valuable if you are opening a child care business, trying to tighten your policies, or working to build a center that lasts. Miranda also speaks to the pride of carrying a three-generation child care legacy and building something small that is making a big impact in her community. Strong, practical, and grounded in real ownership experience, this episode is a must-listen for child care providers who want to lead with purpose, protect their program, and grow with confidence. Support the show The Child Care Director's Chair Podcast is proudly powered by WatchMeGrow, our premier podcast sponsor and a trusted partner in early childhood education. WatchMeGrow helps child care programs strengthen family engagement through secure live-streaming, classroom video access, and communication tools that build transparency, trust, and peace of mind for families. Their innovative technology empowers programs to enhance safety, strengthen relationships, and showcase the incredible learning happening in their classrooms every day. To learn more about how WatchMeGrow can support your program, visit www.watchmegrow.com . Thank you to WatchMeGrow for supporting our mission to inspire, equip, and empower child care leaders around the world.

September 7, 202614 min

635 Why Child Care Centers Lose Everything at Lease Renewal with Todd Harris

Send us Fan Mail Leasing can look cheaper on paper, but in child care real estate, the wrong move can cost you your business. Todd Harris, known as the Nursery Navigator, breaks down how directors and owners can protect their centers, negotiate smarter, and build real long-term value instead of pouring money into someone else’s building. Todd is a child care real estate specialist, broker, and owner who has opened multiple centers himself. He explains the real tradeoffs between leasing and owning, including when a lease gives you flexibility, when ownership gives you control, and why the most expensive mistake is signing a deal without understanding what’s at stake. In this episode, you’ll discover: Why tenant improvement allowances can help cover major expenses like HVAC, plumbing, fire systems, and other buildout costs The differences between a turnkey space, an empty turnkey, and a going operation How to evaluate culture, standards, and parent expectations when taking over an existing child care business Why a lease can become vulnerable when a stronger buyer makes an offer to the property owner How ownership can help you control your business’s future and build generational wealth What Todd learned from owning and leasing multiple child care properties Todd also shares candid lessons from operating large-scale centers, enforcing professional standards, and building a child care portfolio in Tennessee with his wife, Dr. Daphne Booker Harris. Whether you’re opening your first center, expanding your current operation, or considering a property purchase, this conversation offers valuable insight before you sign your next lease or mortgage. Support the show The Child Care Director's Chair Podcast is proudly powered by WatchMeGrow, our premier podcast sponsor and a trusted partner in early childhood education. WatchMeGrow helps child care programs strengthen family engagement through secure live-streaming, classroom video access, and communication tools that build transparency, trust, and peace of mind for families. Their innovative technology empowers programs to enhance safety, strengthen relationships, and showcase the incredible learning happening in their classrooms every day. To learn more about how WatchMeGrow can support your program, visit www.watchmegrow.com . Thank you to WatchMeGrow for supporting our mission to inspire, equip, and empower child care leaders around the world.

September 4, 202618 min

634 When Things Change: Leading Through the Hard Parts Without Losing Yourself

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 things do not go the way you hoped. We talk about allowing yourself to feel the emotions that come with change while also asking an important leadership question: What can I learn from this, and how do I move forward? As directors, we will not always make decisions that everyone agrees with. Our responsibility is to make the best decisions we can with the information we have, while staying grounded in our policies, regulations, responsibilities, and core values. Nothing in this field stays the same forever. Teams change. Families change. Children grow. Programs evolve. The goal is not to avoid change. The goal is to become the kind of leader who can learn from it, grow through it, and keep moving forward. Support the show The Child Care Director's Chair Podcast is proudly powered by WatchMeGrow, our premier podcast sponsor and a trusted partner in early childhood education. WatchMeGrow helps child care programs strengthen family engagement through secure live-streaming, classroom video access, and communication tools that build transparency, trust, and peace of mind for families. Their innovative technology empowers programs to enhance safety, strengthen relationships, and showcase the incredible learning happening in their classrooms every day. To learn more about how WatchMeGrow can support your program, visit www.watchmegrow.com . Thank you to WatchMeGrow for supporting our mission to inspire, equip, and empower child care leaders around the world.

September 2, 202620 min

633 The Confident Childcare Director

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 hits exactly where it matters. Erica connects real-world early childhood leadership challenges to practical mindset shifts you can use immediately. You’ll hear how the law of the lid can expose the hidden limits in your center, why “I’m not good at that yet” is a more powerful leadership mindset than “I can’t,” and how growth becomes evidence that you can handle more than you thought. Erica also unpacks why influence matters more than title, how adding value to your team builds your confidence, and why strong directors stop trying to be liked by everyone and start leading from clear values. Support the show The Child Care Director's Chair Podcast is proudly powered by WatchMeGrow, our premier podcast sponsor and a trusted partner in early childhood education. WatchMeGrow helps child care programs strengthen family engagement through secure live-streaming, classroom video access, and communication tools that build transparency, trust, and peace of mind for families. Their innovative technology empowers programs to enhance safety, strengthen relationships, and showcase the incredible learning happening in their classrooms every day. To learn more about how WatchMeGrow can support your program, visit www.watchmegrow.com . Thank you to WatchMeGrow for supporting our mission to inspire, equip, and empower child care leaders around the world.

September 1, 202615 min

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

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 examples from childcare settings, including attendance, uniforms, cell phones, classroom cleanliness, and staff communication, to show how leaders can address the real issue instead of adding blanket policies that punish the whole team. If you’re a childcare director tired of sending reminders that don’t change behavior, this episode will help you think differently about culture, accountability, and staff development. Learn how to model expectations, coach your team, and build a center where people know what to do even when you’re not in the room. Support the show The Child Care Director's Chair Podcast is proudly powered by WatchMeGrow, our premier podcast sponsor and a trusted partner in early childhood education. WatchMeGrow helps child care programs strengthen family engagement through secure live-streaming, classroom video access, and communication tools that build transparency, trust, and peace of mind for families. Their innovative technology empowers programs to enhance safety, strengthen relationships, and showcase the incredible learning happening in their classrooms every day. To learn more about how WatchMeGrow can support your program, visit www.watchmegrow.com . Thank you to WatchMeGrow for supporting our mission to inspire, equip, and empower child care leaders around the world.

August 31, 202637 min

631 Beyond Babysitting: Professionalism in Family Child Care

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 runs on chaos or goodwill alone. Dacia, known as Coach D, brings 22 years of family child care experience and shares how she went from seeing child care as a passion to realizing it was a business that needed structure, standards, and a stronger professional identity. You’ll discover why a strong parent handbook can transform difficult conversations, how to set boundaries around late arrivals and communication, the difference between being homey and being unprofessional, and why branding, environment, and language shape how parents value your program. If you’re a family child care provider who feels overextended, underpaid, or misunderstood, this episode is a reset. It’s a reminder that your program is a licensed learning environment, your work is essential, and your standards deserve respect. Support the show The Child Care Director's Chair Podcast is proudly powered by WatchMeGrow, our premier podcast sponsor and a trusted partner in early childhood education. WatchMeGrow helps child care programs strengthen family engagement through secure live-streaming, classroom video access, and communication tools that build transparency, trust, and peace of mind for families. Their innovative technology empowers programs to enhance safety, strengthen relationships, and showcase the incredible learning happening in their classrooms every day. To learn more about how WatchMeGrow can support your program, visit www.watchmegrow.com . Thank you to WatchMeGrow for supporting our mission to inspire, equip, and empower child care leaders around the world.

August 28, 202623 min

630 Louisiana Family Child Care Grants

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 in Louisiana, from the difference between being registered and licensed to the steps that unlock state inspections, background checks, trainings, and referrals. Cierra explains how providers can move through the system without getting overwhelmed, and why the right credentials can open doors to grant funding, coaching, toy giveaways, professional development, and reimbursement streams many providers never realize they qualify for. You’ll discover: Why Louisiana providers should ask "what level of approval fits my business?" instead of "do I need to be licensed?" How CCAP certification connects to funding, required trainings, and serving more families What academic approval is and how it can lead to coaching, observation, CDA support, and the school readiness tax credit How childcare where, military-related care, VA, hospital, and private-sector partnerships create new enrollment opportunities Why research, networking, and NAFCC membership matter if you want to lead at a higher level Sierra also shares the real-world impact of Louisiana’s ecosystem for family child care, including how CCR&R support, Louisiana Pathways, and state-level partnerships can help providers become stronger, more compliant, and more visible to families and employers. If you’ve ever wondered what it looks like to build a high-quality home program with more than just private pay, this episode gives you the map.Essential listening for family child care owners, home-based providers, and anyone trying to understand how licensing, quality, and funding connect. If you’re in Louisiana, or you want to replicate this model in your own state, this one is packed with practical next steps. Erica Saccoccio hosts The Childcare Directors Chair Podcast . Ci erra Amar is the Louisiana State Representative for the National Association of Family Child Care and CEO of Intelligent Kid Minds and Intelligent Geographic, where she supports home-based providers and multicultural curriculum. Support the show The Child Care Director's Chair Podcast is proudly powered by WatchMeGrow, our premier podcast sponsor and a trusted partner in early childhood education. WatchMeGrow helps child care programs strengthen family engagement through secure live-streaming, classroom video access, and communication tools that build transparency, trust, and peace of mind for families. Their innovative technology empowers programs to enhance safety, strengthen relationships, and showcase the incredible learning happening in their classrooms every day. To learn more about how WatchMeGrow can support your program, visit www.watchmegrow.com . Thank you to WatchMeGrow for supporting our mission to inspire, equip, and empower child care leaders around the world.

August 27, 202632 min

629 HR in Childcare: Protecting Your Program, Team, and Peace of Mind

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 offers practical guidance to help you build stronger systems and avoid costly problems. Support the show The Child Care Director's Chair Podcast is proudly powered by WatchMeGrow, our premier podcast sponsor and a trusted partner in early childhood education. WatchMeGrow helps child care programs strengthen family engagement through secure live-streaming, classroom video access, and communication tools that build transparency, trust, and peace of mind for families. Their innovative technology empowers programs to enhance safety, strengthen relationships, and showcase the incredible learning happening in their classrooms every day. To learn more about how WatchMeGrow can support your program, visit www.watchmegrow.com . Thank you to WatchMeGrow for supporting our mission to inspire, equip, and empower child care leaders around the world.