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In this episode of Child Care Conversations, Kate and Carrie sit down with Susie Beghin, a passionate early childhood leader from Toronto. They chat about weaving STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) into preschool life—think block play as “engineering” and art projects inspired by real architecture! 

Susie shares her Four Pillars of Learning framework and offers clever tips for integrating literacy and science into every corner of the classroom. If you’re looking for friendly, practical ideas to spark curiosity and creativity in young learners, this episode is a treasure trove! 

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• Want to learn more? Check out our book; "From Overwhelmed to I Got This: Guaranteed Success Route to Directing Your Childcare Center" 📖
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• Join our Podcast Newsletter!
• Want to be a guest on our podcast? Go to our website to learn more.
• Are you looking for director training in Texas? Check out our Texas Director Website for our training and additional resources!

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In this episode of "Child Care Conversations," Kate and Carrie sit down with Beth Cannon, a seasoned leadership coach, to chat about the real challenges of leading early childhood programs—especially as the new year rolls in. Beth shares her journey from teacher to trainer, offers practical tips on staff engagement, accountability, and adapting to Gen Z, and highlights the power of clear communication. 

Plus, she announces her new book and upcoming events! If you’re looking for fresh, actionable leadership wisdom (with a dash of warmth and humor), this episode is a must-listen. 

Learn more about Beth at her website: www.bethcannonspeaks.com

Thanks for Listening 🎧

• Want to learn more? Check out our book; "From Overwhelmed to I Got This: Guaranteed Success Route to Directing Your Childcare Center" 📖
• Join our Facebook Group for Childcare professionals!
• Join our Podcast Newsletter!
• Want to be a guest on our podcast? Go to our website to learn more.
• Are you looking for director training in Texas? Check out our Texas Director Website for our training and additional resources!

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In this episode of "Childcare Conversations," Kate and Carrie sit down with Tym Smith—aka "Tym the Trainer"—to chat about his 38-year journey in early childhood education. Tym shares insights on advocacy, the importance of language in elevating the profession, and the economic impact of childcare centers. He also dishes on upcoming events like training cruises and conferences, perfect for learning and connecting with fellow educators. 

If you’re passionate about early childhood education, this episode is packed with wisdom, laughs, and a nudge to take pride in your vital work! 

Learn more at: https://www.tymthetrainer.com/

https://www.earlylearningleaders.org/wordsmatter/

Thanks for Listening 🎧

• Want to learn more? Check out our book; "From Overwhelmed to I Got This: Guaranteed Success Route to Directing Your Childcare Center" 📖
• Join our Facebook Group for Childcare professionals!
• Join our Podcast Newsletter!
• Want to be a guest on our podcast? Go to our website to learn more.
• Are you looking for director training in Texas? Check out our Texas Director Website for our training and additional resources!

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In this heartwarming episode of "Child Care Conversations," you’ll meet Mrs. Nancy Sylvester, a true champion for young mothers still in school. Nancy shares how her center offers not just childcare, but tutoring, parenting classes, and wraparound support for teen moms. Her story is full of wisdom, resilience (even through her own cancer battle), and moments of deep connection—like when her girls donned scarves in solidarity on Zoom. 
If you’re passionate about supporting families or want to start a similar program, this episode is a must-listen!

Leanr more at: https://www.globalconnectlearning.com/

Check out this episode's sponsor: https://www.tryplayground.com/

Thanks for Listening 🎧

• Want to learn more? Check out our book; "From Overwhelmed to I Got This: Guaranteed Success Route to Directing Your Childcare Center" 📖
• Join our Facebook Group for Childcare professionals!
• Join our Podcast Newsletter!
• Want to be a guest on our podcast? Go to our website to learn more.
• Are you looking for director training in Texas? Check out our Texas Director Website for our training and additional resources!

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In this episode of "Child Care Conversations," Kate sits down with Crystal Campbell, President of SICA, for a warm, insightful chat about the real challenges and bright spots in early childhood education. They swap stories about building resilient childcare systems, supporting staff, and why local businesses matter. Crystal shares creative ideas for workplace wellness and community partnerships, while Kate offers practical advice on financial planning for centers. 

It’s like catching up with an old friend—full of wisdom, laughs, and a few “aha!” moments for anyone passionate about supporting kids, families, and communities. 

Learn more about SECA: https://www.seca.info/conference

Check out this episode's sponsor: https://www.tryplayground.com/

Thanks for Listening 🎧

• Want to learn more? Check out our book; "From Overwhelmed to I Got This: Guaranteed Success Route to Directing Your Childcare Center" 📖
• Join our Facebook Group for Childcare professionals!
• Join our Podcast Newsletter!
• Want to be a guest on our podcast? Go to our website to learn more.
• Are you looking for director training in Texas? Check out our Texas Director Website for our training and additional resources!

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In this episode of "Child Care Conversations," hosts Carrie and Kate explore the vital role of emotional intelligence (EQ) for early childhood education directors. They discuss how EQ helps leaders build trust, manage staff and parent relationships, and model emotional regulation for both adults and children. The conversation covers the benefits and potential pitfalls of high EQ, practical strategies for staff training, and tips for handling difficult conversations. The hosts also share resources for ongoing professional development and encourage directors to find a healthy balance between empathy and self-care in their leadership roles.

Thanks for Listening 🎧

• Want to learn more? Check out our book; "From Overwhelmed to I Got This: Guaranteed Success Route to Directing Your Childcare Center" 📖
• Join our Facebook Group for Childcare professionals!
• Join our Podcast Newsletter!
• Want to be a guest on our podcast? Go to our website to learn more.
• Are you looking for director training in Texas? Check out our Texas Director Website for our training and additional resources!

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In this episode of Child Care Conversations, Kate sits down with Rob and Amanda from Playground, the all-in-one child care management software. They swap stories about their unique paths into early childhood tech—think opera singer turned account manager and a corporate pro finding new purpose after a layoff! 

The trio chats about the real struggles child care leaders face, like chasing payments and tech headaches, and how Playground’s friendly support team makes life easier. Kate also shares upcoming events, ways to connect, and a few handy tips.

Learn more about our episodes sponsor: www.tryplayground.com

Thanks for Listening 🎧

• Want to learn more? Check out our book; "From Overwhelmed to I Got This: Guaranteed Success Route to Directing Your Childcare Center" 📖
• Join our Facebook Group for Childcare professionals!
• Join our Podcast Newsletter!
• Want to be a guest on our podcast? Go to our website to learn more.
• Are you looking for director training in Texas? Check out our Texas Director Website for our training and additional resources!

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In this episode of "Child Care Conversations," Latrice Galloway shared her journey from juggling multiple tech tools to streamlining everything with Playground software, saving time and money (hello, $2,000/month!). Kate, Carrie, and Latrice swapped tips on batching tasks, delegating, and keeping parents in the loop.

If you’re curious about making your child care center run smoother or want to hear real talk about tech in early childhood, this one’s for you. Don’t forget to check out Latrice’s book and stay tuned for more episodes! 

Learn more about Latrice and her conference: https://www.borntoteachcon.com/

Thanks for Listening 🎧

• Want to learn more? Check out our book; "From Overwhelmed to I Got This: Guaranteed Success Route to Directing Your Childcare Center" 📖
• Join our Facebook Group for Childcare professionals!
• Join our Podcast Newsletter!
• Want to be a guest on our podcast? Go to our website to learn more.
• Are you looking for director training in Texas? Check out our Texas Director Website for our training and additional resources!

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In this episode of "Child Care Conversations," Kate and Carrie sit down with Cindy Morgan from One Place to chat about the real-life challenges of keeping child care centers compliant and running smoothly. Cindy shares her journey from classroom teacher to tech-savvy leader, offering practical tips on staff engagement, avoiding common licensing pitfalls, and using digital tools to make paperwork a breeze. 

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by checklists or record-keeping, this episode is packed with friendly advice and smart solutions to help you keep your ducks in a row! 

Check out our Sponsor: Tryplayground.com

Thanks for Listening 🎧

• Want to learn more? Check out our book; "From Overwhelmed to I Got This: Guaranteed Success Route to Directing Your Childcare Center" 📖
• Join our Facebook Group for Childcare professionals!
• Join our Podcast Newsletter!
• Want to be a guest on our podcast? Go to our website to learn more.
• Are you looking for director training in Texas? Check out our Texas Director Website for our training and additional resources!

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In this episode of Child Care Conversations, you’ll sit in on a warm chat with Hannah, the head of Early Childhood Investigations (ECI) webinars. She shares how ECI brings top-notch, research-backed training straight to educators—no matter where they are. You’ll hear about their interactive webinars, tips for navigating state requirements, and how ECI is making professional development more accessible. 

The hosts sprinkle in real-world advice and encouragement, making this episode a great resource for anyone leading or working in childcare. Don’t miss the practical tips and friendly support! 

Thanks for Listening 🎧

• Want to learn more? Check out our book; "From Overwhelmed to I Got This: Guaranteed Success Route to Directing Your Childcare Center" 📖
• Join our Facebook Group for Childcare professionals!
• Join our Podcast Newsletter!
• Want to be a guest on our podcast? Go to our website to learn more.
• Are you looking for director training in Texas? Check out our Texas Director Website for our training and additional resources!