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ElevatingECE Podcast
Elevating ECE is the podcast for current and aspiring early childhood owners, directors, and leaders who know they’re called to do more than “manage a center” — they’re here to build transformational spaces for children, families, and teams.
Hosted by Beatrice Hutcherson, MSpED., Executive Director, educator, entrepreneur, and wellness & wholeness advocate, this show is where mission-driven early childhood leaders (and leaders-in-the-making) come to get equipped, encouraged, and empowered to build with excellence and integrity.
Each episode blends practical strategy, leadership wisdom, and whole-person wellness so you can:
- Elevate program quality without burning yourself out
- Lead confident, values-driven teams
- Build or prepare to build sustainable, profitable programs that serve families well
- Create cultures where children, staff, and you can thrive
Whether you’re already running a center or you’re dreaming, planning, and preparing for your future school or program, we’re talking about what it really takes to grow in this field — and stay healthy while you do it.
If you’re ready to build, not just survive, and you believe early childhood education is a powerful place to shape futures and build legacy, this podcast is for you.
Objectives
The podcast is designed to:
- Elevate Leadership Capacity
Help current and aspiring owners, directors, and leaders grow in clarity, confidence, and competence in their roles—whether they’re already in the seat or preparing for it. - Strengthen Program Quality & Systems
Break down what high-quality really looks like (beyond compliance) and give leaders and future leaders tools to build strong systems, not chaos. - Promote Wellness & Wholeness for Leaders
Address burnout, stress, and imbalance by sharing practical strategies for self-care, boundaries, and sustainable leadership from day one. - Support Sustainable & Profitable ECE Models
Equip listeners with business and financial insight so they can launch, lead, and grow programs that are sustainable, impactful, and financially healthy. - Build a Connected Community of ECE Trailblazers
Create a space where both seasoned and emerging leaders feel seen, supported, and reminded they’re not alone in this work.
ElevatingECE Podcast
Hiring for Heart & Skill in ECE
Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.
Are you hiring for your childcare center or preschool and tired of quick turnover? In this episode of Elevating ECE, we kick off our March theme; Staffing, Culture, & Retention, with a practical hiring system: Hiring for Heart and Skill.
You’ll learn how to hire early childhood educators using structured interviews, simple work-sample scenarios, and a repeatable scorecard that protects your culture and improves retention. We also talk about why work environment and psychological safety matter for keeping great staff long-term.
Perfect for: childcare directors, preschool owners, assistant directors, ECE leaders, and lead teachers involved in hiring.
Download: Sample Interview Questionnaire for ECE Staff (linked here)
Includes interview questions, scenario prompts, scoring rubric, and reference-check script.
Topics covered:
- ECE hiring process
- Interview questions for preschool teachers
- Childcare staffing and retention
- Building positive workplace culture in early childhood education
- Psychological safety and team culture
- Red flags vs green flags in ECE interviews
Comment: What’s the hardest position for you to hire right now—infants, toddlers, preschool, floaters, or support staff?
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