Shows / The Child Care Directors Chair Podcast
The Child Care Directors Chair Podcast
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…
Episodes
- The Child Care Directors Chair Podcast
506 High Fives, Hard Talks, & Trust: Partnering with Families
Send us Fan Mail Family partnerships aren’t just about smiles at drop-off—they’re about showing up for the high fives and the hard conversations. In this…
- The Child Care Directors Chair Podcast
505 The Magic Is in the Message: Connection Through Conversation
Send us Fan Mail In this heartfelt and practical episode, Erica sits down with Mr. Jay to explore the power of meaningful conversations in early childhood…
- The Child Care Directors Chair Podcast
504 From ABCs to “Aha!”: Using Data to Build Real Readers
Send us Fan Mail Reading doesn’t happen by luck—it happens with intention. In this episode of The Child Care Director’s Chair, Erica sits down with Tangee…
- The Child Care Directors Chair Podcast
503 Let Them Lead: Yes Spaces, Play, and Purposeful Practice
Send us Fan Mail In this energizing episode of The Child Care Director’s Chair podcast, host Erica sits down with early childhood visionary Carla Ward to…
- The Child Care Directors Chair Podcast
502 C is for Collaboration
Send us Fan Mail What happens when leadership stops operating in silos and starts building with their teams instead of above them? In this episode of the…
- The Child Care Directors Chair Podcast
501 Stop Avoiding Conversations: How Tough Talks Can Unlock Your Program’s Potential
Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Erica Saccoccio dives into the conversations you’ve been avoiding—the ones that are silently holding your program back. Learn…
- The Child Care Directors Chair Podcast
500 The Leader You’re Becoming: Legacy, Alignment, and the Next Chapter
Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Erica Saccoccio dives deep into the leader you’re becoming—the one who shows up with clarity, courage, and purpose every day…
- The Child Care Directors Chair Podcast
499 Leadership Presence: Why Confidence, Clarity, and Calm Matter More Than Words
Send us Fan Mail Leadership presence is what people feel before you ever speak. In this solo episode, Erica explores how confidence, emotional regulation, and…
- The Child Care Directors Chair Podcast
498 The Language of Leadership: Why the Way You Speak Changes Everything
Send us Fan Mail If you want 2026 to look different than 2025, the way you lead—and speak—has to change. In this solo episode, Erica breaks down the language…
- The Child Care Directors Chair Podcast
497 Stop Waiting to Be Chosen: How Real Authority Is Built
Send us Fan Mail Too many leaders wait for permission before they lead—and it’s costing them confidence, influence, and impact. In this episode, Erica breaks…
- The Child Care Directors Chair Podcast
496 Leadership Starts With Onboarding Your Team Right
Send us Fan Mail Strong teams don’t happen by accident—they’re built from day one. In this episode, inspired by a listener question from Colby Kanas, we break…
- The Child Care Directors Chair Podcast
495 Running a Childcare Center During Christmas Week: What Really Matters
Send us Fan Mail Christmas week in a childcare center can feel overwhelming—attendance is unpredictable, staff are exhausted, routines are off, and directors…
- The Child Care Directors Chair Podcast
494 Your Brand, Your Voice, Your Leadership
Send us Fan Mail Your voice matters—and so does your personal brand. In this episode of The Child Care Directors Chair, Erica talks with Renee Carbone Fleming…
- The Child Care Directors Chair Podcast
493 From Nice to Necessary: The Feedback Shift That Builds Trust
Send us Fan Mail Join Erica on The Childcare Director’s Chair for an honest conversation about feedback, leadership, and why clarity is one of the greatest…
- The Child Care Directors Chair Podcast
492 I Just Have to Say…I Love You, Listeners!
Send us Fan Mail Hey friends! Today I’m taking a pause from all the leadership tips and childcare strategies to do something I’ve been meaning to say for a…
- The Child Care Directors Chair Podcast
491 Running on Unsteady Ground: Funding, Staffing, and the Sustainability Crisis in Childcare
Send us Fan Mail Childcare programs aren’t struggling because leaders lack passion or skill — they’re struggling because the system is built on unsecure…
- The Child Care Directors Chair Podcast
490 Your Most Aligned Year Yet: A Director’s Guide to Centered, Strategic Leadership
Send us Fan Mail Start your new year with confidence, clarity, and direction. In this episode of The Childcare Director’s Chair Podcast, we dive deep into how…
- The Child Care Directors Chair Podcast
489 The Power of Pause: Building Better Classrooms Through Reflective Practice
Send us Fan Mail What happens when educators pause long enough to reflect on their teaching, their children, and themselves? Everything. Join us for a…
- The Child Care Directors Chair Podcast
488 Love First, Lead Second: Why Relationships Are the Real Curriculum
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The Childcare Director’s Chair, Erica Saccoccio gets to the heart of what truly drives quality in early learning…
- The Child Care Directors Chair Podcast
487 Spoiler Alert: Kids Don’t Grow in a Bubble — Let’s Talk Culture, Language & Real Life
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The Childcare Director’s Chair, Erica Saccoccio dives deep into one of the most powerful truths in early childhood…
- The Child Care Directors Chair Podcast
486- Understanding Child Development: The Leadership Bridge Every Director Must Build
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The Childcare Director’s Chair, Erica takes you deep into one of the most important—and often overlooked—leadership…
- The Child Care Directors Chair Podcast
485 Leadership as the Engine of Quality Improvement
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The Childcare Director’s Chair, we dive into one of the most powerful forces behind high-quality early childhood programs…
- The Child Care Directors Chair Podcast
484 Intentional Teaching Starts with Intentional Leadership
Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Erica slows down the noise of day-to-day operations and invites directors to take a thoughtful look at what’s really…
- The Child Care Directors Chair Podcast
483 Coaching Teachers With Confidence: Building Skill, Trust & Real Growth in Your Center
Send us Fan Mail I n this episode of The Childcare Director’s Chair, Erica breaks down what confident coaching really looks like inside a thriving early…
- The Child Care Directors Chair Podcast
482 Calm in the Candy-Cane Chaos: Your Holiday Rush Survival Guide
Send us Fan Mail The holidays are here, and so is the chaos! In this episode of The Childcare Director’s Chair, Erica shares her essential survival guide for…
- The Child Care Directors Chair Podcast
481 Hot Cocoa, Checklists & Happy Kids: Winter Ready
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…
- The Child Care Directors Chair Podcast
480 Don’t Hibernate! 10 Ways to Crush January Enrollment
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…
- The Child Care Directors Chair Podcast
478 Pour the Gravy and the Gratitude: A Thanksgiving Shoutout to Our ECE Family ( Part 1)
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…
- The Child Care Directors Chair Podcast
479 Thanksgiving Mix-Up & a Massive VIP Giveaway! (Part 2) You are not being punked :)
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…
- The Child Care Directors Chair Podcast
477 Hot Cocoa, Checklists & Happy Kids: Winter Ready
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…
- The Child Care Directors Chair Podcast
476 Finish the Year Strong — Your Leadership Game Plan for December
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…
- The Child Care Directors Chair Podcast
475 A Year in Review: What 2025 Taught Us About Childcare Leadership
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…
- The Child Care Directors Chair Podcast
In Case You Missed It: Rerun of Our Most-Loved Diversity & Inclusion Episode
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…
- The Child Care Directors Chair Podcast
475 Launch to Impact: Dr. Keena Rush Mosley on Leadership Truths
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…
- The Child Care Directors Chair Podcast
474 Refill Your Cup, Sis — Rest Is a Leadership Strategy
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…
- The Child Care Directors Chair Podcast
473 No, is a Complete Sentence! Stop Being a Doormat, Director.
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…
- The Child Care Directors Chair Podcast
472 Do You Even Know You? Finding Your Direction Before You Lead
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…
- The Child Care Directors Chair Podcast
471 Stop Running on Autopilot: Be Intentional, Baby!
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…
- The Child Care Directors Chair Podcast
470 Conferences, Community & a Little Bit of Therapy 🫶🎧
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…
- The Child Care Directors Chair Podcast
Bonus :AI Meets Early Childhood: Are You Ready to Innovate? njaeyc interview
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…
- The Child Care Directors Chair Podcast
469 Honoring Heroes: Veterans Day and Community Impact in Early Childhood
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…
- The Child Care Directors Chair Podcast
Bonus: Teamwork, Growth, Impact—Are You In? njaeyc interview
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…
- The Child Care Directors Chair Podcast
Bonus Evolution of Early Childhood Education njaeyc interview
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…
- The Child Care Directors Chair Podcast
Bonus: The Role of Environmental Education Nature in the Classroom njaeyc intervieew
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…
- The Child Care Directors Chair Podcast
Bonus- Building Brains Through Conversation njaeyc interview
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…
- The Child Care Directors Chair Podcast
468 Great Leaders Build Bridges (and Tear Down Walls)
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…
- The Child Care Directors Chair Podcast
467 The Art of Making Genuine Connections
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…
- The Child Care Directors Chair Podcast
466 A Day in the Life: Halloween Chaos at the Childcare Center! 👻
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…
- The Child Care Directors Chair Podcast
466 Hello Wendy from Cleveland Ohio. So You Want to Open a Preschool? Let’s Make It Happen!
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…
- The Child Care Directors Chair Podcast
Bonus Change Makers in Early Childhood Education njaeyc interview
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…
- The Child Care Directors Chair Podcast
465 The Power of Play in Early Childhood Education an interview with Dr Dan Wuori
Send us Fan Mail In this conversation, Dr. Dan Wuori discusses the critical aspects of early childhood education, emphasizing the importance of play as a…
- The Child Care Directors Chair Podcast
464 Listen to Understand: How to Get Your Team on the Same Page
Send us Fan Mail Are your staff on the same page — or just nodding along? In this episode of The Childcare Director’s Chair, Erica Saccoccio dives into one of…
- The Child Care Directors Chair Podcast
463 Bridging the Gap: Educators and Hiring Practices
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Child Care Directors Chair Podcast, host Erica speaks with Paul Buckley, founder of Ratio Staffing, about the…
- The Child Care Directors Chair Podcast
Bonus: Empowering Future Educators maineaeyc interview
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Child Care Directors Chair podcast, host Erica interviews Addy Caron, a 16-year-old aspiring educator attending the…
- The Child Care Directors Chair Podcast
Bonus: The Journey of a Family Daycare Owner interview at maineaeyc conference
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Child Care Directors Chair podcast, host Erica interviews Desiree, the owner of Teachers House Child Care. They discuss…
- The Child Care Directors Chair Podcast
Bonus: maineaeyc interview Exploring Science in Early Childhood Education
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Child Care Directors Chair Podcast, host Erica speaks with Jane Banish, an expert in early childhood education, about…
- The Child Care Directors Chair Podcast
Bonus : From Passion to Practice: Stories of Childcare Professionals maineaeyc conference interview
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Childcare Directors Podcast, Erica speaks with Dr. Cheryl Hovey from Fisher College about the various programs offered…
- The Child Care Directors Chair Podcast
Bonus: Empowering Parents: The Journey of Advocacy maineaeyc interview
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Child Care Director's Chair podcast, host Erica speaks with parent advocate April Tardiff about her journey into…
- The Child Care Directors Chair Podcast
Bonus: The Courageous Steps Project: A Model for Inclusion maineaeyc conference interview
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Child Care Directors Chair podcast, host Erica speaks with Connor Archer, founder of the Courageous Steps Project…
- The Child Care Directors Chair Podcast
Bonus: Empowering Early Childhood Leaders maineaeyc interview
Send us Fan Mail In this conversation, Erica speaks with David and Robin from Rooted Development about the challenges and strategies in early childhood…