ElevatingECE Podcast

Hiring for Heart & Skill in ECE

Are you hiring for your childcare center or preschool and tired of quick turnover? In this episode of Elevating ECE, we kick off our March theme; Staffing, Culture, & Retention, with a practical hiring system: Hiring for Heart and Skill.   You’ll learn how to hire early childhood educators using structured interviews, simple work-sample scenarios, and a repeatable scorecard that protects your culture and improves retention. We also talk about why work environment and psychological safety matter for keeping great staff long-term.   Perfect for: childcare directors, preschool owners, assistant directors, ECE leaders, and lead teachers involved in hiring. Download: Sample Interview Questionnaire for ECE Staff (linked here) Includes interview questions, scenario prompts, scoring rubric, and reference-check script.   Topics covered: * ECE hiring process * Interview questions for preschool teachers * Childcare staffing and retention * Building positive workplace culture in early childhood education * Psychological safety and team culture * Red flags vs green flags in ECE interviews   Comment: What’s the hardest position for you to hire right now—infants, toddlers, preschool, floaters, or support staff? #ElevatingECE #EarlyChildhoodEducation #ECELeadership #ChildcareDirector #PreschoolDirector #ECEHiring #HiringStaff #TeacherInterview #StaffingAndRetention #ChildcareStaffing #EarlyYears #PreschoolTeacher #CenterManagement #SchoolCulture #LeadershipInEducation #TeacherRetention

Feeling Like A Fraud? How to Fix Imposter Syndrome

Are you experiencing imposter syndrome in early childhood education? If you’re a new teacher, new assistant director, new director, or new ECE leader, this episode will help you learn how to lead confidently even when you’re new.  In this Elevating ECE episode, we break down what imposter syndrome is, why it’s common in early childhood settings, and how to build real confidence through competence, consistency, and leadership language. You’ll also get practical scripts for parent conversations, staff leadership, and moments when you don’t know the answer yet. In this episode, you’ll learn: * What imposter syndrome looks like in ECE * How to be confident as a new early childhood educator * Leadership strategies for new teachers and administrators * What to say when you feel unsure (scripts included) * A 7-day confidence challenge to build evidence-based confidence   If you’re searching for: “imposter syndrome teacher” “imposter syndrome in leadership” “how to be a confident preschool teacher” “new director early childhood education” …you’re in the right place.   Comment below: What situation triggers imposter syndrome for you most; behavior challenges, parent conversations, or staff leadership?   #ElevatingECE #EarlyChildhoodEducation #TeacherConfidence #ECELeadership #ImposterSyndrome #TeacherLeadership #NewTeacher #PreschoolTeacher #ChildcareDirector  #ClassroomManagement #ParentCommunication #InstructionalLeadership #TeacherConfidence #WomenInLeadership #LeadershipDevelopment #ChildcareLeadership #ECECommunity

ECE Boundaries in Leadership

In early childhood education, it is easy to confuse overextending with leadership. If you are always available, always fixing, always covering, and always answering, this episode is for you. In today’s episode of Elevating ECE, we are talking about Boundaries in Leadership and how to serve well without losing yourself. Strong boundaries do not make you cold. They create structure, stability, and a healthier culture for staff, families, and children. In this episode, you will learn: * What leadership boundaries are and what they are not * Signs your leadership needs stronger boundaries * The 5 boundaries every ECE owner or director needs * How to set boundaries with staff and parents without sounding harsh * Scripts and systems that protect your time, energy, and focus Try this today: Pick one situation that drains you most and write a boundary using this structure: The situation that drains me most is: __________________ The boundary I am setting is: _________________________ The system or process that supports it is: ______________ My script is: _________________________________________ Comment below: What boundary are you setting this week as an owner or director? Subscribe to Elevating ECE for weekly leadership systems, coaching tools, and strategies that strengthen your program. #ElevatingECE #ECELeadership #ChildcareDirector #PreschoolDirector #ChildcareOwner #DaycareDirector #LeadershipBoundaries #TeacherSupport #SchoolCulture #EarlyChildhoodEducation #ChildcareManagement #DirectorLife #TeacherCoaching #LeadershipDevelopment #TimeManagement

From Overwhelmed to Organized

If you’re an ECE owner or director who feels like your day gets hijacked before it even starts, this episode is for you. In From Overwhelmed to Organized, we’re breaking down practical time management for childcare owners and directors using a simple, real-life system that works in the constant-interruption world of early childhood education. You’ll learn how to protect your focus, reduce interruptions, and build a weekly rhythm so your center doesn’t depend on you doing everything.  In this episode, you’ll learn: * Why directors feel “behind” even when working nonstop * How to reduce constant interruptions (the access problem) * Time blocks that work in real ECE life (not fantasy office life) * The Rule of 3 to keep leadership moving daily * Communication systems that save hours each week * A weekly director rhythm for staffing, quality, enrollment, compliance, and culture Grab the Director Time Management Kit (Rule of 3 + Time-Block Template): [link] Comment: Which do you need most right now; Access, Time Blocks, Rule of 3, or Weekly Rhythm? Subscribe to Elevating ECE for weekly leadership strategies and systems.   #ElevatingECE #ECELeadership #ChildcareDirector #TimeManagement

ECE Leader Mindset Shift

If your program can’t function without you, you’re not leading, you’re surviving. In this episode of Elevating ECE, we’re covering Mindset Shifts Every ECE Leader Needs to Make so you can build a stronger team, healthier culture, and systems that reduce daily chaos. You’ll learn how elevated leaders think differently about staffing, classroom support, accountability, coaching, and culture, without burning out. In this episode: •7 key mindset shifts for ECE directors, administrators, and lead teachers •The difference between compliance vs culture •How to shift from fixing teachers to coaching teachers •Why systems beat urgency (predictive leadership) •A simple “Old Thought → Elevated Thought” exercise you can do today Download the 1-page guide (Mindset Shifts + Coaching Scripts): [link] Comment: Which shift are you working on this week (#1–#7)? #ECE #EarlyChildhoodEducation #ECELeadership #PreschoolDirector #ChildcareDirector #TeacherCoaching