Quality Time Podcast

When the weight of running an early childhood program feels overwhelming, how do you find the motivation to keep growing? Sometimes, all it takes is hearing from someone who has navigated the exact same storms.

In this episode of Quality Time, host Laura Cady is joined by Myra Katherine Hale to celebrate her center's massive achievement of reaching Step 5. Myra Katherine gets real about the hurdles she faced building her business, why staying connected to the children is her secret to success, and how choosing positivity can completely transform your program's culture.

Take a moment to reconnect with what makes you smile today. Sit back, take a breath, and relax!

Are you feeling the weight of your daily routine? Sometimes the best way to move forward is to lean on the support of those who have walked in your shoes.

In this episode of Quality Time, host Laura Cady is joined by early care and education leader Erin Ramsey, alongside coach consultants Gina DeFreece and Becky Morton. The group explores the true purpose of coaching, how to build a unified community of providers, and why seeing the "soul before the role" is the ultimate foundation of high-quality care.

Take a few minutes for you today. You’ve earned it!

It’s no secret that the incredible work you do as early childhood educators can sometimes feel heavy. But what happens when we double down on connection?

In this episode of Quality Time, host Laura Cady is joined by early childhood education expert Hayley Jackson Perez. Together, they discuss the realities of educator burnout, how to reframe challenging behaviors, and why finding joy is the ultimate secret to high-quality care.

Take a moment to reconnect with your "why." Sit back, relax, and enjoy!

This season, host Laura Cady has had an incredible lineup of guests join her to talk all things early literacy.

In our season finale, Laura takes a brief moment to reflect on these passionate early childhood professionals who shared simple strategies for integrating literacy into children's daily lives.

We're looking forward to discussing themes of self-care into Season 5, where we'll focus on celebrating you and sharing joy.

Until then, check out our program guide and blog, follow us on social media and sign up for our newsletter—all of which you can find at stepuptoquality.ne.gov/resources

If you loved last week’s reset, you won’t want to miss another addition to your favorite self-care series!

We’re continuing “Mindful Moments” this week with another 5-minute guided meditation led by Step Up to Quality Coach Specialist, Lynne Cook. Whether you have a few minutes to decompress after a long day or a brief window during your lunch break, this episode is the perfect tool to help you find calm in the middle of a chaotic schedule.

Take a few minutes for you today. You’ve earned it!

Back by popular demand, we are continuing our “Mindful Moments” series with a new guided meditation led by Step Up to Quality Coach Specialist, Lynne Cook.

While the work we do is incredibly rewarding, we know it can also be taxing. This episode is designed as a sanctuary for those moments when you need to pause and breathe. We encourage you to save this episode and revisit it whenever you need a quick mental reset.

Sit back, take a breath, and enjoy.

In this episode of Quality Time, host Laura Cady sits down with Michelle Rupiper and Brenda Saxe, two experienced Step Up to Quality coaches and Literacy Early Learning Guidelines (ELG) trainers.

With decades of combined experience, Michelle and Brenda discuss why we need to move beyond "quizzing" children and start having genuine conversations. They share practical advice on narrating daily routines, using "big juicy words" to build vocabulary, and why there is simply "no app to replace your lap."

Today, we’re talking about early literacy and family engagement — and how innovation and leadership can spark new ideas in early learning settings. In this episode of Quality Time, host Laura Cady talks to Janelle Nissen, School Director at Educare Omaha at Indian Hill. Educare of Omaha is part of a national network dedicated to early childhood education, partnering with families and communities to ensure every child has access to high-quality early learning experiences. Janelle leads with creativity, heart, and a willingness to try new things — and we’re so excited to learn from her today.

This episode of Quality Time welcomes Dr. Amy Napoli, an Associate Professor and Early Childhood Extension Specialist at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Technology is an unavoidable part of modern life and parenting - so how can we use it intentionally?

In today's episode, Laura welcomes Suzie Fogarty, Community Outreach Coordinator and Education Facilitator at Smart Gen Society. With over 25 years of experience in the education ecosystem, Suzie gives insight on how language from a screen isn't processed in a child's brain the same way face-to-face interactions are.

Tune in to learn how parents and providers can navigate digital tools without sacrificing the developmentally appropriate practices that children need to thrive.