LUME Institute’s Inside Work: Reducing Burnout and Strengthening Early Childhood Teams

Burnout and turnover continue to challenge early childhood education programs nationwide — but what if the solution isn’t another checklist or one-time training?In this episode of Early Childhood Chats, Andy Roszak welcomes the LUME Institute team — Meghan Whitworth, Roxeanna Steiner, Jason Mercer, and Amber Buchheit — to unpack the “inside work” that supports educators from the inside out. LUME Institute, born from the philosophy of University City Children’s Center (UCCCC) in St. Louis, focuses on relational coaching, emotional development, and sustainable professional learning that strengthens culture over time.Together, they explore:➡️ Why emotional milestones and attachment matter as much as cognitive development➡️ How adult stress and dysregulation can unintentionally fuel classroom power struggles➡️ Why LUME calls their method “slow food learning” — and how it outperforms one-and-done PD➡️ How leaders can build psychological safety through shared commitments➡️ Why play is the antidote to stress (and how to find your “play personality”)➡️ How qualitative stories and relationship-centered data reveal real impactWhether you’re a teacher, director, coach, or training leader, this episode offers practical insight and encouragement for building a more connected, resilient early childhood workforce.👉 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share this episode!👉 Connect with LUME Institute: https://www.lumeinstitute.org/----------------------------Early Childhood Chats is hosted by Andrew Roszak - JD, MPA, EMT-PExecutive Director at the Institute for Childhood Preparedness. The Institute for Childhood Preparedness is proud to use its decades of experience to offer comprehensive and expert disaster and emergency preparedness trainings live in-person, via webinar, and on-demand online. // Visit: https://www.childhoodpreparedness.org/ to find out more // Schedule your training today https://www.childhoodpreparedness.org/trainingFOLLOW UShttps://www.instagram.com/childhoodpreparedness/ https://www.facebook.com/ChildPreparedhttps://twitter.com/ChildPreparedhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/institute-for-childhood-preparedness© Institute for Childhood Preparedness 2025 all rights reserved