665 Before We Ask More of Teachers, Are We Giving Them What They Need?

Send us Fan Mail (https://www.buzzsprout.com/2209142/fa...) What does it really take to build stronger teachers, support families, and prepare children for success before kindergarten? Recorded live at the 2026 FLAEYC Conference in Florida, Erica Saccoccio sits down with Tamara Preston, an experienced early learning director, for a conversation about early childhood leadership, teacher burnout, professional development, and the importance of the first five years. With 26 years of experience in early childhood education, Tamara shares practical insights every childcare director, daycare owner, and preschool leader can use to strengthen their teams and programs. In this episode, we discuss: • Why quality early childhood education before kindergarten matters. • How strong leadership can reduce teacher burnout. • Why childcare directors must invest in coaching, mentoring, and professional development. • How to develop assistant teachers into confident classroom leaders. • The importance of family partnerships, funding, and access to quality childcare. Whether you're a childcare director, preschool teacher, daycare owner, or emerging early childhood leader, this conversation is full of real experiences and ideas you can bring back to your program. Strong programs start with supported educators and intentional leadership. Listen to The Child Care Director's Chair Podcast, subscribe, and share this episode with a fellow early childhood educator! www.childcaredirectorschair.com (http://www.childcaredirectorschair.com/) 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.