662 Get Out of the Office! Your Teachers Need You with Mariela Lopez

Send us Fan Mail (https://www.buzzsprout.com/2209142/fa...) Are you really leading your teachers, or are you just managing your program? Some of the most important leadership moments don't happen in meetings or behind an office door. They happen in the classroom, during challenging transitions, unexpected staff callouts, and everyday moments when your educators need to know you've got their backs. In this episode of The Child Care Director's Chair Podcast, Erica Saccoccio sits down with Mariela Lopez, Director of the Preschool Lab at Miami Dade College, for an honest conversation about what it really means to lead from the classroom floor. We're talking about more than stepping in when a teacher calls out. We're talking about building trust, recognizing burnout before it happens, developing confident educators, and creating a culture where staff feel supported instead of supervised. In this episode, we explore: • Why an open-door policy isn't enough if leaders aren't building real relationships. • The difference between supporting teachers and simply monitoring their performance. • Why directors need to spend time in classrooms to understand what's really happening. • How your attitude, body language, and communication set the tone for your entire program. • Why constantly solving problems for your team can actually prevent educators from growing. • How meaningful one-on-one conversations build trust, accountability, and stronger teams. • Why leadership challenges sometimes start at the top, not in the classroom. Mariela also shares a personal leadership experience that changed how she approaches supporting educators and building a stronger team. Here's something to think about: If your teachers only see you when something goes wrong, what message are you sending? This episode is for childcare directors, owners, administrators, and emerging leaders who want stronger teams, better communication, and a workplace where educators feel valued, supported, and inspired to stay. Because the culture of your program isn't built by what you say in a staff meeting. It's built by how you show up for your people every single day. Don't just listen. Share this episode with a fellow educator or director who needs to hear this conversation! Visit www.childcaredirectorschair.com (http://www.childcaredirectorschair.com/) for more real conversations, leadership strategies, and practical solutions for early childhood education. Support the show (https://www.buzzsprout.com/2209142/su...) 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 (http://www.watchmegrow.com/) . Thank you to WatchMeGrow for supporting our mission to inspire, equip, and empower child care leaders around the world.