I Got This - Leadership Blueprint
I Got This – The Leadership Blueprint Every Childcare Director Needs
Running a childcare center is one of the most challenging leadership roles out there and yet, it's often one of the least supported. Directors are expected to be visionary leaders, regulatory experts, business managers, crisis navigators, and emotional anchors for both staff and families. It’s no wonder so many burn out.
That’s exactly why I Got This: The Leadership Blueprint for Childcare Directors by Kate Woodward Young, M.Ed., and Carrie Casey exists to help directors move from overwhelm to ownership, from chaos to clarity.
This isn’t just another leadership book filled with vague theories and one-size-fits-all advice. I Got This is a practical, strategic, and empowering guide tailored specifically to the unique challenges of childcare leadership. Whether you're a brand-new director or a seasoned pro feeling stuck, this book delivers actionable strategies to help you lead with more confidence and less stress.
What Makes This Book Different?
At its core, I Got This teaches that confident leadership isn’t about doing it all it’s about building systems, trusting your team, and knowing your own leadership style. The book introduces two proven leadership frameworks (the PAEI model and Situational Leadership) to help directors identify their strengths, recognize their blind spots, and build teams that complement their style rather than conflict with it.
It also dives deep into real-world challenges like burnout, time management, difficult staff conversations, and parent complaints offering not just stories, but solutions. With every chapter, directors are invited to reflect, adjust, and activate their leadership superpowers with clear, simple exercises.
What You’ll Learn:
How to stop micromanaging without becoming disconnected
How to build standard operating procedures that prevent chaos
How to delegate with confidence and create time for strategic leadership
How to navigate staff pushback, burnout, and conflict without losing your cool
How to shift your mindset from scarcity to abundance
How to lead with confidence—even when you don’t have all the answers
Designed for Busy Directors
What makes this book truly usable is how it’s written: short chapters, reflection questions, real-life scenarios, and “Activate Your Superpowers” action steps. You can read a chapter in 15 minutes and apply it that same day.
If you’ve ever said “I don’t have time to read,” this book was designed with you in mind.
You Don’t Have to Do It Alone
Perhaps the most important message of I Got This is that leadership doesn’t have to be lonely. The authors have led teams, built centers, and coached thousands of directors across the country. They get it. And through this book—and their podcast, Childcare Conversations—they’re building a community where directors support each other, grow together, and redefine what confident childcare leadership looks like.
