Schools of Excellence: The No. 1 ECE & Private School Leadership Podcast

We see how hard you’re working as you continue to lose money to free pre-k programs. We see you losing sleep over next month’s enrollment. We see you struggling to maintain your rates while spots remain empty. Now, we want you to pause and answer this question: What are you doing to drive enrollment?Unfortunately, most school leaders are prioritizing activities that are farthest from the cash. Instead of changing the answering machine, try personally calling inquiry families. Instead of rearranging the front desk, try conducting another tour. Instead of updating your website colors, try creating a meaningful connection.These changes are just the beginning. This episode breaks down “The Enrollment Formula” that has worked for hundreds of schools. You’ll learn four valuable and actionable frameworks to actually increase enrollment:Enrollment Protection BlocksSystematic Follow-UpProactive Engagement StrategyTeam Alignment and TrainingWant access to these frameworks and more? They’re part of our Enrollment Engine — a comprehensive transformation on how you approach school growth.REVOLUTIONIZE YOUR ENROLLMENT APPROACH! Visit: https://schoolsofexcellence.com/enrollment-engine

This episode looks a little different. Chanie was recently joined by school leaders, just like yourself, who are ready to join the top schools that are growing enrollment by 25% without cutting rates or compromising quality.What you’ll learn in this workshop replay:Profit Messaging™: How to clearly communicate your center's unique valueProfit Calendar™: Creating a systematic approach to enrollment activitiesProfit Pipeline™: Managing and converting potential families effectivelyYou can turn potential into profit.Ready to create such compelling value that families can’t help but become a part of your story? Check out our NEW Enrollment Engine now! https://schoolsofexcellence.com/enrollment-engine/

We know there’s a lot of hesitancy around financial conversations, but let’s overcome that discomfort to acknowledge this truth: enrollment and finances are two sides of the same coin. When we’re content with “fine but could be better” enrollment numbers, we are leaving money on the table. Let's say you have two open spots in your Pre-K classroom. It doesn't sound like a lot, but if we do the math, those two spots add up to $2,500 in loss revenue every single month. That's $30,000 a year you could be making. We call this a profit blind spot. In this episode, you’ll learn about the four profit blind spots that could be costing you thousands of dollars each month in revenue:The comfort zone trapInvisible money leaksThe role of educators in showcasing valueThe pitfalls of reactive schedulingYou CAN turn these blind spots into opportunities.Master the three-tier Profit Pipeline™ that converts leads faster. Join us for the Daily Profit Plan Workshop, Wednesday, Feb. 5th at 2 PM EST. https://schoolsofexcellence.com/enrollment/Learn more and apply for the Director’s Inner Circle & Owner’s HQ: https://schoolsofexcellence.com/membership/

There is an educational extinction event happening right now. You're not just losing students. You are witnessing the systemic dismantling of traditional education.In the last three years alone, 37 % of private schools have seen enrollment drop by over 20%. And the numbers continue to worsen. But you don’t have to continue fighting just to survive. In this episode, you’ll learn how to become irreplaceable by:converting inquiries into enrolled familiesmaximizing every opportunity in your profit and growth journeytransforming how parents perceive your valueRemember: You can find your way out of enrollment desperation and back to a reliable, predictable enrollment system that delivers consistent results regardless of the season.Learn how to command your school's value without cutting rates. Join our Daily Profit Plan Workshop, Feb 5th at 2 PM EST. https://schoolsofexcellence.com/enrollment/Learn more and apply for the Director’s Inner Circle & Owner’s HQ: https://schoolsofexcellence.com/membership/

When we struggle with enrollment, we say things like:“Free pre-K is killing us.”“We lost our grant funding.”“Our city keeps changing the rules.”“The minimum wage keeps increasing. It's destroying our margins.” “Parents only care about price right now.”Schools of Excellence hears you, but we’re going to flip this narrative…These are not your real problems. These are symptoms.In today’s episode, you will learn the three fundamental barriers actually preventing schools from enrolling families right now:Reactive versus intentional enrollmentIneffective messagingThe lack of an enrollment ecosystemThe good news: You can overcome these barriers and build an enrollment approach so powerful that all the excuses you give become footnotes in your success story.If you’re ready to find your way back to enrolling with ease, a natural family referral flow, and a waiting list of families, Schools of Excellence is hosting an interactive workshop — The Daily Profit Plan: Your Hidden Enrollment Engine — Wednesday, February 5th at 2 PM EST. Register now to walk away with your growth plan. https://schoolsofexcellence.com/enrollment

Whether you live in a bustling city or a quiet suburban area, the educational landscape is shifting. Schools can no longer depend on default systems or traditional approaches. Can you feel it? We’re in the midst of a Great School Enrollment Awakening.The old enrollment approach feels hollow and artificial. Parents are no longer looking for an institution; they’re seeking a community — one that honors their values and values them as members.As we react to this shift as leaders, we fall into one of three categories:The Sophistication SeekersThe Inactive ImplementersThe Intuitive TransformersIf you know that your team's enrollment efforts aren't showing results like they used to and are ready to change that, join me for a free, interactive workshop — The Daily Profit Plan: Your Hidden Enrollment Engine — Wednesday, February 5th 22 at 2 PM EST. Register here! https://schoolsofexcellence.com/enrollment

Chanie was recently joined by women multi-site owners for a CEO Power Hour to uncover the money leaks in their operations. You cannot listen to this without saving some money. We promise!In this episode you will learn:Space Optimization GapsPayment System LeaksSchedule Efficiency GapsFood Control LeaksSupply Management GapsAdministrative & Technical SystemsDiscover the breakthrough approach used by the elite 1% of women multi-site owners.To create your 2025 growth plan, hop on a profit finding session with the Schools of Excellence team. https://schoolsofexcellence.com/money-leaks/

High-achieving leaders understand how to align their goals and actions to drive meaningful progress in their centers.In this episode, Chanie shares why the schools that will win in 2025 challenge conventional wisdom and embrace discomfort.Chanie’s five powerful truths that will propel your leadership:More is the enemy of high performanceEmbrace the discomfort of pressureIt is not your effort, it is your environment that matters mostTake an unapologetic approach to marketing and messagingThe 30 to 60 day rule of goal settingTo explore how to join the Schools of Excellence community with leaders just like you, start here with our free consult call. https://schoolsofexcellence.com/consultMentioned in the episode: Watch the New School Playbook Workshop. https://schoolsofexcellence.com/families

Important reminder for every school leader who’s reading this: You’re not just getting by or just managing a school; you’re transforming lives in your center one decision at a time. In this episode, Chanie reconnects you to the heart of your mission and why you do what you do by walking through some celebration prompts for what you’ve achieved in 2024.Need some inspiration to remember?Creative solutions you found for your budgetThe moments you got it right with your staffThe most courageous decision you made this yearTreat yourself to the goodness of this episode.  Soak it in.  You deserve it.Need this reminder more often?  It happens everyday in our members community.  Learn more by talking to one of our team members:  SchoolsofExcellence.com/consult 

This episode is for every school leader out there who feels there is no one in their life who “gets” the challenges of being the leader.In this episode, Chanie is joined by Amy Retchless, an ECE owner from Frederick, Colorado. Like all leaders, Amy has experienced various seasons as a school leader. In both the times she’s crushing it and when she needs a little more support, she’s found comfort in the Schools of Excellence community.What you will learn:The importance of setting work-life boundariesHow practicing meditation enhances you as a leaderThe power of a supportive networkTo explore how to join the Schools of Excellence community with leaders just like you, start here with our free consult call.  SchoolsofExcellence.com/consult

Ashley Perron-Knutson, a fellow ECE leader, found herself at a crossroads with her center. She had to decide whether to continue struggling or commit to becoming the best leader she could be.  In this episode, Chanie and Ashley discuss how she regained clarity and organization with the frameworks she received as a Schools of Excellence member:What you will learn:How revamping your calendar rhythms reduces anxietyWhat essential, effective foundational systems to buildBalancing your administrative duties while mentoring your teamCan you relate to Ashley and want to know how these frameworks can bring organization and calm to your day as a school director or owner? Get on a strategy call with the Schools of Excellence team. http://schoolsofexcellence.com/consult

This episode looks a little different than others. November 14th, Chanie was joined by school leaders for an interactive workshop that tackled the complexity of attracting, engaging, and retaining families in 2024.Are you ready to stop guessing what your families want and start knowing exactly how to connect with every family in your school? In this episode, you will learn how to implement 5 power plays:Know Your Families: Learn the exact data points that predict family satisfaction and longevity.Speak Their Language: Master the art of creating parent avatars, a proven template that’s revolutionized communication for hundreds of schools.Be Where They Are: Discover the channels and messages that resonate with modern families. (Stop wasting time on platforms your families don’t use!)Train The Troops: Transform your team and teachers into family engagement experts, including our “quick-win” scripts for common scenarios.Sync Your Calendars: Build a communication calendar that keeps families engaged and referring new ones!As you listen, fill out this Power Play Action Plan worksheet. https://schoolsofexcellence.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/New-School-Playbook-Workshop-Worksheet-1-1.pdfThen, book a call with our team to discuss how to customize this strategy for your school! https://schoolsofexcellence.com/consultWatch the workshop replay on video here. https://schoolsofexcellence.com/workshop-new-school-playbook-replay/

Need more enrollment? Learn this simple framework.If you’re over generic solutions that don’t move the needle, and are ready for something tangible that can consistently attract, engage, and retain your families, listen in and register for the New School Playbook Workshop.Design your new enrollment playbook in only 1 hour with our live interactive workshop - November 14th To attend live or get the replay, you need to register at schoolsofexcellence.com/familiesReady to move faster? Directors:  Join  the Director’s Inner CircleOwners:  Join the Owner’s HQ.It starts with a free consult.  Schedule your session now.  

Whether it be election-related stress, end of the year hecticness, or just a busy season of your life, we can all benefit from creating moments of tranquility. Our bodies literally hold this stress inside us. It’s imperative we understand this for our long-term health.Our mental state deeply impacts our physical state and the other way around. When our brains and bodies feel overwhelmed, it’s especially important to pause, to reset, and to lead from a place of calm and clarity.What do you do when everything around you feels outside of your control? How do you take care of yourself?In this episode, Chanie gets real about stress and how she’s helped herself and her own children not carry this around. She gives 3 immediate action steps to regain your balance amid the chaos of this time. Mentioned in the episode: Chanie’s meditation for school leadersDesign your new enrollment playbook in only 1 hour with our live interactive workshop — November 14th Register or learn more at schoolsofexcellence.com/familiesReady to move faster? Directors:  Join  the Director’s Inner CircleOwners:  Join the Owner’s HQ.It starts with a free consult.  Schedule your session now.

The Playbook for enrolling new families in your school has changed. The old rules of building a website, sending a postcard and holding an open house just don’t work like they used to. In previous episodes, Chanie emphasized taking action by knowing your families, speaking their language, being where they are, and training the troops.Now it’s time to make it happen! Develop a weekly, monthly, and quarterly schedule to strategically adapt to your evolving school families.In the fifth and final part of the New School Playbook series, Chanie shares what must happen so your whole team puts this plan into action: Sync Your Calendars.Key Topics Discussed: Start small with check-ins and team huddles to keep everyone on the same page, sharing insights from throughout the week about different families.Avatars aren’t a “one and done” tool. Regularly update avatar profiles and strategies to best serve your families as they evolve.Do a communication audit once a month, where you're ensuring that all outgoing messages align with the avatar preferences.How can you create consistent rhythms to up-level your effectiveness as a staff? Listen in for action steps you can take today.Design your new enrollment playbook in only 1 hour with our live interactive workshop - November 14th Register or learn more at schoolsofexcellence.com/familiesReady to move faster? Directors:  Join  the Director’s Inner CircleOwners:  Join the Owner’s HQ.It starts with a free consult.  Schedule your session now.  

The Playbook for enrolling new families in your school has changed. The old rules of building a website, sending a postcard, and holding an open house just don’t work like they used to. In today’s episode, the fourth part of the New School Playbook Series, Chanie breaks down how to Train Your Troops.We’ve all had awkward social interactions — accidentally bumping into someone, forgetting someone’s name, or even realizing that we had a stain on our shirt after running into someone we haven’t seen in years. Afterward, we’re left wishing everything went smoother.As school leaders and staff, we’re interacting with a diverse collection of families daily, so it’s extra important that we all understand how to best conduct ourselves in a professional, yet still friendly and helpful, manner. Key Topics Discussed: Generational differences in communication skills. Some staff members excel at in-person interactions, and others at digital interactions, but we need them to be successful at both.Being sensitive to the diverse backgrounds of our families. When we learn how to cultivate more cultural sensitivity, we learn how to be more accepting of other people and break down social barriers.Educating staff on the different parent avatars (see episode 201!) What makes one family feel respected and heard doesn’t work for everyone. Once your staff understands the parent avatars at your center, they can cater their interactions to the appropriate style for every family.What training do your troops need? Tune in for action steps you can take today!Design your new enrollment playbook in only 1 hour with our live interactive workshop - November 14th Register or learn more at schoolsofexcellence.com/familiesReady to move faster? Directors:  Join  the Director’s Inner CircleOwners:  Join the Owner’s HQ.It starts with a free consult.  Schedule your session now.  

The Playbook for enrolling new families in your school has changed. The old rules of building a website, sending a postcard and holding an open house just don’t work like they used to. How many different ways are you sending out information to your families? Maybe it’s just one email. Or maybe it’s seven emails, 4 texts and a printed flyer. When you step back and examine your different parent avatars (listen to the previous episode to learn how to build yours), you can start to understand when to send text or email and easily personalize that to best suit all of your families.In part three of the New School Playbook series, Chanie shares how to Be Where They Are:Key Topics Discussed: Your messages become invisible to a large portion of your community if you’re not sending them to what they check (i.e. are they text or email people?)In-person events will always create the best lasting impression. When a parent has a positive interaction with your school at an event, they will tell an average of nine other people. How do you make these kind of events?How do you know if your messages are even being read? Learn how to audit your current communication methods and see how many people are actually opening and viewing them. Mentioned in this episode: If you need to increase enrollment right away, check out episode 191Design your new enrollment playbook in only 1 hour with our live interactive workshop — November 14th Register or learn more at: schoolsofexcellence.com/familiesReady to move faster? Directors: Join the Director’s Inner CircleOwners: Join the Owner’s HQIt starts with a free consult. Schedule your session now. 

The Playbook for enrolling new families in your school has changed.  The old rules of building a website, sending a postcard and holding an open house just don’t work like they used to. Think about how good it feels when someone notices something that’s uniquely you  and engages with that in mind… You’re a person who matters to them. When you can achieve this with your families, you create a connection that makes a big difference in your school’s success.In part two of the New School Playbook series, Chanie shares how to reach families when you: Speak Their Language.Key Topics Discussed: Adjusting your communication and involvement expectations to the diversity of your parent demographics and community - single parent families, large families, first generation, both parents working - you see where I’m going?  They all have different needs - and you as a director don’t need to overwork yourself trying to meet them.  (Keep reading!) Creating key avatars of your families that speak to their needs in words they relate to is possible and not only simplifies the challenge for you, but allows each family to be truly heard and seen.Chanie’s quick action step: Start with simple exercises like a communication audit of last week’s emails, tweak the language to be more inclusive and connective to more of your family dynamics.  Then press send and test it out!This is the second in the series to help you develop a NEW playbook for your school enrollment and retention strategies. Listen and be prepared for some practical action steps for implementing these new tactics that work!Design your new enrollment playbook in only 1 hour with our free, interactive workshop — November 14th Register or learn more at: schoolsofexcellence.com/familiesReady to move faster? Directors: Join the Director’s Inner CircleOwners: Join the Owner’s HQ.It starts with a free consult. Schedule your session now.

The Playbook for enrolling new families in your school has changed.  The old rules of building a website, sending a postcard and holding an open house just don’t work like they used to. In part one of this series, Chanie will be sharing the 5 new power plays to attract, engage, and retain families. The first is: Know Your Families.Key Ideas: We know you want to know your families and think that you do, but there are new family dynamics to understand and adapt to.Traditional methods of surveys and parent-teacher conferences need an uplevel.What keeps families around for long term retention is no longer - flexible schedules, fun events and general communication.  Learn what keeps your families happy now. This is first in a series to help you develop a NEW playbook for your school enrollment and retention strategies. Listen and get ready to take notes on these new tactics that work for today’s families.Design your new enrollment playbook in only 1 hour with our live interactive workshop - November 14th  Register or learn more at:Schoolsofexcellence.com/familiesReady to move faster? Directors:  Join  the Director’s Inner CircleOwners:  Join the Owner’s HQ.It starts with a free consult.  Schedule your session now.   

How can mentor relationships stabilize and strengthen the core of your organization and have an impact on your life? In this episode Chanie talks with Todd Herman, renowned leadership coach and author of "The Alter Ego Effect," and her mentor of 9 years. He shares personal stories and strategies that have helped him successfully mentor high achievers, Olympians, and entrepreneurs, offering valuable lessons that can be applied in educational settings.Key Topics:The Power of Questions: Discover how asking the right questions can transform coaching and leadership, and learn Todd Herman’s categories of questions that can deepen understanding and communication.Mentorship vs. Coaching: Understand the distinct roles of mentors and coaches, and why it's an important to know the difference.Empathy and Adaptability: Learn how empathy and adaptability can enhance your leadership and create a supportive environment for both students and staff.Learn more and apply for the Director’s Inner Circle & Owner’s HQ: https://schoolsofexcellence.com/membership/ Todd can be found here:https://toddherman.me/Linked In toddherman1Facebook @toddherman1Instagram @Todd_HermanX todd_herman His Books: The Alter Ego, My Super MeMore about the show:If you are an Early Childhood director or owner, prepare to transform your school and life with the Schools of Excellence podcast. Tune in each week to learn from Chanie Wilschanski, the founder and host of the Schools of Excellence Podcast and a mom of 4 little kids. Each episode will be packed with tools and strategies – equipping you to build schools with higher staff retention, teacher motivation, parent partnership, collaborative culture, and beautiful quality of life. Every week, Chanie shares the truth about the journey to excellence, the strategies that are working TODAY, and the mindset about the critical decisions and choices that you make every day which impact yourself, your teachers, parents, family, and children who you serve every day.

Picture this–you’re walking through your school, juggling urgent emails, staff questions, and never-ending paperwork. The days blur together as you tackle one crisis after another. But what if there was a way to break free from this chaos?In this week’s episode, Chanie addresses a critical challenge faced by school leaders: being trapped in the day-to-day operations. Chanie explains how creating a “Work Smarter” calendar can revolutionize your leadership approach, allowing you to move from reactive management to proactive, strategic leadership. With practical insights into time blocking, delegation, and the importance of regular review sessions, Chanie guides early education leaders, school teachers, and administrators through the steps to regain control of their time and focus on what truly matters–leading their schools to success. Key Topics Discussed: How being stuck in daily tasks prevents school leaders from focusing on strategic growth and long-term planning. How to design a calendar that includes time for personal wellness, team development, and high-level tasks, creating boundaries to ensure work-life balance. The key to delegating effectively and empowering your team to take ownership of tasks while freeing up your time for leadership activities. The mindset shift required to treat your calendar like a muscle–consistently exercising strategic time management to build a thriving school. So, are you ready to unveil the secrets to escaping the day-to-day grind and becoming the visionary leader your school needs? Learn more and apply for the Director’s Inner Circle & Owner’s HQ: https://schoolsofexcellence.com/membership/  More about the show:If you are an Early Childhood director or owner, prepare to transform your school and life with the Schools of Excellence podcast. Tune in each week to learn from Chanie Wilschanski, the founder and host of the Schools of Excellence Podcast and a mom of 4 little kids. Each episode will be packed with tools and strategies – equipping you to build schools with higher staff retention, teacher motivation, parent partnership, collaborative culture, and beautiful quality of life.  Every week, Chanie shares the truth about the journey to excellence, the strategies that are working TODAY, and the mindset about the critical decisions and choices that you make every day which impact yourself, your teachers, parents, family, and children who you serve every day.

In the journey of life, we often encounter moments that challenge our resilience and redefine our understanding of joy. Join Chanie, as she courageously shares her deeply personal experience with pregnancy loss, revealing the unexpected lessons that emerged from her heartache and healing. In this week’s episode of Schools of Excellence, Chanie opens up about her emotional journey following a pregnancy loss. From the initial joy of discovering her pregnancy to the profound heartache that followed, she explores how this experience reshaped her perspective on healing, resilience, and the importance of community support. Chanie emphasizes the significance of self-care and acknowledges the full range of emotions that accompany grief, Through heartfelt reflections, she highlights the importance of embracing vulnerability and finding ways to honor losses while navigating the complexities of personal and professional life. Key Topics Discussed:The distinction between being okay and getting over a loss. The importance of celebrating progress in the healing process. Personal stories of community and mentorship provide essential support. Ways couples can reconnect and support each other through shared experiences. Strategies for integrating gratitude and relaxation into daily life. Chanie’s story serves as a powerful reminder that healing is a journey filled with ups and downs. By sharing our experiences, we can collectively navigate the complexities of grief and joy. Learn more and apply for the Director’s Inner Circle & Owner’s HQ: https://schoolsofexcellence.com/membership/  More about the show:If you are an Early Childhood director or owner, prepare to transform your school and life with the Schools of Excellence podcast. Tune in each week to learn from Chanie Wilschanski, the founder and host of the Schools of Excellence Podcast and a mom of 4 little kids. Each episode will be packed with tools and strategies – equipping you to build schools with higher staff retention, teacher motivation, parent partnership, collaborative culture, and beautiful quality of life.  Every week, Chanie shares the truth about the journey to excellence, the strategies that are working TODAY, and the mindset about the critical decisions and choices that you make every day which impact yourself, your teachers, parents, family, and children who you serve every day.

What does it take to move from survival mode to true leadership?In this week’s episode, Chanie interviews Mel Elridge, a director at an early education lab school, who shares her powerful transformation since joining the Schools of Excellence program in 2020. Together, they explore how Mel built stronger connections within her team, shifted her mindset from chaos to growth, and implemented practical systems that foster a healthier work-life balance. Key Topics Discussed: The vitality of cultivating social connection within school staff for creating a healthy, supportive environment. How leadership development rooted in mindset shifts and strong foundational values is essential for sustainable growth. Practical time management systems, like time-blocking, allow leaders to balance professional responsibilities and personal well-being. The importance of trusting the value of your program and investing in its growth and its effects on effective advocacy for school resources. Embracing difficult conversations as an opportunity for growth strengthens school leadership and relationships. Mel’s journey offers valuable lessons for any early education leader seeking sustainable growth and a thriving school culture. We support ECE leaders like you to grow their enrollment, retain their staff, and create freedom! To learn more about how to work with us, apply here for a call!https://airtable.com/app35MKA8diZnD2WQ/shrse1exQfLyrXszSLearn more and apply for the Director’s Inner Circle & Owner’s HQ: https://schoolsofexcellence.com/membership/  More about the show:If you are an Early Childhood director or owner, prepare to transform your school and life with the Schools of Excellence podcast. Tune in each week to learn from Chanie Wilschanski, the founder and host of the Schools of Excellence Podcast and a mom of 4 little kids. Each episode will be packed with tools and strategies – equipping you to build schools with higher staff retention, teacher motivation, parent partnership, collaborative culture, and beautiful quality of life.  Every week, Chanie shares the truth about the journey to excellence, the strategies that are working TODAY, and the mindset about the critical decisions and choices that you make every day which impact yourself, your teachers, parents, family, and children who you serve every day.

A parent is standing at your school's front desk, full of questions about how your program will fit their family’s unique needs. Now, multiply that by dozens of families, each with different backgrounds, expectations, and concerns.How do you speak to all of them with each of their individual needs?In this episode, Chanie introduces her Parent Archetypes Framework, helping schools decode the unique needs of families—from first-time parents to multicultural families and grandparent guardians. By tailoring communication and marketing strategies to each family type, schools can boost enrollment and foster stronger, lasting relationships with parents. Chanie also shares actionable steps for training staff to interact more effectively with each parent archetype, ensuring smooth operations and engaged communities.Key Topics Discussed: Identifying and supporting first-time parents, multicultural families, and grandparent guardians.Crafting marketing strategies that resonate with each parent archetype.Training staff to improve parent engagement and satisfaction.This episode provides a wealth of knowledge for school leaders aiming to enhance their marketing and communication strategies by truly understanding the diverse needs of their school’s parent community.Learn more and apply for the Director’s Inner Circle & Owner’s HQ: https://schoolsofexcellence.com/membership/  More about the show:If you are an Early Childhood director or owner, prepare to transform your school and life with the Schools of Excellence podcast. Tune in each week to learn from Chanie Wilschanski, the founder and host of the Schools of Excellence Podcast and a mom of 4 little kids. Each episode will be packed with tools and strategies – equipping you to build schools with higher staff retention, teacher motivation, parent partnership, collaborative culture, and beautiful quality of life.  Every week, Chanie shares the truth about the journey to excellence, the strategies that are working TODAY, and the mindset about the critical decisions and choices that you make every day which impact yourself, your teachers, parents, family, and children who you serve every day.

What do you do when two of your most trusted teachers have unexpectedly handed in their resignations? This is the reality of staff turnover faced by many school leaders.In this episode of the Schools of Excellence podcast, Chanie delves into the multifaceted issue of staff retention within early education centers. Drawing on her extensive research and hands-on experience, Chanie introduces the "Retention Intelligence Framework" and guides school leaders on how to build a positive and sustainable culture that caters to the diverse needs of their staff, ultimately reducing turnover.Key Topics Discussed: The significance of using real data to drive retention decisions in schools, moving away from assumptions and gut feelings. The seven key reasons why staff leave early education centers.How demographic mapping can inform more effective and personalized retention strategies.How to utilize the six channels of intelligence for gathering data on staff retention to discover meaningful insights and improve staff retention. The five pillars necessary for creating a strong culture of retention, focusing on community, work-life harmony, accountability, contribution, and promotion. Ready to reduce staff turnover in your school? We support ECE leaders like you to grow their enrollment, retain their staff, and create freedom!  To learn more about how to work with us, apply here for a call!https://airtable.com/app35MKA8diZnD2WQ/shrse1exQfLyrXszSLearn more and apply for the Director’s Inner Circle & Owner’s HQ: https://schoolsofexcellence.com/membership/  More about the show:If you are an Early Childhood director or owner, prepare to transform your school and life with the Schools of Excellence podcast. Tune in each week to learn from Chanie Wilschanski, the founder and host of the Schools of Excellence Podcast and a mom of 4 little kids. Each episode will be packed with tools and strategies – equipping you to build schools with higher staff retention, teacher motivation, parent partnership, collaborative culture, and beautiful quality of life.  Every week, Chanie shares the truth about the journey to excellence, the strategies that are working TODAY, and the mindset about the critical decisions and choices that you make every day which impact yourself, your teachers, parents, family, and children who you serve every day.

Making decisions when leading in the school system can feel like a storm, and with the economic state of things, it can feel like the storm is only getting stronger.But… as you navigate the turbulent waters of school management, you may be surprised to find out that the right strategies can turn challenges into opportunities. In this episode of Schools of Excellence, Chanie breaks down critical strategies for early education leaders to optimize cash flow, manage enrollment challenges, and stand out in a competitive market. She shares actionable tips on aligning your calendar with profit-driven activities, leveraging underutilized spaces, and understanding your school’s unique value proposition. Key Topics Discussed: How implementing strategies like increasing registration fees, accelerating accounts receivable, and renegotiating contracts boost cash flows. Strategically planning your calendar to focus on profit-driven events and lead generation in order to sustain enrollment growth. How to identify and repurpose underutilized areas in your school for additional revenue streams. The importance of making informed decisions based on hard data from parent surveys and market trends, rather than just anecdotal evidence. Tune in to learn how to navigate economic uncertainties while maximizing your school’s profitability and strategic advance! Learn more and apply for the Director’s Inner Circle & Owner’s HQ: https://schoolsofexcellence.com/membership/  More about the show:If you are an Early Childhood director or owner, prepare to transform your school and life with the Schools of Excellence podcast. Tune in each week to learn from Chanie Wilschanski, the founder and host of the Schools of Excellence Podcast and a mom of 4 little kids. Each episode will be packed with tools and strategies – equipping you to build schools with higher staff retention, teacher motivation, parent partnership, collaborative culture, and beautiful quality of life.  Every week, Chanie shares the truth about the journey to excellence, the strategies that are working TODAY, and the mindset about the critical decisions and choices that you make every day which impact yourself, your teachers, parents, family, and children who you serve every day.

I know you know that feeling of immense overwhelm when you look at the endless tasks on your school calendar. A pit in your stomach starts to form just by looking at everything you need to accomplish with such little time. But it doesn’t always have to feel that way…In this episode, Chanie reveals the secrets to mastering calendar audits and making strategic decisions that align with your school’s long-term goals. Through personal anecdotes and practical advice, Chanie illustrates how thoughtful decision-making can keep a school’s operations aligned with its core priorities. By conducting regular audits, school leaders can identify blind spots, optimize their schedules, and stay focused on what truly matters. Key Discussion Points: The critical role of regular calendar audits in ensuring alignment with school goals and priorities. How to differentiate between anxious, hasty decisions and calm, strategic choices that drive long-term success. The impact of prioritization on your school’s profitability, retention, and enrollment outcomes. Understanding and leveraging lead metrics to maintain accountability and focus within your school’s operations. How the Schools of Excellence framework can help streamline your leadership practices, maximizing time and efficiency. Whether you’re an anxious decision-maker or someone looking to fine-tune your scheduling practices, this episode offers invaluable insights into optimizing your time and resources!Learn more and apply for the Director’s Inner Circle & Owner’s HQ: https://schoolsofexcellence.com/membership/ More about the show:If you are an Early Childhood director or owner, prepare to transform your school and life with the Schools of Excellence podcast. Tune in each week to learn from Chanie Wilschanski, the founder and host of the Schools of Excellence Podcast and a mom of 4 little kids. Each episode will be packed with tools and strategies – equipping you to build schools with higher staff retention, teacher motivation, parent partnership, collaborative culture, and beautiful quality of life.  Every week, Chanie shares the truth about the journey to excellence, the strategies that are working TODAY, and the mindset about the critical decisions and choices that you make every day which impact yourself, your teachers, parents, family, and children who you serve every day.

Struggling with school enrollment can feel like navigating a maze of challenges and stress, leaving you wondering if there’s a clear path to attracting and retaining families.Join Chanie Wilschanski as she cuts through the confusion and reveals actionable strategies to transform your enrollment process, turning it from a daunting task into a streamlined, effective approach. Chanie goes over three key tactics that can drive immediate results and set the stage for long-term success. These tactics are also tailored to help create meaningful connections and attract new families for enrollment. Key Discussion Points:The effectiveness of tailoring incentives to the unique preferences of each family to significantly enhance referral programs.How to leverage face-to-face interactions by visiting local establishments like gyms, spas, and apartment buildings.Observing and listening effectively to community conversations can help school leaders refine their marketing strategies to address real concerns and attract new families. Tune in to learn how practical strategies can enhance your school’s visibility and drive enrollment success!Learn more and apply for the Director’s Inner Circle & Owner’s HQ: https://schoolsofexcellence.com/membership/ More about the show:If you are an Early Childhood director or owner, prepare to transform your school and life with the Schools of Excellence podcast. Tune in each week to learn from Chanie Wilschanski, the founder and host of the Schools of Excellence Podcast and a mom of 4 little kids. Each episode will be packed with tools and strategies – equipping you to build schools with higher staff retention, teacher motivation, parent partnership, collaborative culture, and beautiful quality of life. Every week, Chanie shares the truth about the journey to excellence, the strategies that are working TODAY, and the mindset about the critical decisions and choices that you make every day which impact yourself, your teachers, parents, family, and children who you serve every day.

In the demanding world of early education, balancing professional challenges and personal life can feel overwhelming.So, how did Stacy Smith, founder of Big Timber Daycare, transform her childcare center into a thriving example of integrated leadership and personal fulfillment?Join Chanie Wilschanski as she and Stacy delve into the transformative effects of values-based leadership on both professional and personal realms. Stacy opens up about her journey in reshaping her approach to leading a childcare center, balancing business demands with personal life, and integrating effective strategies for sustainable success. Listeners will gain actionable insights on leading with integrity, managing challenges, and aligning personal values with professional goals.Key Discussion Points: How leading with core values can shape both professional success and personal fulfillment.Strategies for integrating effective business practices with maintaining personal wellness.Insights into the specific hurdles faced in running a childcare center and how to address them.Practical advice for ensuring personal values and career objectives are in harmony.Tune in to discover actionable strategies for aligning your leadership approach with core values, balancing business and personal well-being, and overcoming the unique challenges of early education.Learn more and apply for the Director’s Inner Circle & Owner’s HQ: https://schoolsofexcellence.com/membership/  More about the show:If you are an Early Childhood director or owner, prepare to transform your school and life with the Schools of Excellence podcast. Tune in each week to learn from Chanie Wilschanski, the founder and host of the Schools of Excellence Podcast and a mom of 4 little kids. Each episode will be packed with tools and strategies – equipping you to build schools with higher staff retention, teacher motivation, parent partnership, collaborative culture, and beautiful quality of life. Every week, Chanie shares the truth about the journey to excellence, the strategies that are working TODAY, and the mindset about the critical decisions and choices that you make every day which impact yourself, your teachers, parents, family, and children who you serve every day.

When I lived in New York, I spent a lot of time inside during the winter because I didn’t want to freeze my face.But here in Florida, it’s the exact opposite.I find myself indoors all summer because I don’t want to melt.My older kids are away at camp, and Mayer’s and my work schedules both have a little bit more flexibility.We’ve started a family tradition of using the summer to assess our household.Is there maintenance we need to do on the house?Do we want to cancel some streaming subscriptions?How will we give back to our community in the next 12 months?It will always inconvenience someone for us to pause and go through our household assessments. Maybe we’ll be without a washer for a few days as a new one gets put in, or maybe we’ll take the morning off work to guide a handyman through the house.But summer is the least inconvenient time to go through these upgrades and tweaks.Schools follow a similar pattern.Even if you run summer programs, there are usually fewer people in the building this time of year.Families go on vacation. Teachers might take off time to travel. Kids are at Disney World or at their grandparents’ house out of state.Plus, you’re in the perfect position to reflect on what went well last school year, and what didn’t.That makes right now the ideal moment to enhance your school leadership through audits, assessments, and evaluations.In this week's podcast episode, I discuss the types of school audits that might be right for you and why summer is the perfect time to take on this project.Join me for a conversation about:Qualities of summertime that make it ideal for reflection and strategic planningTypes of audits you may wish to consider for your school this summerAstute questions to ask yourself as you evaluate what’s working and what’s notA shortcut to prevent you from reinventing the wheel when it comes to school auditsLearn more and apply for the Director’s Inner Circle & Owner’s HQ: https://schoolsofexcellence.com/membership/ Going through school audits can feel super overwhelming. If you apply for our Owner's HQ and Director's Inner Circle membership programs, you’ll learn the next best steps to keep you strategic and calm. As a member, you'll gain access to tools, resources, coaching, and community to help you build a school of excellence.If your audit finds a big hole in your processes or a massive opportunity to shift your systems, I’d love to support your next steps. During a Schools of Excellence Leadership Day Intensive, you'll get a full day of on-demand, in-school training with me, plus various accountability check-ins, to help you and your team work through obstacles and build a stronger, healthier center that values self-care. https://schoolsofexcellence.com/leadership/More about the show:If you are an Early Childhood director or owner, prepare to transform your school and life with the Schools of Excellence podcast. Tune in each week to learn from Chanie Wilschanski, the founder and host of the Schools of Excellence Podcast and a mom of 4 little kids. Each episode will be packed with tools and strategies – equipping you to build schools with higher staff retention, teacher motivation, parent partnership, collaborative culture, and beautiful quality of life.  Every week, Chanie shares the truth about the journey to excellence, the strategies that are working TODAY, and the mindset about the critical decisions and choices that you make every day which impact yourself, your teachers, parents, family, and children who you serve every day.

One of my clients is a school owner who hired a new director to lead a brand-new location.In the beginning, the director was doing a great job.But then she started to fall short… including on tasks that were not all that complicated.The owner was concerned the director was acting helpless, especially when it came to her regular duties.She said to me, “Chanie, I don’t know what to do. What do I tell her? How do I train her?”If she wanted to invest in this director, I suggested she take her out to breakfast. Spend some time getting to know her, human to human.So they went out to breakfast.It wasn’t a one-on-one meeting. It wasn’t a performance review. It was not an interrogation.It was a chance for them to build a relationship outside the context of work, over coffee and a relaxing meal.It went so well, they decided to keep it up every month for the next six months.As the owner got to know her director better, and the more she came to understand who she was as a person, the owner became more empathetic.And that empathy caused something surprising to happen:The more empathetic the owner became towards her director, the less afraid she was to hold her accountable.Knowing what’s going on with someone can actually make it easier to hold them accountable because you’re better able to express both expectations and empathy. Candor and kindness.Before they knew it, the director had extricated herself from her helplessness, and she was back to being a high-performing professional.In this week's podcast episode, I’m discussing ways you, as an ECE leader, can guide your staff out of those sneaky feelings of helplessness, while boosting morale and creating a healthier school.Join me for a conversation about:The six main reasons your teammates could fall into a state of helplessnessWhy certain factors lead to feelings of helplessnessHow you can take proactive steps to prevent your staff from feeling helplessWays to coach your staff out of a state of helplessness while keeping morale highLearn more and apply for the Director’s Inner Circle & Owner’s HQ: https://schoolsofexcellence.com/membership/ If you are feeling overwhelmed and helpless as a school leader, I encourage you to apply for our Owner's HQ and Director's Inner Circle membership programs. Inside, you'll gain access to tools, resources, coaching, and community that will help you build a school of excellence.Is there a helplessness epidemic at your school? It’s time to shift the culture. During a Schools of Excellence Leadership Day Intensive, you'll get a full day of on-demand, in-school training with me, plus various accountability check-ins, to help you and your team work through obstacles and build a stronger, healthier center that values self-care. https://schoolsofexcellence.com/leadership/More about the show:If you are an Early Childhood director or owner, prepare to transform your school and life with the Schools of Excellence podcast. Tune in each week to learn from Chanie Wilschanski, the founder and host of the Schools of Excellence Podcast and a mom of 4 little kids. Each episode will be packed with tools and strategies – equipping you to build schools with higher staff retention, teacher motivation, parent partnership, collaborative culture, and beautiful quality of life.  Every week, Chanie shares the truth about the journey to excellence, the strategies that are working TODAY, and the mindset about the critical decisions and choices that you make every day which impact yourself, your teachers, parents, family, and children who you serve every day.

I remember when I got my first W2 job when I was 19.I was so proud and excited.I was working hard, showing up every day, and doing my best.But when I got that first paycheck, my heart sank.I thought, “There’s something wrong. This is not the amount that was in my contract.”I went to my boss and gently let her know about the mistake.Little did I know there was no mistake.She showed me the other side of the paycheck, with taxes, benefits, and withholdings.It was Greek to me. I had no idea how the working world operated.When I look back at that memory, I cringe.And I honestly hope you cringe at your past self, too.Because if you’re cringing by looking back, that means you’ve grown a whole lot in the intervening years.Just remember, some of your employees are new to the ECE field—or are new to working in general, just like I was at 19.You’ve hired a teacher for whom you have high expectations.And they want to meet those expectations. But before they can master classroom management and parent communication and curriculum planning…They need to know the basics.Where’s the bathroom? How do they clock in? Where are the supplies?In this week's podcast episode, I invite you to temper your expectations while maintaining your high standards.I want to encourage you to define and then tolerate “good enough” for long enough, so you can build a school of excellence.Join me for a conversation about:Why setting realistic expectations fosters an environment of growthHow to determine what “good enough” means for each employee Ideas for supporting teachers in achieving good enough without sacrificing high standardsWhy growing through the learning curve cultivates better employee performance in the long runLearn more and apply for the Director’s Inner Circle & Owner’s HQ: https://schoolsofexcellence.com/membership/ If perfectionism is your middle name, and you’re open to a loving reality check that ultimately benefits your teachers, your center, and you, I encourage you to apply for our Owner's HQ and Director's Inner Circle membership programs. As a member, you'll gain access to tools, resources, coaching, and community that will help you as you work toward building a school of excellence. Are you adjusting how you onboard new staff at your school and you are craving support as you adjust your expectations? Allow me to help. During a Schools of Excellence Leadership Day Intensive, you'll get a full day of on-demand, in-school training with me, plus various accountability check-ins, to help you and your team work through obstacles and build a stronger, healthier center that values self-care. https://schoolsofexcellence.com/leadership/More about the show:If you are an Early Childhood director or owner, prepare to transform your school and life with the Schools of Excellence podcast. Tune in each week to learn from Chanie Wilschanski, the founder and host of the Schools of Excellence Podcast and a mom of 4 little kids. Each episode will be packed with tools and strategies – equipping you to build schools with higher staff retention, teacher motivation, parent partnership, collaborative culture, and beautiful quality of life.  Every week, Chanie shares the truth about the journey to excellence, the strategies that are working TODAY, and the mindset about the critical decisions and choices that you make every day which impact yourself, your teachers, parents, family, and children who you serve every day.

Big decisions are tough.I was speaking with one of my clients who was considering letting a director go.There was a clear mismatch of values between the director and the school.Everything the owner had tried to get the director on track had failed.And yet if she fired the director, the owner would have to expand her workload. She would get stuck doing all the director’s tasks, even though she was already tired. Plus, she would have to go through the exhausting process of hiring a replacement.It all sounded like too much.While she knew there was a discrepancy in values, she was considering continuing to put up with it.I invited her to journal about the situation.On the left side of her page, I asked her to write “What do my fear and my ego say?”On the right side of her page, I asked her to write, “What does my higher self say?”She spent some time expressing her thoughts on paper.It gave her the clarity she needed: it was vital that she let the director go.After journaling, she had so much more clarity, assurance, poise, and ease around the decision and the challenging conversation to follow.Journaling is one of the great strategies I use for managing the challenging—and often conflicting—emotions that come up when we have to make big decisions.In this week's podcast episode, I discuss additional methods of navigating complex emotions while we’re in the decision-making process.Join me for a conversation about:How mindfulness can impact your ability to make wise decisionsA calendaring strategy that encourages decision breakthroughsWhy speedy decision-making doesn’t correlate to intelligence or wisdomWays to assess when you need to make the decisionLearn more and apply for the Director’s Inner Circle & Owner’s HQ: https://schoolsofexcellence.com/membership/ Decision-making is a key leadership skill that isn’t as intuitive as it sounds. For continuous coaching and support, I encourage you to apply for our Owner's HQ and Director's Inner Circle membership programs. As a member, you'll gain access to tools, resources, coaching, and community that will help you as you work toward building a school of excellence.Are you facing a big decision right now? Are you looking for support as you make a significant shift? During a Schools of Excellence Leadership Day Intensive, you'll get a full day of on-demand, in-school training with me, plus various accountability check-ins, to help you and your team build a stronger, healthier center. https://schoolsofexcellence.com/leadership/More about the show:If you are an Early Childhood director or owner, prepare to transform your school and life with the Schools of Excellence podcast. Tune in each week to learn from Chanie Wilschanski, the founder and host of the Schools of Excellence Podcast and a mom of 4 little kids. Each episode will be packed with tools and strategies – equipping you to build schools with higher staff retention, teacher motivation, parent partnership, collaborative culture, and beautiful quality of life.  Every week, Chanie shares the truth about the journey to excellence, the strategies that are working TODAY, and the mindset about the critical decisions and choices that you make every day which impact yourself, your teachers, parents, family, and children who you serve every day.

During my second year of teaching, I was only 20 years old.Our school had teachers do home visits before the school year started, so the child could get to know their teacher before entering the classroom.I remember one home visit distinctly because the child’s mom came on so strong.“How old are you? Do you have a college degree? Are you in a relationship? Have you ever provided childcare before?”She interrogated me.I remember thinking, “This woman’s going to eat me alive!”The insecurity I felt is really common for new teachers. They don’t know how to be a leader yet, and they’re too green to conduct themselves with discretion and grace.On the other hand, veteran teachers have a lot more self-assurance because of their years of experience.In this week's podcast episode, I’m talking about the difference between new and veteran teachers when it comes to leadership and decision-making. Join me for a conversation about:The pros and cons of both types of teachers when it comes to curriculum planningTypes of classroom management guidance you can offer veteran and new teachersInherent advantages veteran teachers have when it comes to parent communicationGuidance you can provide new teachers when it comes to crises and professional boundariesLearn more and apply for the Director’s Inner Circle & Owner’s HQ: https://schoolsofexcellence.com/membership/ Nurturing your staff is an ongoing endeavor, and there’s no one-size-fits-all solution. For continuous coaching and support, I encourage you to apply for our Owner's HQ and Director's Inner Circle membership programs. As a member, you'll gain access to tools, resources, coaching, and community that will help you as you work toward building a school of excellence.As you discern how to best guide and show appreciation for both veteran and new staff, you may be looking for personalized ideas and guidance. During a Schools of Excellence Leadership Day Intensive, you'll get a full day of on-demand, in-school training with me, plus various accountability check-ins, to help you and your team build a stronger, healthier center. https://schoolsofexcellence.com/leadership/More about the show:If you are an Early Childhood director or owner, prepare to transform your school and life with the Schools of Excellence podcast. Tune in each week to learn from Chanie Wilschanski, the founder and host of the Schools of Excellence Podcast and a mom of 4 little kids. Each episode will be packed with tools and strategies – equipping you to build schools with higher staff retention, teacher motivation, parent partnership, collaborative culture, and beautiful quality of life.  Every week, Chanie shares the truth about the journey to excellence, the strategies that are working TODAY, and the mindset about the critical decisions and choices that you make every day which impact yourself, your teachers, parents, family, and children who you serve every day.

I was recently texting with a one-on-one client.She had a decision to make about professional development, and she asked me what she should do.It would have been easier for me to say, “Do XYZ.”But I didn’t.Instead, I wrote back, “You hired me to coach, mentor, and uplevel you. I want you to trust your decision-making ability. What do you believe should happen?”She clearly thought I was overcomplicating things (and I don’t blame her!). She wrote back, “Chanie, I just want answers.”She had decision fatigue. She was spinning too many plates to have the bandwidth to think critically about one more thing.But I’m a mentor, not an answer dispenser.No one knows her school better than her.No one has more institutional knowledge of her center than her.No one knows her staff better than her.No one knows the answer better than her.I told her, “I’m here to teach you to dig deep. The hardest things in life are where you’ll meet yourself. Find a quiet place and listen to your inner wisdom.”It clicked.A little bit later, she let me know she’d made a decision. She said, “Thanks for not letting me get away with what’s easy, instead of trying to figure out the why.”Cheers to that!Because here’s the thing: Now that she can sit with the discomfort of silence to make decisions, she can train her team to do the same.Imagine how much surface-level, unnecessary professional development you could do without if everyone on your team developed self-trust.Your new teachers could pinpoint specific areas of foundational learning to explore, while your veteran teachers could focus on advanced training opportunities and become mentors to the rest of your team.In this week's podcast episode, we’re discussing how to support both veteran and new staff in your school when it comes to professional development.Join me for a conversation about:Whether specific professional development opportunities are meeting the core needs of your schoolWays to empower your staff to evaluate their professional development gapsStrategies for becoming a strategic and compassionate mentor to your staffSecrets for unlocking your self-confidence when it comes to professional development decisionsLearn more and apply for the Director’s Inner Circle & Owner’s HQ: https://schoolsofexcellence.com/membership/ Get access to the Classroom Management Blueprint here: https://discovered.thrivecart.com/the-classroom-management-blueprint/More about the show:If you are an Early Childhood director or owner, prepare to transform your school and life with the Schools of Excellence podcast. Tune in each week to learn from Chanie Wilschanski, the founder and host of the Schools of Excellence Podcast and a mom of 4 little kids. Each episode will be packed with tools and strategies – equipping you to build schools with higher staff retention, teacher motivation, parent partnership, collaborative culture, and beautiful quality of life.  Every week, Chanie shares the truth about the journey to excellence, the strategies that are working TODAY, and the mindset about the critical decisions and choices that you make every day which impact yourself, your teachers, parents, family, and children who you serve every day.

Recently, I was reading an article in the Journal of Human Resources that highlighted a difference in the teaching practices between veteran teachers and new teachers. Veteran teachers demonstrate confidence and expertise in the classroom. They’re experienced, and they love to be recognized for what they’ve brought to your school.New teachers are more likely to experiment and innovate, especially when it comes to integrating technology into the class. They’re searching for mentorship and validation.Both are so valuable for any school. One is silver and the other gold.This week, I’m kicking off a new three-part series in the podcast about the differences between veteran and new staff in ECE schools. Our focus in the first episode is how the two groups manage parent and child engagement.Join me for a conversation about:Key indicators regarding whether someone is a veteran or a new staff memberHow you, as a leader, can support both veteran and new staff at your school as they interact with parents and childrenPros and cons to both groups’ approaches and what they can learn from each otherWhy one-size-fits-all approaches aren’t going to work for your staffHow you can break down your biases and create a supportive environment for all staffLearn more and apply for the Director’s Inner Circle & Owner’s HQ: https://schoolsofexcellence.com/membership/ Want to boost your leadership skills so you can be a better mentor for the veteran and new staff under your care? I encourage you to apply for our Owner's HQ and Director's Inner Circle membership programs. As a member, you'll gain access to tools, resources, coaching, and community that will help you build and grow a thriving school of excellence. If you’re seeking ways to better support all the staff at your center, regardless of how long they’ve worked with you, I’d love to help you. During a Schools of Excellence Leadership Day Intensive, you'll get a full day of on-demand, in-school training with me, plus various accountability check-ins, to help you and your team work through obstacles and build a stronger, healthier center. https://schoolsofexcellence.com/leadership/More about the show:If you are an Early Childhood director or owner, prepare to transform your school and life with the Schools of Excellence podcast. Tune in each week to learn from Chanie Wilschanski, the founder and host of the Schools of Excellence Podcast and a mom of 4 little kids. Each episode will be packed with tools and strategies – equipping you to build schools with higher staff retention, teacher motivation, parent partnership, collaborative culture, and beautiful quality of life.  Every week, Chanie shares the truth about the journey to excellence, the strategies that are working TODAY, and the mindset about the critical decisions and choices that you make every day which impact yourself, your teachers, parents, family, and children who you serve every day.

In 2019, Kathy owned three ECE centers near Richmond, Virginia. She felt a lot of empathy for the dedicated women who worked in her school. They always were the kind of people who would always give, give, give without receiving in return. They were burning the midnight oil and without inner peace. That meant burnout was on the horizon.Kathy knew she couldn’t guide them as a leader just yet, because she was exactly the same.She was running herself ragged wearing all the hats in her school.When she reached her breaking point, she realized that work can always come and go, but family and her own health can’t. She needed to prioritize her well-being.This caused a culture shift at her school. “If I’m going to make time for my family and myself, I need to give my staff time for their family and themselves too,” she said.Today, she owns five centers. Despite the expansion, she’s gained more balance, self-care, and boundaries than ever, allowing her, her colleagues, and her school to thrive.In this week's podcast episode, I speak with Kathy about her leadership journey over the last three decades, and how she has completely transformed herself and her school.Join us for a conversation about:What Kathy wishes she’d known thirty years ago when she entered the fieldHow she improved time management and productivity with systems and technologyWhy compassion and community are integral to Kathy’s leadership growthHow she’s thinking about the future as she and her husband build their legacyHow she got the most out of her coaching experience with Schools of Excellence Learn more and apply for the Director’s Inner Circle & Owner’s HQ: https://schoolsofexcellence.com/membership/ If Kathy’s story resonates with you and you suspect you’d go farther with a like-minded community and laser-focused personal mentoring, I encourage you to apply for our Owner's HQ and Director's Inner Circle membership programs. As a member, you'll gain access to tools, resources, coaching, and community that will help you as you work toward building a school of excellence.If you and your leadership team are wearing all the hats, and you know you need to shuffle your company culture, allow me to help. During a Schools of Excellence Leadership Day Intensive, you'll get a full day of on-demand, in-school training with me, plus various accountability check-ins, to help you and your team work through obstacles and build a stronger, healthier center that values self-care. https://schoolsofexcellence.com/leadership/More about the show:If you are an Early Childhood director or owner, prepare to transform your school and life with the Schools of Excellence podcast. Tune in each week to learn from Chanie Wilschanski, the founder and host of the Schools of Excellence Podcast and a mom of 4 little kids. Each episode will be packed with tools and strategies – equipping you to build schools with higher staff retention, teacher motivation, parent partnership, collaborative culture, and beautiful quality of life.  Every week, Chanie shares the truth about the journey to excellence, the strategies that are working TODAY, and the mindset about the critical decisions and choices that you make every day which impact yourself, your teachers, parents, family, and children who you serve every day.

Recently, I was speaking with an owner who was opening a second location.Despite this being an exciting time for her school, she was drowning in shame.“Chanie, I keep starting and stopping, starting and stopping,” she told me.I asked her what she meant.She told me she felt ashamed that she couldn’t be consistent with her decisions. “I keep creating policies, implementing them, then getting pushback, and changing the policy again. I feel like I’m always backing out of my commitments.”First of all, there’s wisdom in flexibility, and sometimes updating a policy is the right step.But in this owner’s case, she needed to build her self-trust so she could banish the shame.And she was taking the perfect next step by exposing her difficult emotions in a conversation with me.Shame thrives in the dark, but it withers in the light.When you share your shame with a trusted mentor or community, it doesn’t seem so insurmountable anymore. This is what it means to win in the dark when it comes to shame.Join me in the podcast this week for a conversation about:Why shame and anger are common emotions for school leadersWhat promotes the growth of shame and anger, and conversely, what loosens their gripWhat your anger is telling you and to what extent you should listenHow to win in the dark by finding constructive ways to proceed around your angerReal-life examples of how school leaders have overcome shame and anger, and managed to cultivate community and collaborationLearn more and apply for the Director’s Inner Circle & Owner’s HQ: https://schoolsofexcellence.com/membership/ Don’t let shame thrive in the dark. Shine a light on it by joining a genuinely supportive community. You’ll loosen shame’s grip on your heart as you learning it’s safe to be vulnerable with like-minded school leaders who truly get it. Please apply for our Owner's HQ and Director's Inner Circle membership programs, where you'll gain access to tools, resources, coaching, and community that will help you as you work toward building a school of excellence. If you want the guidance of a caring, experienced mentor as you navigate challenging emotions, I welcome you to work with Schools of Excellence through a Leadership Day Intensive. You'll get a full day of on-demand, in-school training and discussions with me, plus various accountability check-ins, to help you and your team build a stronger, healthier center. https://schoolsofexcellence.com/leadership/More about the show:If you are an Early Childhood director or owner, prepare to transform your school and life with the Schools of Excellence podcast. Tune in each week to learn from Chanie Wilschanski, the founder and host of the Schools of Excellence Podcast and a mom of 4 little kids. Each episode will be packed with tools and strategies – equipping you to build schools with higher staff retention, teacher motivation, parent partnership, collaborative culture, and beautiful quality of life.  Every week, Chanie shares the truth about the journey to excellence, the strategies that are working TODAY, and the mindset about the critical decisions and choices that you make every day which impact yourself, your teachers, parents, family, and children who you serve every day.

Comparisonitis is so common for school leaders.I used to compare myself to others constantly.It’s only natural in the face of successful-looking influencers and mountains of social media content.But two and a half years ago, I got super honest with myself. What was actually important to me? Was it accolades and endless business growth?No. What truly mattered was these two things: my faith and my family.So I committed to maintaining my business programs, revenue, and profit margins for 24 months, giving me the chance to focus on my deeply-held values.This is when I began recording The Schools of Excellence Podcast.Every week, I’d go into my windowless office, record a high-quality episode, and put it out into the world.No one thanked me for the content. There was no overnight explosion of growth. But I stuck with it because it would allow me to attract the right-fit clients while being home with my family.My podcast is an example of winning in the dark. I’m working in private, with no accolades waiting for me, so that I can eventually achieve my desired outcome.In a world where everyone wants instant gratification, I encourage you to win in the dark.Not only will winning in the dark help you create a true school of excellence… it will help you dispel comparisonitis.That’s because comparison requires looking outward, but you build confidence and self-trust when you keep the promises you make to yourself in private.Join me in the podcast this week for a conversation about:Where comparison comes fromHow to know if you’re experiencing comparisonitis, with symptoms like second-guessing yourselfLong-term, damaging consequences of falling into the comparison trapHow school leaders can adopt a self-assured approach to their work insteadIncentives to winning in the dark, when you can’t rely on public accoladesLearn more and apply for the Director’s Inner Circle & Owner’s HQ: https://schoolsofexcellence.com/membership/ Spoiler alert: One of the key strategies for building self-trust and worthiness is to join a supportive community. By sharing your wins with like-minded school leaders who truly get it, you’ll find the quiet recognition you crave. I encourage you to apply for our Owner's HQ and Director's Inner Circle membership programs. As a member, you'll gain access to tools, resources, coaching, and community that will help you as you work toward building a school of excellence.More about the show:If you are an Early Childhood director or owner, prepare to transform your school and life with the Schools of Excellence podcast. Tune in each week to learn from Chanie Wilschanski, the founder and host of the Schools of Excellence Podcast and a mom of 4 little kids. Each episode will be packed with tools and strategies – equipping you to build schools with higher staff retention, teacher motivation, parent partnership, collaborative culture, and beautiful quality of life.  Every week, Chanie shares the truth about the journey to excellence, the strategies that are working TODAY, and the mindset about the critical decisions and choices that you make every day which impact yourself, your teachers, parents, family, and children who you serve every day.

My client, Jaycee, was doing something truly amazing. She’d worked hard and put in extra hours to build a culture of teacher collaboration.As a result, there was unity within the staff, and children’s learning and engagement soared.She was really pleased with the outcome.…But no one else seemed to notice.She brought the question to the Schools of Excellence community for owners and directors. She kept reassuring us, “I am happy! This is exactly what I wanted.” And then she’d add, “I just wish other people knew.”However, the experience of sharing her unseen efforts and the endurance it required to lead with impact (but without acknowledgment), was enough.She discovered she didn’t need accolades from teachers or parents because she had a safe community and because the end result was intrinsically rewarding.I want to go deeper into the topic of winning in the dark—the phenomenon of discreetly or invisibly achieving success and overcoming challenges.This week, I’m unveiling the first episode of a three-part series on the Schools of Excellence Podcast about winning in the dark.In this week's podcast episode, I’m beginning the discussion with an exploration of the concepts of enoughness and worthiness.It’s common to hinge your self-worth on what praise and acknowledgment you receive. If you achieve your goal, but no one notices, are you still satisfied? Do you try to fill the void by going on to the next project before you take a few weeks or months to appreciate what you’ve accomplished?If this sounds like you, you may have an opportunity to build up your sense of enoughness and worthiness.Join me in the podcast this week for a conversation about:How to discern whether you are struggling with enoughnessCommon external pressures that can impact how worthy you feelWhy winning in the dark is especially challenging in the age of social mediaThe gap between intellectually and emotionally knowing you’re enoughStrategies for how to become unshakeable in your self-trustLearn more and apply for the Director’s Inner Circle & Owner’s HQ: https://schoolsofexcellence.com/membership/ Spoiler alert: One of the key strategies for building self-trust and worthiness is to join a supportive community. By sharing your wins with like-minded school leaders who truly get it, you’ll find the quiet recognition you crave. I encourage you to apply for our Owner's HQ and Director's Inner Circle membership programs. As a member, you'll gain access to tools, resources, coaching, and community that will help you as you work toward building a school of excellence.Having an engaged and insightful mentor is a great way to guide you through the quiet obstacles that eventually lead to winning in the darkness. Work through your current biggest challenge with a Schools of Excellence Leadership Day Intensive. You'll get a full day of on-demand, in-school training with me, plus various accountability check-ins, to help you and your team build a stronger, healthier center. https://schoolsofexcellence.com/leadership/More about the show:If you are an Early Childhood director or owner, prepare to transform your school and life with the Schools of Excellence podcast. Tune in each week to learn from Chanie Wilschanski, the founder and host of the Schools of Excellence Podcast and a mom of 4 little kids. Each episode will be packed with tools and strategies – equipping you to build schools with higher staff retention, teacher motivation, parent partnership, collaborative culture, and beautiful quality of life.  Every week, Chanie shares the truth about the journey to excellence, the strategies that are working TODAY, and the mindset about the critical decisions and choices that you make every day which impact yourself, your teachers, parents, family, and children who you serve every day.

I’m one of the few people who actually enjoys public speaking.Walking onto a stage excites me, and I gain a lot of energy from interacting with a crowd.But I know I’m an outlier.Most people panic when they’re asked to give a thought-provoking response in front of the whole staff with no advanced warning.You can avoid this reaction in your staff meetings while creating a more thoughtful gathering. My suggestion is to prepare a handful of teachers ahead to be called on—and let them know the question early.This is one of the tips I provide in my latest podcast episode about leading a productive, curated final staff meeting of the school year.Join me for a conversation about how to:Discern what needs to be discussed in a meeting versus in an emailEmpower your team to learn from their frustrations and embrace innovationNavigate challenges without relying on auto-pilot and “the way we’ve always done it”Collaborate to bring future aspirations into reality as the next year gets underwayCo-create tangible reminders of positive memories from the school yearLearn more and apply for the Director’s Inner Circle & Owner’s HQ: https://schoolsofexcellence.com/membership/ As you reflect on the 2023-2024 school year, you may wish you’d had more like-minded community or personalized support. If so, I encourage you to start the next year on the right foot by applying now for the Schools of Excellence Director’s Inner Circle or Owner’s HQ membership program. Inside, you’ll receive ongoing tools, coaching, and an engaged community that will help you work toward building a school of excellence.Every school is unique, which is why I also offer an option for short-term super-individualized support for you and your school. During your Leadership Day Intensive, you'll get a full day of on-demand, in-school training with me, plus various accountability check-ins, to help you and your center thrive. https://schoolsofexcellence.com/leadership/Purchase Reflective Questions for Teachers here: https://discovered.thrivecart.com/reflective-questions-for-teachers/ More about the show:If you are an Early Childhood director or owner, prepare to transform your school and life with the Schools of Excellence podcast. Tune in each week to learn from Chanie Wilschanski, the founder and host of the Schools of Excellence Podcast and a mom of 4 little kids. Each episode will be packed with tools and strategies – equipping you to build schools with higher staff retention, teacher motivation, parent partnership, collaborative culture, and beautiful quality of life.  Every week, Chanie shares the truth about the journey to excellence, the strategies that are working TODAY, and the mindset about the critical decisions and choices that you make every day which impact yourself, your teachers, parents, family, and children who you serve every day.

In January, the internet was full of cute memes about going back to the gym, eating salads, and recommitting to your health.At the end of the calendar year, school leaders often take a look at fiscal performance and next year’s goals.But right now, as the school year comes to a close, we tend to focus on the next thing. Our brains are already in summer mode. We are entering a new season for our lives and our schools.But what if, before jumping head-first into what’s next, we took a moment to breathe?What if we paused for self-reflection?The quality of your life is determined, in large part, by the quality of the questions you ask yourself.This week on the podcast, I want to invite you to self-reflect with some thought-provoking questions you won’t hear anywhere else.Join me for a conversation about:Significance: What gives your work significance? Is that changing as you grow as a leader? Is there anything you need to let go of?Impact: What is the effect of your leadership, decisions, and actions on your school and its stakeholders?Relationships: How well do you understand the needs of your team members and the families at your school? How well do you meet those needs?Vision: At your current breakneck pace, will your 70th birthday be the first time you have a chance to think about the legacy you’re creating through your work?Personal Growth: How are you being intentional about growing as a leader? After all, the world keeps changing, and so do we.Learn more and apply for the Director’s Inner Circle & Owner’s HQ: https://schoolsofexcellence.com/membership/ Ready to define your own metrics of success within a supportive environment of like-minded school leaders? Apply for the Schools of Excellence Director’s Inner Circle or Owner’s HQ membership program. Inside, you’ll receive tools, coaching, and an engaged community that will help you build a school of excellence.With individualized coaching, you can learn even more ways to evaluate success. For personalized support for you and your school, let’s work together in a Leadership Day Intensive. You'll get a full day of on-demand, in-school training with me, plus various accountability check-ins, to help you and your center thrive. https://schoolsofexcellence.com/leadership/More about the show:If you are an Early Childhood director or owner, prepare to transform your school and life with the Schools of Excellence podcast. Tune in each week to learn from Chanie Wilschanski, the founder and host of the Schools of Excellence Podcast and a mom of 4 little kids. Each episode will be packed with tools and strategies – equipping you to build schools with higher staff retention, teacher motivation, parent partnership, collaborative culture, and beautiful quality of life.  Every week, Chanie shares the truth about the journey to excellence, the strategies that are working TODAY, and the mindset about the critical decisions and choices that you make every day which impact yourself, your teachers, parents, family, and children who you serve every day.

In 2020, everyone’s world turned upside-down Sioux Falls school owner Cayla Rush knew there was too much on her plate as the pandemic began, but she didn’t see an alternative. She felt it was her responsibility to make countless decisions that could impact the health and well-being of her staff, herself, and the families she served.“My self-trust was shaken,” she told me. “Before 2020, I felt like I could trust myself to make decisions. But then that went out the window.”That’s when we met. Instead of allowing herself to remain stuck, Cayla joined the Schools of Excellence Owner’s HQ. I’ve had the privilege of watching her grow into a transformed leader over the years.Today, she is confident, resilient, and discerning.She’s hired a great leadership team, pursues big dreams, and has learned how to coach her colleagues.She even got a beautiful tattoo of the word “Breathe” to remind her of a big takeaway from the Schools of Excellence community. When she takes a deep breath and sits in the silence and discomfort, she hears her inner voice.In this week's podcast episode, I sit down for a conversation with Cayla about her leadership journey.Join us to learn more about:Quick wins Cayla achieved when she first joined the communityHow she turned her impostor syndrome into a deep sense of belongingThe impact of personalized coaching on her school’s growth and her personal growth as a leaderSteps she has taken to reject hustle culture in favor of resilience and wisdomLearn more and apply for the Director’s Inner Circle & Owner’s HQ: https://schoolsofexcellence.com/membership/  If you want to overcome self-doubt, impostor syndrome, and hustle culture within a supportive environment, apply for the Schools of Excellence Director’s Inner Circle or Owner’s HQ membership program. Inside, you’ll receive tools, coaching, and a like-minded community of school leaders to help build a school of excellence.If Cayla’s story sounds like your autobiography, I invite you to work with me through a Leadership Day Intensive. You'll get a full day of on-demand, highly personalized, in-school training with me, plus various accountability check-ins, to help you and your center thrive. https://schoolsofexcellence.com/leadership/More about the show:If you are an Early Childhood director or owner, prepare to transform your school and life with the Schools of Excellence podcast. Tune in each week to learn from Chanie Wilschanski, the founder and host of the Schools of Excellence Podcast and a mom of 4 little kids. Each episode will be packed with tools and strategies – equipping you to build schools with higher staff retention, teacher motivation, parent partnership, collaborative culture, and beautiful quality of life.  Every week, Chanie shares the truth about the journey to excellence, the strategies that are working TODAY, and the mindset about the critical decisions and choices that you make every day which impact yourself, your teachers, parents, family, and children who you serve every day.

Have you seen Forbes’ 30 Under 30 and 40 Under 40 lists?They feature the brightest, shiniest, hardest-working entrepreneurs. These individuals embody hustle, grind, and achievement.It would be exciting to get on one of those lists, right?Let’s step back for a moment.When you’re 40 years old, or even 50, 60, 70, or 80, your school will still be there. You have your whole life to be an owner or director. As I like to say, “I’m playing the decades game.”So who says you have to hit a certain level of success before a particular age?Running your school may not be a finite opportunity, but being present for your current season of life is.If you’re raising young kids, caring for an aging parent, planning a wedding, or anything else that’s important to you, you will only be in this season of life for so long.Once the door on your current season of life closes, it will never open again. Treasure the season of life you’re in.Meanwhile, the school will still be there. It’s a constant in your life.Now, don’t misunderstand me; I’m not saying you shouldn’t have big ambitions. In fact, this is an extremely common misconception among school leaders. They think that schools with a slower pace will achieve less. So they eat lunch at their desks, burn the midnight oil, and run themselves to exhaustion in order to meet their goals.What they don’t realize is that rest, calm, and peace give you the breathing room you need to take stock, make intentional decisions, and take more meaningful actions.Simply put, you can accomplish more, at a more sustainable pace, when you do less.Last week on the Schools of Excellence Podcast, I talked about what causes a culture of urgency in schools.In this week’s episode, I’m discussing how you can create calm and banish the urgency once and for all.Join me for a conversation about:Why calmness is the key to meaningful progressVital characteristics leaders need to adopt a culture of calmTechniques you can implement in your school to cultivate well-beingMindset shifts you can begin to embody today that will make a differenceHow a culture of calm opens you up to incredible opportunitiesLearn more and apply for the Director’s Inner Circle & Owner’s HQ: https://schoolsofexcellence.com/membership/ Creating the calm in your school won’t happen overnight. If you could use support, book a Leadership Day Intensive. You'll get a full day of on-demand, in-school training with me, plus various accountability check-ins, to help you and your center thrive during your transformation. https://schoolsofexcellence.com/leadership/If you’re looking for ongoing, personalized support as you shift your school’s culture, apply for the Schools of Excellence Director’s Inner Circle or Owner’s HQ membership program. Inside, you’ll receive tools, coaching, resources, and access to a thriving community that will help you work towards building a school of excellence. https://schoolsofexcellence.com/leadership/More about the show:If you are an Early Childhood director or owner, prepare to transform your school and life with the Schools of Excellence podcast. Tune in each week to learn from Chanie Wilschanski, the founder and host of the Schools of Excellence Podcast and a mom of 4 little kids. Each episode will be packed with tools and strategies – equipping you to build schools with higher staff retention, teacher motivation, parent partnership, collaborative culture, and beautiful quality of life.  Every week, Chanie shares the truth about the journey to excellence, the strategies that are working TODAY, and the mindset about the critical decisions and choices that you make every day which impact yourself, your teachers, parents, family, and children who you serve every day.

Leaders have lots of amazing ideas. And sometimes, those ideas can turn into multiple priorities. This is absolutely normal. But when there’s a new idea, a new priority, every month, week, or day, it’s exhausting and confusing for the whole school.As the focus shifts constantly from one urgent matter to the next, everything becomes a priority. In a culture like this, the team learns that when everything is a priority, nothing is actually a priority.They may delay starting a project or put in low effort in the beginning, because they know the leader is apt to chang their mind.Not only can this result in low morale and frustration on the part of both leadership and the team, it poaches employees’ buy-in, ownership, and innovation.Short-term focus and inconsistent prioritization are two symptoms of a culture of urgency in a school.Operating within a culture of urgency is such a difficult and stifling experience, so I’m dedicating the next two Schools of Excellence Podcast episodes to the topic.This week, I’m discussing how you can recognize the patterns of a culture of urgency within your own school.Join me for a conversation about:Three key symptoms to help you diagnose a culture of urgencyTen ways a culture of urgency negatively impacts a school and its leaders, staff, and familiesOne critical skill for leaders to learn that can help create a sense of deliberateness and calmA valuable tool for understanding the core tension within your centerLearn more and apply for the Director’s Inner Circle & Owner’s HQ: https://schoolsofexcellence.com/membership/  P.S. When you’re facing dozens of competing priorities, an outside perspective can help you focus on the next best steps to move you closer to your goals. Let’s work together in a Leadership Day Intensive. You'll get a full day of on-demand, in-school training with me, plus various accountability check-ins, to help you and your center thrive during this busy time. https://schoolsofexcellence.com/leadership/If your school is experiencing high turnover, burnout, and stress, you may have a culture of urgency. The Schools of Excellence Director’s Inner Circle or Owner’s HQ membership program provides proven, ongoing support as you get to the root of the problem. Inside, you’ll receive tools, coaching, resources, and access to a thriving community that will help you work towards building a school of excellence. https://schoolsofexcellence.com/membership/More about the show:If you are an Early Childhood director or owner, prepare to transform your school and life with the Schools of Excellence podcast. Tune in each week to learn from Chanie Wilschanski, the founder and host of the Schools of Excellence Podcast and a mom of 4 little kids. Each episode will be packed with tools and strategies – equipping you to build schools with higher staff retention, teacher motivation, parent partnership, collaborative culture, and beautiful quality of life.  Every week, Chanie shares the truth about the journey to excellence, the strategies that are working TODAY, and the mindset about the critical decisions and choices that you make every day which impact yourself, your teachers, parents, family, and children who you serve every day.

Summer is coming, faster than we could have anticipated. Have you figured out what you and your family are doing for the break?“What are your summer plans?” It sounds like a simple question—one you’ll probably get asked a bunch over the coming weeks—but the reality is anything but easy.If you’re feeling panic or irritation at having to make yet another decision about summer break (or even what's for dinner), that’s because there is a whole world of invisible labor that goes into every single choice. My friend, you are experiencing some very real decision fatigue.In this week's podcast episode, I’m discussing the mountains of invisible labor that go into decision-making, so you can better protect your energy for the decisions that really matter.Join me for a conversation about:Five steps of decision-making you may not realize you’re already experiencingThree types of invisible, draining labor that go into making choicesWhy decision fatigue, emotional factors, and information overload compound the difficulty of choicesConcrete ways you can reduce your mental load and make decisions more judiciouslyLearn more and apply for the Director’s Inner Circle & Owner’s HQ: https://schoolsofexcellence.com/membership/ A common frustration I see in school leaders is overwhelm when they are making multiple large decisions at once. For instance, they might be onboarding a lot of new parents while also changing software or switching curriculum. If this sounds like you, let’s talk during a Leadership Day Intensive. You'll get a full day of on-demand, in-school training with me, plus various accountability check-ins, to help you and your center thrive during this busy time. https://schoolsofexcellence.com/leadership/If you’re feeling completely overwhelmed by decisions and wish you could have regular heart-to-hearts with like-minded school leaders about the challenges inherent in your work, apply for the Schools of Excellence Director’s Inner Circle or Owner’s HQ membership program. Inside, you’ll receive tools, coaching, resources, and access to a thriving community that will help you work towards building a school of excellence. https://schoolsofexcellence.com/membership/More about the show:If you are an Early Childhood director or owner, prepare to transform your school and life with the Schools of Excellence podcast. Tune in each week to learn from Chanie Wilschanski, the founder and host of the Schools of Excellence Podcast and a mom of 4 little kids. Each episode will be packed with tools and strategies – equipping you to build schools with higher staff retention, teacher motivation, parent partnership, collaborative culture, and beautiful quality of life.  Every week, Chanie shares the truth about the journey to excellence, the strategies that are working TODAY, and the mindset about the critical decisions and choices that you make every day which impact yourself, your teachers, parents, family, and children who you serve every day.

Learn more and apply for the Director’s Inner Circle & Owner’s HQ: https://schoolsofexcellence.com/membership/  More about the show:If you are an Early Childhood director or owner, prepare to transform your school and life with the Schools of Excellence podcast. Tune in each week to learn from Chanie Wilschanski, the founder and host of the Schools of Excellence Podcast and a mom of 4 little kids. Each episode will be packed with tools and strategies – equipping you to build schools with higher staff retention, teacher motivation, parent partnership, collaborative culture, and beautiful quality of life.  Every week, Chanie shares the truth about the journey to excellence, the strategies that are working TODAY, and the mindset about the critical decisions and choices that you make every day which impact yourself, your teachers, parents, family, and children who you serve every day.

When my business was new, I was in the practice of waking up at 5:00am to work on some big, exciting projects. I would reply to emails and write content while my house was asleep, so I could get some focused work time in.But when I had my fourth child, Yossi, I suddenly could no longer set an alarm for 5:00am and expect to be productive—because I was also waking up at 12:00am, at 2:00am, at 4:00am, and at 6:00am to care for my baby.I often talk about respecting the season of life you’re in, and pre-Yossi and post-Yossi’s birth were two different seasons of my life. It was important for me to adjust my expectations and priorities accordingly, without getting stuck in guilt, shame, or regret.In this episode of The Schools of Excellence podcast, I am doing something a little different. Instead of sharing my stories and thoughts, I’m giving you space for reflection and questions about your own life. I ask questions like:If you are in a season of grief and loss, who is in your support system?If you are a school leader who is also raising young kids, how are you defining and evaluating the quality of time versus the quantity of time you spend with each of your children?For leaders navigating a health challenge, do your career goals align with your health challenges, and does it make sense to realign them?When leaders are caretaking loved ones, such as aging parents, are there time-wasting activities that could be minimized to make time for essential responsibilities?Learn more and apply for the Director’s Inner Circle & Owner’s HQ: http://Chanie.me/jointhedic   More about the show:If you are an Early Childhood director or owner, prepare to transform your school and life with the Schools of Excellence podcast. Tune in each week to learn from Chanie Wilschanski, the founder and host of the Schools of Excellence Podcast and a mom of 4 little kids. Each episode will be packed with tools and strategies – equipping you to build schools with higher staff retention, teacher motivation, parent partnership, collaborative culture, and beautiful quality of life.  Every week, Chanie shares the truth about the journey to excellence, the strategies that are working TODAY, and the mindset about the critical decisions and choices that you make every day which impact yourself, your teachers, parents, family, and children who you serve every day.

“We were only closed for two weeks when the pandemic started, but I swear it felt like we were closed for four months.”This is what Paige Kepner, Glen Allen, VA center owner, told me during a recent conversation.I find this is such a common experience for school leaders when they're in the midst of a crisis. The sheer amount of pressure, communication, decision-making, and information-gathering that happened in March, 2020 (and beyond), was overwhelming for school leaders. Not to mention the amount of energy they had to give to protecting their own families.Paige had a five-year-old, a seven-month-old, and an empty center. She lost 60-70% of their enrollment in just a few days.It was so stressful, she was literally having nightmares about drowning.That’s when we met. She joined the Schools of Excellence Owner’s HQ in 2020 for coaching support, and we started with bite-sized actions to help rebuild her center and her confidence.One of the lessons that really stuck with her was the analogy of the lobster, which gets uncomfortable as it grows into its shell. The bigger it becomes, the more miserable it is, until finally the old shell molts and it emerges with a fresh, new shell.In the same way, we have to sit with discomfort as we are stretched by the unique challenges that come with school leadership. But if we can persevere, we can come out on the other end transformed.In this week's podcast episode, hear directly from Paige about her experience of going from drowning to soaring. Join us for a conversation about:- Why Paige chose to invest in her team during a surprising time- Her system for storing valuable information for future challenges- How she has shifted her mindset around school culture and become a stronger leader- The value of like-minded community for PaigeLearn more and apply for the Director’s Inner Circle & Owner’s HQ: http://Chanie.me/jointhedic   More about the show:If you are an Early Childhood director or owner, prepare to transform your school and life with the Schools of Excellence podcast. Tune in each week to learn from Chanie Wilschanski, the founder and host of the Schools of Excellence Podcast and a mom of 4 little kids. Each episode will be packed with tools and strategies – equipping you to build schools with higher staff retention, teacher motivation, parent partnership, collaborative culture, and beautiful quality of life.  Every week, Chanie shares the truth about the journey to excellence, the strategies that are working TODAY, and the mindset about the critical decisions and choices that you make every day which impact yourself, your teachers, parents, family, and children who you serve every day.

A director I was coaching a few weeks ago told me about a repeat problem that kept coming up in her center. She was constantly being interrupted by teachers coming to her office asking for help with little things. She was glad to support them, but it was getting to a point where she couldn’t focus on her own tasks.Her own behavior—going out of her office to give them what they asked for, every single time—was enabling their behavior and dependency, instead of empowering them to be resourceful.We want to be encouraging leaders with all the answers, but there’s a paradox here. We have to balance this urge to provide on-demand support with the necessity of giving our teams the environment to develop autonomy, independence, and individual growth.This week, join me for a conversation about:Why support is related to people pleasing and anxietyHow the paradox of support shows up in education, such as the push-and-pull between dependency and empowermentThree practical ways you can balance support with autonomyJournaling questions to investigate how you can navigate the paradox of support​Want a written summary of this episode?Grab it here: https://schoolsofexcellence.com/paradoxLearn more and apply for the Director’s Inner Circle & Owner’s HQ: https://schoolsofexcellence.com/membership/  When certain aspects of our center spiral out of our control, we can either attempt to wrestle control back, or we can cultivate long-term stability and resilience. As you sit with the discomfort of the paradox of control, I would be honored to support you. During a Schools of Excellence Leadership Day Intensive, you’ll get a full day of on-demand, in-school training and coaching with me, plus various accountability check-ins, to help you and your team work through the paradoxes of leadership. https://schoolsofexcellence.com/leadership/If you’re looking for the ongoing guidance, camaraderie, and support of a community of like-minded leaders as you grow as a leader, apply for our Owner's HQ and Director's Inner Circle membership programs. As a member, you'll gain access to tools, resources, coaching, and community that will help you build a school of excellence. https://schoolsofexcellence.com/membership/More about the show:If you are an Early Childhood director or owner, prepare to transform your school and life with the Schools of Excellence podcast. Tune in each week to learn from Chanie Wilschanski, the founder and host of the Schools of Excellence Podcast and a mom of 4 little kids. Each episode will be packed with tools and strategies – equipping you to build schools with higher staff retention, teacher motivation, parent partnership, collaborative culture, and beautiful quality of life.  Every week, Chanie shares the truth about the journey to excellence, the strategies that are working TODAY, and the mindset about the critical decisions and choices that you make every day which impact yourself, your teachers, parents, family, and children who you serve every day.