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 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.
The Child Care Directors Chair Podcast
243 - Empowering Educators: Staff Engagement for Growth with Cindy Lehnhoff
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In this episode, host Erica Saccoccio interviews Cindy Lehnhoff, the Director of the National Child Care Association. They discuss the importance of continuous improvement and quality in child care programs. They emphasize the need for advocacy and communication to ensure that the voice of private childcare providers is heard at the federal level. They also highlight the benefits of creating a culture of continuous improvement and the role of ongoing training and professional development in fostering quality.
The conversation touches on topics such as accreditation, staff retention, and the importance of involving staff in the improvement process. The conversation focuses on the importance of communication and feedback in childcare centers. It emphasizes the need for open dialogue between staff, parents, and management to improve the quality of care. The conversation also touches on the challenges of managing large programs and multiple locations, as well as the value of involving children in decision-making processes.
The guest highlights the significance of spending time in classrooms and building the confidence and knowledge of teachers. The conversation concludes with the importance of not giving up and seeking support when facing challenges in the industry.
Takeaways
- Advocacy and communication are crucial for the voice of private childcare providers to be heard at the federal level.
- Creating a culture of continuous improvement is essential for maintaining quality in child care programs.
- Ongoing training and professional development help foster a culture of continuous improvement and support staff in their professional growth.
- Accreditation can be a valuable journey that leads to self-validation and a deeper understanding of quality in early care and education.
- Involving staff in the improvement process and recognizing their contributions can help retain and motivate them.
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.
