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What if we stopped waiting for a diagnosis before supporting a child who needs help? Stephanie Corley joins Kate Woodward Young to explore early intervention, developmental concerns, exceptionalities, and supporting children in early childhood education. They discuss how tools like ASQs and Teaching Strategies GOLD can help educators recognize concerns early, partner with families, and take action without labeling or making assumptions.

From navigating difficult conversations with parents to understanding autism, selective mutism, hearing concerns, and developmental delays, Stephanie shares practical guidance for early childhood educators, directors, and childcare leaders. If you want to become the educator who notices what others miss and knows what to do next, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.

Support Corley Discovery Institute
Your support helps move Corley Discovery Institute closer to creating an inclusive, supportive learning environment for children and families: https://gofund.me/775538f57

Check out this episode's sponsor:  tryplayground.com/partnerships/childcareconversations

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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Great teachers don’t automatically become great directors. But too often, they’re promoted into leadership and expected to figure it out on their own. Kate Woodward Young and Carrie Casey explore why early childhood administrator training needs to be built around the real work of leading a childcare center, from budgets and enrollment to hiring, payroll, culture, and business operations.

They dive into the National Childcare Administrator credential, practical leadership training, and how shared training can help administrative teams lead with confidence and make smarter decisions. If you’re an early childhood director, owner, assistant director, office manager, or aspiring administrator, this episode offers a fresh look at what it takes to move from excellent educator to effective leader.

Learn more at: directorsuccess.com

Check out this episode's sponsor:  tryplayground.com/partnerships/childcareconversations

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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What does it take to go from early childhood educator to CEO? Jessica Van Hoose, CEO of The Nest Schools, joins Kate to talk about early childhood leadership, business strategy, personal branding, and executive confidence. They explore why ECE leaders need to understand both quality and the business side of childcare, from operations and financials to revenue and profit.

Jessica shares how mentorship, LinkedIn, executive presence, and being willing to raise your hand helped shape her career. If you’re an early childhood leader, director, owner, or aspiring executive ready to step into greater authority and lead with confidence, this episode is for you!

Learn more about Jessica: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessica-van-hoose-a388029a/

Check out this episode's sponsor:  tryplayground.com/partnerships/childcareconversations

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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What if the behavior you’re trying to manage isn’t really a child problem—but an environment problem? Kate Woodward Young sits down with Carla Ward, early childhood educator, director, entrepreneur, and host of The Everything EC Podcast, for a candid conversation about challenging the “way we’ve always done it” in early childhood. From creating “yes spaces” that give children more autonomy and agency to replacing pre-designed toys with open-ended materials, Carla shares practical ways to rethink classroom environments, reduce power struggles, and understand what children’s behavior is really telling us.

Carla and Kate also explore why more rules and control can sometimes create more challenging behavior, how to turn a safety-based “no” into a meaningful “yes,” and why Pinterest-perfect classrooms don’t always support real learning. Whether you’re an educator, director, owner, or administrator, this episode offers a fresh lens on behavior, leadership, and responsive teaching—and plenty of practical ideas you can put into action. If you’re ready to create classrooms where children and teachers have more freedom to learn, explore, and thrive, this conversation might change the way you see behavior forever.

Learn more about Carla: YES Spaces Masterclass- https://carlatheece.com/yes-spaces-masterclass

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carlatheece

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carla-ward/

Check out this episode's sponsor:  tryplayground.com/partnerships/childcareconversations

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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What happens when the passion that brought you into early childhood education starts to feel like burnout? Kate Woodward Young sits down with LaTroya B. of The Preschool Posse for an honest, energizing conversation about finding your fire again—and realizing you don't have to do this work alone.

They talk burnout, mentorship, leadership, and the kind of practical support educators really need when the pressure of the classroom and life outside of work start piling up. From recognizing the warning signs of burnout to stepping into leadership with skills that go beyond teaching, this episode explores how community and connection can help educators stay in the field with purpose, confidence, and less isolation.

If you've ever felt overwhelmed, stepped into a leadership role and wondered, “Now what?”, or simply wished you had a community that truly understood the work—this conversation is for you.

Learn more about Preschool Posse: www.thepreschoolposse.com

Check out this episode's sponsor:  tryplayground.com/partnerships/childcareconversations

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 Cindy Morgan tackle something every childcare director needs but few actually have: written Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for staff training and compliance. They dig into why keeping training records organized is such a common violation across states, and how easy it is to lose track of CPR renewals, background checks, and training hours. 

They share some really practical tips, like having staff swap files during meetings for a fresh set of eyes, and how automated reminders in tools like One Place Childcare can seriously save your sanity!

Check out this episode's sponsor:  tryplayground.com/partnerships/childcareconversations

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 Woodward Young drops some serious truth bombs about why handing a new hire a handbook and saying "let us know if you have questions" just doesn't cut it. She breaks down the real difference between orientation, training, and onboarding, and why completing a training checklist doesn't automatically mean someone is competent. Kate walks you through a practical 90-day onboarding framework and reminds us that great staff doesn't rise to the role alone: they need modeling, practice, feedback, and genuine support.

Check out this episode's sponsor:  tryplayground.com/partnerships/childcareconversations

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 Erica sit down for a really inspiring chat about what's next when you've spent decades in early childhood education. Erica shares her incredible 27-year journey from furniture sales to childcare director in just four months, to opening her own chain of schools! They dig into recognizing early childhood as a true profession, finding your successor, and exploring new paths like speaking, coaching, or pursuing further education. 
Whether you're feeling stagnant or just curious about your next chapter, this one's definitely worth a listen! 

Check out this episode's sponsor:  tryplayground.com/partnerships/childcareconversations

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, you'll meet Danielle, who has spent nearly 35 years in early childhood education, and her story of how she got there is genuinely heartwarming! She sits down to talk about leading multiple childcare centers, the real challenges of managing diverse teams, and why listening to understand beats listening to respond every time. 

The big conversation? Switching childcare management software after some serious billing nightmares. Spoiler: they landed on Playground Software, and that little blue support bubble? Total game-changer.

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 sits down with Cindy Morgan from One Place Childcare to dig into a topic every early childhood leader needs to hear — "Change is inevitable. Growth is optional." Cindy shares her incredible journey from family childcare to running a massive nonprofit food program, and now helping centers ditch the paper chaos with smart, cloud-based compliance tools. They get real about why we kick the can down the road on tough decisions, how dashboards save your sanity across multiple locations, and why your "bench" — coaches, vendors, mentors — matters more than you think.

To learn more: 1PlaceChildcare.com , link to join a webinar, book a 1-1 meeting with me here

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!