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

Recently, I was speaking with a school owner who was selling a location. She had truly done her due diligence in her preparations for this moment, crossing every T and dotting every I. The only thing left to do was to inform her team.Feeling anxiety about the conversation, she came to me for coaching and guidance. Many coaches might give general advice about drinking water, going on a walk, or meditating. But she wasn’t coming to me for help shaking off her nerves. She was looking for something deeper.So I asked her, “Do you believe that, because you checked every box, you can control the narrative, and your team should handle the news gracefully?”Yes, that was exactly what she was feeling.Then I told her she must accept the discomfort of the fact that she could not, in reality, control her team’s response to the news.This is the paradox of control. We want control, but what we actually need is trust.Join me on the podcast for a conversation about:How the paradox of control manifests inside ECE centers, including your ownDrawing a distinction between control and influence, and why it matters for leadersHow to cultivate resilience and humanity by confronting the paradox of controlQuestions for deep reflection to help you become a stronger, wiser leader​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.

Recently, I was on a coaching call with two ECE center owners.The first owner had just purchased her second location. This was a huge milestone for her, and she expected to feel accomplished. And yet, she was struggling to step into a double identity as both an owner and the director of the second site, until it could get fully staffed.The second owner had just sold her second location. She reflected back on when she had first purchased it, and at the time, she wondered if she was enough. Now that she sold it, she wondered the same thing.Success is a paradox. There’s tension between achieving your aims and recognizing the path is not straightforward. Every time a school leader achieves certain goals—higher enrollment, new locations, greater profitability, more brand equity—these milestones come with their own challenges.Join me for the third episode in my podcast series about the paradoxes of school leadership, where we explore:How success leads to impostor syndrome and new hurdlesWhy leaders paradoxically protect themselves from successTangible ways success creates unique challenges for centersHow to redefine your definition of success as you progress in your leadershipActionable steps you can take to prepare for the pros and cons of successWant 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/P.P.S. 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.

When’s the last time you went to a huge buffet? While it seems like a treat to eat anything you want, you can’t eat it all—and that means you have to choose. The number of decisions you have to make in the buffet line is totally overwhelming.In the same way, too many choices can feel paralyzing when it comes to our centers—for leadership, teachers, parents, and children.Will the kids play with blocks or go outside? Which parent-teacher communication system will we use? Which professional development option should we pick? Which curriculum will we choose? Which payroll system is best?Stop. Breathe.The truth is, there is no right answer. There is no perfect choice. This is the paradox of choice that confronts us as school leaders.This week, I invite you to explore the paradox of choice on the podcast, as we discuss:How to frame choices in terms of your valuesWhich frameworks can guide your decision-making processesThe inevitable grief and regret that can follow making a choiceLow-stakes ways to build resilience for high-stakes decisions​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/  I can give you frameworks galore, but that can’t beat the individualized, laser-focused coaching support I offer during a Schools of Excellence Leadership Day Intensive. During the Intensive, you’ll receive a full day of on-demand, in-school training with me, plus various accountability check-ins, to help you and your team make choices, while building a healthier, stronger center. https://schoolsofexcellence.com/leadership/For owners and directors who are looking for ongoing support in navigating the many choices that come along with school leadership, I invite you to apply to the Owner's HQ and Director's Inner Circle membership programs. As a member, you'll receive access to tools, resources, coaching, and community to support your efforts to 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.

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.

In 2022, Catherine Doberstein had just started listening to my podcast. In an episode, I mentioned the live, in-person Summit of Excellence that was coming up, and she decided to attend.She told me, “I had been looking for a community of young business owners to be surrounded by, but I didn’t realize there was a whole group of early childcare leaders who wanted a higher level of education for children. I knew this is where I needed to be.”Joining the Schools of Excellence Owner’s HQ membership program created some significant changes in Catherine’s school, the Little Scholars Academy of Kannapolis, NC. In this conversation, Catherine and I discuss:How she shifted from doing everything in her school (owner, director, and teacher) to becoming a confident leaderCatherine’s journey from grinding for five days a week at her school, to only working two days per week, giving her more time with her familyStrategies Catherine put in place to create accountability within her teamHow she identified and communicated company values, which now inform all of her business decisionsHow she navigates challenges differently now than she did two years ago​Learn more and apply for the Director’s Inner Circle & Owner’s HQ: https://schoolsofexcellence.com/membership/ Some challenges are easier to overcome with an outside perspective and focused, collaborative time. When you work with Schools of Excellence during a Leadership Day Intensive, you’ll receive a full day of on-demand, in-school training with me, plus accountability check-ins, to help you and your team work through growing pains, and build a stronger, healthier center. https://schoolsofexcellence.com/leadership/If you, like Catherine, are seeking a community of like-minded childcare leaders, 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—best of all—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.

 Back in 2017, I had the immense pleasure of interviewing author and speaker Simon Sinek about how to be an effective leader. It's a topic that many people talk about but few can agree on.During the interview, I asked Simon to define what it means to be a leader. Rather than give me a simple statement, he chose to tell a story that I'll never forget.During his stay at the Four Seasons hotel in Las Vegas, Simon met a charming and enthusiastic barista named Noah. Noah's energy was so infectious that Simon felt compelled to ask him whether he liked his job.Noah's response was, "No—I love my job."He went on to explain that at the Four Seasons, his supervisors didn't make an appearance just to tell him what to do or to try to catch him making mistakes—like his other job at another well-known Las Vegas hotel (and reminiscent of many people's experience at work).Instead, his managers checked in with him frequently to ask how he was doing and what they could do to make his job easier. This not only made Noah enjoy his work more, but it also gave him the support he needed to do his job better.Powerful stuff, right?Simon's point in telling this story was to demonstrate what true leadership looks like, which is to take care of people.Because when you look out for the needs of your team, you don't need to micromanage, discipline, or fix problems. Your compassion and guidance alone give them the tools they need to be successful.In this week's podcast episode, I'm re-sharing my interview with Simon Sinek because it's a powerful conversation about leadership that I want to make sure you all hear.Join us for a conversation about:How to create an environment like Noah's at the Four SeasonsWhat it means to be a leaderWhich questions to ask yourself to uncover your whyHow you can be a student of leadershipAnd so much more!​Learn more and apply for the Director’s Inner Circle & Owner’s HQ: https://schoolsofexcellence.com/membership/P.S. This episode dives into the true essence of leadership and touches on so many core concepts that we talk about with our members. If you like what you hear and want more opportunities to receive guidance and support that can transform your leadership, 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.P.P.S. Inspired by what you've heard in this episode and want to help take your team's leadership to the next level? Inquire about a Leadership Day Intensive for your center. 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 existing obstacles and build a stronger, healthier center. https://schoolsofexcellence.com/leadershipMore 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.

Communication is about more than just your words.Years ago, when I was still working as a teacher, I was preparing for parent–teacher conferences with my mentor, Dana Levy. She was guiding me through a role-play exercise to help me feel more confident in my communication with parents.When I got to the part of the interaction where I was supposed to express some concerns about the child, Dana stopped me and asked me to step in front of the mirror before starting again.As I spoke in front of the mirror, I immediately noticed what Dana had observed: As soon as I reached the difficult part of the conversation, my entire body tensed up.It was like I became an open book, unintentionally revealing my negative emotions through my facial expressions and body language—something that would be sure to make the parents anxious.And chances are, this happens to some teachers at your center too.Preparing for parent–teacher conferences is about more than tips or templates—although these resources can be helpful.It requires practice and a holistic understanding of the parents' perspective so you can communicate both effectively and empathetically.In this week's podcast episode, I'm sharing a recording of a training session I conducted for leaders within our Director's Inner Circle membership program about how to prepare for parent–teacher conferences.Join me for a conversation about:How to conduct yourself during a parent-teacher conferenceWhat the parent perspective looks likeLanguage to avoid when talking about a childHow to structure the conference from beginning to endLearn more and apply for the Director’s Inner Circle & Owner’s HQ: https://schoolsofexcellence.com/membership/This episode is a recording from a previous training session with our members. If you like what you hear and want more opportunities to receive guidance and support that can transform your leadership, 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.Managing parent-teacher relationships is a common challenge for leaders. If this is something your team struggles with, I encourage you to inquire about 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 team work through existing obstacles and build a stronger, healthier center. https://schoolsofexcellence.com/leadershipMore 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 husband Mayer and I moved to Florida, we had a pool for the first time ever. But as New Yorkers, we had no idea how to take care of it. So when we were told we didn't have to do much to maintain it, we took those words at face value.Over time, different parts of the pool started to break down, and we had no choice but to call a maintenance company to evaluate the situation.When they finally came to take a look, we were shocked at what they told us: We had to drain and reline the entire pool. A costly mistake.The thing is, it didn't have to be that way. Had we kept up with the proper maintenance all along, we wouldn't have had to pay for such a costly repair.We only had ourselves to blame.Sound familiar?Maintenance neglect is a common and costly problem for early childcare centers—something you really cannot afford in today's economic climate.It's crucial you find ways to address money leaks and close investment gaps so your center can thrive regardless of the state of the economy.This week's podcast episode is the final of a four-part series that breaks down the 2024 forecast for early childhood education. To close out our discussion, I'm talking about how you can navigate finances as you move into 2024 and beyond.Join me for a conversation about:Why owners are finding themselves in a financial crisisThe two major areas you need to address to increase your profit marginsHow to avoid scarcity-based decision-makingHow to make charitable giving a core part of your financial strategy​​Learn more and apply for the Director’s Inner Circle & Owner’s HQ: http://Chanie.me/jointhedic  If you enjoy this episode and are looking for a space to continue exploring the next era of school leadership, consider applying 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.Or, help your leadership team prepare for today's modern challenges with 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 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.

When I was a new parent, I thought I could give my kids more by simply loving them more.Spoiler alert: I was mistaken.Don't get me wrong—my heart was in the right place. Like so many before me, I wanted to give my kids a life even better than the one I had experienced.But with time and maturity, I came to realize you can't give what you don't have.You can't pour into your kids if you don't first pour into yourself.The same can be said for your teachers at school.Since the pandemic, children have experienced significant delays in cognitive and behavioral development, and our collective solution has been to seek strategies and resources to address these growing concerns.But let me ask you this: How can teachers create the sort of safe and supportive environment that children need to grow and thrive if they can't create that for themselves?You can't give what you don't have, remember?Before we can look for solutions, we need to shift the focus to helping teachers regulate their own emotions so that they're better equipped to give children what they need.This week's podcast episode is the third in a four-part series that breaks down the 2024 forecast for early childhood education. It centers on how to cultivate healthy teacher–child relationships so your students and school can thrive.Join me for a conversation about:Why child relationships are such an important topic in 2024What experts have to say about child development in today's worldThe skills teachers need to cultivate healthy relationships with their studentsPractical strategies for how to make self-regulation a focal point this year​​Learn more and apply for the Director’s Inner Circle & Owner’s HQ: http://Chanie.me/jointhedic   If you enjoy this episode and are looking for a space to continue exploring the next era of school leadership, consider applying 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.Or, help your leadership team prepare for today's modern challenges with 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 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.

Has someone ever told you to calm down?It's one of the most aggravating statements ever.Recently, I was having a conversation with my husband, Mayer, and things were getting a little heated. Before things got out of hand, I wanted to regulate myself so I could operate from a more level mindset. Instead of giving me the space to work through my emotions, Mayer decided it would be helpful in that moment to say "Calm down. It's not a big deal."When in the history of the world has it ever been helpful to tell someone to calm down?So I responded snarkily, "Okay, get taller. Just grow 5 more inches. It's not a big deal."Predictably, Mayer was confused. Of course, he couldn't do what I was asking.But here's the thing—neither could I!In the same way that Mayer couldn't grow 5 inches in a matter of seconds, I couldn't regulate myself at that very moment. Emotional regulation is a process that takes time.Why am I telling you this?Because the next time you see your staff on the receiving end of an upset parent's rampage, I want you to think twice before you tell them not to take it personally.The parenting landscape has changed drastically over the last several years, and your teachers deserve more than being told to calm down when dealing with the modern challenges of parent partnerships.They need you to step up and create an environment where they feel supported and empowered to foster meaningful relationships with parents in this new climate.This week's podcast episode is the second in a four-part series that breaks down the 2024 forecast for early childhood education. It centers on the shifting landscape of parent partnerships and what to consider as we move into the new year.Join me for a conversation about:How parent partnerships have evolved, especially since the pandemicThe impact of modern relationships on mental healthHow the shifting landscape is impacting teachers and turnoverThe key areas you should focus on as a leader in 2024Learn more and apply for the Director’s Inner Circle & Owner’s HQ: http://Chanie.me/jointhedic  If you enjoy this episode and are looking for a space to continue exploring the next era of school leadership, consider applying 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.Or, help your leadership team prepare for today's modern challenges with 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 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.

Are you living by your values?While you think that question over, let me tell you a story.In our family, generosity is a core value, and one of the ways in which we embody that value is by hosting members of the community in our home.So when the High Holiday was approaching this past year, our initial intention was to host two or three out of the four meals that take place over the holiday, just as we normally would.But when I realized that the Schools of Excellence Legacy Mastermind happened to fall on the same weekend as the start of the High Holiday, I had to take a step back and re-evaluate.Sure, I could stick to the original plan and spend the weekend hosting meals—that would be in alignment with my values, right?But values don't exist in a vacuum.If I were to neglect my commitments as a business owner in order to uphold my family's value of generosity, I wouldn't really be living by my values, would I?So instead, Mayer and I chose to host just one meal so I could balance my role as both a business owner and member of our community. It wasn't an easy decision, but it was the right one.When it comes to true leadership—especially in this day and age—solutions aren't black and white. Instead, leadership requires that you make hard choices and reserve enough energy to embody all of your values.Now we come back to you. Are you living by your values? Are you prepared to be a leader in today's world?In this week's podcast episode, I'll help you answer this question by exploring what it takes to be a leader in 2024 and beyond. It's the first in a four-part series that breaks down the 2024 forecast for early childhood education. Join me for a conversation about:The four critical areas shaping the next era of early childhood educationWhy traditional leadership strategies are no longer workingWhat it means to be a leader in today's worldHow we should approach modern leadershipLearn more and apply for the Director’s Inner Circle & Owner’s HQ: http://Chanie.me/jointhedic  If you enjoy this episode and are looking for a space to continue exploring the next era of school leadership, consider applying 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.Or, help your leadership team prepare for today's modern challenges with 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 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.

School leadership can be a lonely journey. When you're at the top of the org chart, it's your responsibility to support your team—meaning there's no one to catch you when it's you who has fallen down.That's the harsh reality that Mandy Moore came face-to-face with when she became the owner of her center, Steadfast Academy in Texas, a few years ago.Transitioning from director to owner was a difficult change. She had gone from having at least some semblance of support to suddenly having none at all.When COVID-19 hit just a few months later, Mandy's already unstable life was turned completely upside down, with no one to turn to in her time of need.It was at that point that Mandy came to a critical realization: If she was going to have any chance of surviving—let alone thriving—as an owner, she would need to find a support system.Fortunately, she found exactly what she was looking for in the Schools of Excellence Owner's HQ membership program, and it changed the trajectory of her leadership journey.In this week's podcast episode, I'm sitting down with owner Mandy Moore to talk about her experience in Owner's HQ and how finding community among other leaders helped her settle into her new role.Join us for a conversation about:The state of Mandy's center before joining Owner's HQHer experience as an owner after COVID-19 hitWhat she learned being part of a community of other owners How her leadership transformation has impacted her personal life​Learn more and apply for the Director’s Inner Circle & Owner’s HQ: http://Chanie.me/jointhedic  Your leadership team can also struggle to find support and community, which can greatly impact their ability to lead from the center's values. You can help them work through this and other challenges 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 work through obstacles and build a stronger, healthier center.If Mandy’s story resonates with you and you, too, crave the guidance and support of a community of like-minded leaders, 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.

Last year, after speaking at a conference, I was contacted by, Sophie Kerr, the owner of Little Foxes Nursery School in Wiltshire, England, an early childcare center that believes in the power of strong role models in children's learning and development.She had heard me speak about B.R.I.D.G.E., the 6 key meta skills you need as a childcare center leader, and it immediately resonated with her.Although she had a strong team of directors, they were struggling in some crucial areas, like managing their calendars and having difficult conversations with staff, that were impacting the overall culture of the school.So, when she reached out to inquire more about leadership training for her team—Catherine, Amy, and Jen—I invited them to apply for our Director's Inner Circle membership program.I knew it was the perfect place for them to not only develop their leadership meta-skills, but get support from other directors who were experiencing the same struggles and working toward the same goals.But what I didn't expect was just how incredible it would be to watch each of their journeys unfold, side by side.The extent to which the program transformed their leadership in such distinctive and personal ways was powerful to see.That's why in this week's podcast episode, I'm sitting down with the Little Foxes team to hear their stories about how being in the Director's Inner Circle membership program has uniquely transformed their leadership and school cultures.Join us for a conversation about:Their leadership styles before joining the programTheir experience implementing the gratitude matrix, one-on-ones, and moreThe impact of their leadership on parents and familiesHow they've grown thanks to the program's resources, coaching, and communityLearn more and apply for the Director’s Inner Circle & Owner’s HQ: http://Chanie.me/jointhedic  If you want to experience a leadership transformation like that of the Little Foxes team, 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.P.P.S. Or, if you're looking for a more team-centered experience to elevate your circle of leaders, you could be a good fit for our 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 transform your center's leadership and build a stronger, healthier culture. 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.

When you write out a to-do list—whether for your team, your family, or yourself—does it give an accurate representation of everything that goes into completing each task?Take laundry, for example. When I put "do the laundry" on my to-do list, I would be kidding myself if I thought it was a one-step process.There's sorting, washing, drying, ironing, folding, putting the clothes away… and even that isn't an exhaustive list depending on the circumstances. Rather than an easy box to check, something like laundry can easily take an entire morning—or day.It's a perfect example of invisible labor—all the tasks that need to get done that nobody sees……at least, nobody but you.As a school leader, invisible labor is your middle name. Your brain is wired to consider the details, and you can't help but get bogged down in all the particulars of whatever task is at hand.So, when your team reports to you, thinking the best thing to do is to relay ALL the information possible, you get overwhelmed by things you don't need to worry about.You feel responsible for things you don't need to be responsible for.And the result is that you waste precious time and energy on things that won't help your center move forward.To ensure you're operating at optimal levels and focusing on the things that matter most, it's critical for you to educate your team on how to report to you.In this week's podcast episode, I'm talking about how to train your team to report effectively so you can keep your mind—and your schedule—clear for tasks that bring you closer to your goals.Join me for a conversation about:Why it's important to educate your team on proper reportingFinancial debt vs. time debtHow to discern what's truly important to knowAction steps to educate your teamLearn 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.

When my husband Mayer and I still lived in NYC, he held a position at a college that was highly demanding (to put it lightly).As part of his role, he was required to work 7 days a week, with very limited PTO. And when he did have time off, he fell ill—just like clockwork.That wasn't a coincidence.When we work ourselves to the bone without allowing ourselves proper time to rest and recover, we become more vulnerable to illness. Think of your well-being like a battery—if you don't plug it in to charge, eventually it's going to run out of power.As a school leader, I'm sure you know this better than anyone. After all, professionals in the field of education are especially prone to burnout.But what you may not realize is that recharging your battery is about more than taking a yearly vacation.Because if you only give yourself time away once or twice a year, that break ends up being spent in a desperate attempt to recover from burnout… …rather than experiencing genuine moments of aliveness and connection with the people you love.To move beyond survival mode and make the most of your time off for fun and travel, you need to plan for regular rest and recovery throughout the year.That way, you won't be running on a near-empty tank while trying to enjoy all life has to offer. In this week's podcast episode, I'm discussing how to plan strategically for rest and travel as a school leader.Join me for a conversation about:Why it's crucial to strategically plan for rest and travelThe different kinds of rest you need to feel fully rechargedHow I manage my own recovery and travel throughout the yearHow you can plan for rest and travel in 2024Learn 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.

No matter the industry, leaders are often afraid to be honest about why they're firing someone. They think that by sugar-coating the truth or dancing around the issue, they're protecting the person's feelings.But the reality is that being dishonest doesn't help anyone but you. Rather than protect them, you actually protect yourself from uncomfortable feelings. In reality, the best thing you can do for everyone involved is to communicate with transparency and kindness—no matter the context.Back in 2011, when I was working as a camp director in NYC, I had to fire a teacher after a very unfortunate incident.It was a sensitive time for the Jewish community in that area because a child had been tragically abducted while walking home from day camp. Understandably, everyone in the city was on especially high alert.So, when a teacher at my camp left a child alone in the bathroom and walked to a park two blocks away, I had no choice but to terminate her immediately.I found the child in the bathroom while doing my rounds, walked them to the park where the teacher was, and fired her on the spot.Now, in this particular situation, there wasn't much of a conversation, because I needed to act swiftly. But that didn't mean that I was unkind—or that I avoided addressing the reason she was being fired.I simply told her that her error in judgment was unacceptable—and let her go. As a leader, you're going to have to fire team members. In fact, never letting go of employees is a sign that you're not cultivating a values-led culture. Because there will always be individuals on your team who simply aren't the right fit.But at the end of the day, the reason you're letting them go doesn't matter. In every case, you owe it to them, to your team, and to yourself to navigate the conversation with poise and respect.In this week's podcast episode, the final installment of a three-part series on firing, I provide tips on how to navigate termination communication in a way that preserves your center's reputation and maintains the trust of remaining team members.Join me for a conversation about:What a termination conversation is really aboutWhy handling a termination conversation well is so importantHow to prepare for and conduct the conversation How to navigate the aftermath of firing a team memberLearn 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.

Many years ago (when my kids were a lot smaller), my husband Mayer and I took a trip to Niagara Falls. As usual, I had organized everything in advance, including reserving adjoining rooms for our family.Because our kids were so young at the time, it was really important that we had that adjoining room. So, I made sure to call the hotel—both the day before and the day of the trip—to confirm that the rooms were available for us as planned.But lo and behold, on the night we arrived at the hotel, the staff member on duty told us that there were no adjoining rooms left because we had arrived too late at night.Mayer and I were livid. I had called to reserve in advance specifically because I knew we would be arriving late and wanted to make sure we got the rooms we needed. Yet here we were, standing at the check-in desk, luggage in hand, being told that it was our fault we didn't get adjoining rooms.Why? Because the hotel staff refused to take responsibility for their mistake.Does any of this sound familiar?Throughout your career, I'm sure you've seen plenty of instances where team members didn't take accountability, shifted the blame, or reacted poorly to feedback.And sure, even the best of us have some missteps along the way.But when a team member's failure to take personal responsibility becomes a pattern of behavior,  it's a signal that it's probably time to say goodbye.In this week's podcast episode, the second in my three-part series on firing, I dig deeper into personal responsibility and the other key reasons for deciding to let go of a team member.Join me for a conversation about:The core evidence that should determine whether you fire someoneWhy documentation is essential throughout the decision-making processHow to evaluate performance, coachability, mindset, and moreHow personality fit should factor into your decisionLearn 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.

No one enjoys having to fire an employee. In most cases it's uncomfortable and unpleasant to have to let someone go, especially if they didn't do anything "wrong."But hanging on to a team member who's not the right fit for your center's vision and values can have some serious consequences… maybe more than you realize.In the case of Janine, a Schools of Excellence Owner's HQ member, her reluctance to fire a toxic team member impacted her health and wellbeing. Janine was an owner who had what I like to call a "toxic genius" on her team. This team member was smart, reliable, great with kids and parents—everything you could want in an employee—but she also had a habit of stirring up gossip and putting others down.Janine was torn about what to do. On the one hand, she knew the team member was negatively impacting her center.But on the other, she had just opened up a fourth location and barely had the capacity to deal with her usual responsibilities—let alone go through the process of firing someone.But instead of delegating the responsibility to her team member, a director, Janine insisted that she had to be the one to do it.So, month after month passed by, and Janine continued to sit with the same dilemma. It wasn't just her mind, though, that suffered from her inaction. She developed high blood pressure and couldn't sleep more than 3 hours a night.After an entire year of worsening health problems, I finally asked Janine: "When is enough, enough? When will you realize what you're losing by not letting this person go?"If reading this reminds you of someone on your team, I want to ask you the same question: When is enough, enough? How long will you wait in the name of avoiding discomfort before you take action for the sake of yourself and your team?So, what happened with Janine when she finally faced the truth?She took accountability, let go of the toxic genius, and for the first time in a long time, she slept straight through the night.In this week's podcast episode, the first in a three-part series on firing, I explore the true cost of hanging on to team members when it's time to let go.Join me for a conversation about:The top 3 reasons we fire employees (HINT: It's not just about performance)The impact of keeping someone who needs to leaveWhy we have to prioritize ourselves and our team's wellbeingAction steps to take if you're struggling with letting someone goLearn 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.

Every year, flu season seems to come as a surprise.We know it’s coming. And yet, it always seems to catch us unaware, putting us into all kinds of highly stressful situations. Like having to find a sub for your subs' sub.Seriously. I was dropping off one of my kids at school one day, and I didn't recognize one of the teachers. When I asked her who she was, she said "Oh, I'm subbing for Rachel."Who's Rachel?Well, as it turns out, Rachel was subbing for Britney… who was subbing for Sheera, who was subbing for Maria—the original teacher.When I say I've seen it all, I mean I've seen it all. While this particular comically chaotic situation may have never happened to you, I know that as a center leader, flu season has left you scrambling to cope with crises like staff shortages, schedule interruptions, and many other impacts that hit the school. And it happens every. Single. Year.So how do you prevent flu season from throwing an annual wrench into all your plans?A strong, center-oriented insurance policy may give you the tools you need. Simliar to a flood insurance policy you go out and buy, this is something you hope to never use, but that’s there to protect you if needed.This kind of proactive insurance policy allows you to prepare for understaffing without overburdening your staff. It gives you an efficient, flexible way of managing absences while also improving your staff’s overall wellbeing.This week's podcast episode is one I’ve wanted to record for years. In it, we’re discussing proactive approaches to the dreaded flu season.Join me for a conversation about:How to appropriately prepare for flu seasonWhat an insurance policy for flu season looks likeThe impact this season has on schoolsHow to communicate preparations and alleviate concernsLearn 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.

It’s easy to feel pulled down by the difficult happenings at your center.This was the case for Ashriel Huber, second-generation legacy owner of A Child’s Touch in Colorado.Her desire to make the previous owner proud, coupled with the stress of taking over a large center with many moving parts, led to dysregulation, impostor syndrome, and a sense that she could never give enough to move the needle.When I met Ashriel at a conference, she felt stuck. She confided that she’d lost key members of administration, and lacked the processes and procedures that would calm the chaos.More troubling, she felt as if she’d given her life to the center, staying late night after night to try and get ahead. She needed to gain the trust of her employees, and working hard seemed the best way to accomplish that.After listening to her story, I grabbed a napkin and walked her through the Pyramid of Excellence. In her own words, that conference marked a turning point in how she thought about her role as owner. She joined the Schools of Excellence Owner’s HQ membership program and began working to shift her limiting beliefs.With the support of other owners, she’s learning to build emotional resilience, allowing her to stay the course when challenges arise. Instead of living at the center, she’s dedicated several mornings to staying home and attending coaching calls.Most importantly, she found connections with other leaders, which allowed her to form a community of peers. Instead of feeling isolated and alone, she could share her ideas, gain feedback, and take concrete steps forward.Members of Ashriel’s staff have noticed a shift. They’ve commented on her growing confidence, and the atmosphere at the center is beginning to transition. Now she has the tools to separate caring for the individual from being a leader who expects people to do their jobs.If you’ve ever felt like you’re struggling with impostor syndrome, or if the stressors of your center sometimes feel too daunting, I encourage you to listen to Ashriel’s story. You'll hear more about her journey and how the membership helped her gain confidence in her role as a leader.Join me for a conversation about:The struggles Ashriel faced before joining the membershipWhat she learned by being surrounded by other like-minded ownersHow her center looks now that she's a more confident leaderWhat's next for her and her center 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.

Does the word “stress” make your chest tighten?If so, you’re not the only one We tend to think of stress as a negative thing. But the truth is, it’s an integral part of being human. In fact, on last week’s podcast episode I introduced the concept of eustress—a type of positive stress that helps to motivate us.This week, I want to talk about the tools we use to manage stress in the moment. Because stress is an unavoidable part of our lives, it’s up to us to keep ourselves regulated and ready to approach each situation.Mornings are a perfect example. Getting four kids out the door is no small task, and it’s hard on the body. On top of that, my five-year-old is often up before I am.Distress tolerance has taught me that, despite the chaotic demands of a morning full of decisions and preparations, I need a moment of silence. So I’ve set up a private space for myself in my bedroom where I can spend five minutes alone, with the door closed, before tackling the day.The temptation to immediately jump into the day is strong, but I know from experience that my children and I are all better served when I take that five minutes.Personal morning space is one of the self-soothing strategies I have in my distress tolerance toolkit.In this week's podcast episode, I’m going to guide you through the development of a distress tolerance toolkit for yourself and your staff.Join me for a conversation about:What a staff distress tolerance toolkit includesHow to accept distress when it happensSteps to create an effective toolkit that empowers your teamStrategies for personalizing your toolkitsLearn 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.

You’re no stranger to challenges.Whether it’s helping fifteen children into their winter coats, navigating a difficult relationship with one of your teachers, or balancing a busy schedule, you have a lot on your plate.It’s stressful. It may even be distressing.Enter distress tolerance. Building your own, personal level of distress tolerance is one of the most powerful ways you can manage the inevitable challenges of life as a school leader.Let me give you an example. Recently, my husband and son went on a road trip together, leaving me to solo parent our other three children. As luck would have it, during their trip I had an immovable dentist appointment on the same day my other children returned from camp early.Typically, I avoid bringing my kids on errands at all costs. But this time, it was unavoidable. Based on the dentist’s available time slots, I had two options: Pick the earlier time slot and bring them directly to the dentist’s office, or choose a later time and take them home first.Years of developing distress tolerance led me to pick the later time. Why? Because it allowed me the space to fill my cup and those of my children before we did something none of us wanted to do. I was able to bring my kids home, have a snack, and give them some personal mommy time before we headed to the dentist’s office.Why am I telling you this story? Because this decision-making process was distress tolerance in action. As mundane as a schedule conflict might seem, it’s one of the most prevalent stressors that threatens to throw us off balance. And when we’re off balance, our entire team can feel it.In this week’s podcast episode, I’m going to dig into distress tolerance and resilience in the childcare industry. Join me for a conversation about:What distress tolerance isHow it helps us navigate difficult situationsThe correlation between stress and performanceStrategies for building your distress tolerance as a leaderLearn 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.

In our society, conversations about grief are largely dominated by death and the experience of losing someone we love.But death is far from the only time we deal with loss.Anytime we go through periods of transition in our lives, we experience grief triggered by the loss of how things used to be. For leaders in early childhood education, these transitions happen on an almost daily basis.Closing locations, letting go of teachers, saying goodbye to families, and even delegating responsibilities are losses that can create a sense of longing for the way things were.And if you don't take active steps to move through that grief, you can end up stuck in old patterns that prevent you from growing as an individual and as a leader.That's why in this week's podcast episode, I'm opening up a conversation about how to navigate loss and use it as a springboard for legacy. Join me for a conversation about:Widening our definition of griefCommon forms of grief that leaders experienceWhat can happen if you don't take the time to process your griefSteps for how to move through grief in a productive wayLearn more and apply for the Director’s Inner Circle & Owner’s HQ: http://Chanie.me/jointhedic  While processing grief is a personal journey, it's significantly easier when you're surrounded by others who are on a similar journey. Our Director's Inner Circle and Owner's HQ membership programs are the perfect place to build a community of like-minded leaders who can support you through every season of your life. Plus, as a member, you'll also gain access to tools, resources, and coaching that can help you along the way. 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.

Roles and responsibilities are crucial to building a school of excellence. You can't weather the storm—let alone captain your ship—if your crew isn't clear on what they should be doing and when.That's where developing a school org chart comes in handy. With a visual representation of the structure of your center on hand, you can clear up a lot of questions about what role each individual plays and who they should report to.But that's not all your org chart should do.Because the leaders, administrators, and teachers of your center aren't solely defined by where they fit into the hierarchy.They're human beings with their own needs and abilities, and those elements need to be factored in when designing the structure of your school.Don't get me wrong—hierarchy is important. But at its core, building an effective org chart is about understanding what fuels collaboration, efficiency, communication, and results.In this week's podcast episode, I'm exploring how to create your school org chart so that it facilitates the roles, responsibilities, and relationships within your center. Join me for a conversation about:What a school org chart isThe 6 things leaders get wrong when designing their org chartsHow to chart roles within your schoolQuestions to ask yourself when creating your org chart Learn more and apply for the Director’s Inner Circle & Owner’s HQ: http://Chanie.me/jointhedic   Org charts are just one of the many foundational concepts we dive into within our Director's Inner Circle and Owner's HQ membership programs. As part of the membership, you'll gain access to a variety of tools and resources to help you build a school of excellence. Plus, you'll receive coaching and the support of a community that will take your leadership to new heights.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.

This episode is from a Strategic Advisory from our Membership programs. I know that the impending chaos of a new year is incredibly unsettling. You’re preparing for new kids, new teachers, new protocols, and new expectations, and you know everyone will look at you like deer in the headlights.It's inevitable… and believe it or not, that's a good thing.Confused? Stay with me.When you operate under the assumption that the start-of-the-school year mayhem is avoidable, any disorder that occurs becomes a reflection of your competency as a leader.The chaos becomes your fault, and it produces feelings of anxiety, self-doubt, and even shame.But when you recognize that chaos is simply an inherent characteristic of transition—not a result of your leadership—you give yourself the opportunity to take a deep breath, adjust your mindset, and create a plan for how to deal with the inevitable disarray of a novel environment.In other words, the mark of a strong leader isn't the absence of mayhem. It's the presence of a calm and collected state-of-mind that helps you weather the storm.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.

When you sit down to draw with a 4-year-old, you know you're not going to get the Mona Lisa. Kids don't have the capacity for things like perspective, texture, or—let's be honest—simply coloring within the lines.So, if that's the case, then why do you expect perfection out of your most inexperienced teachers and newly hired staff?In a world that glorifies immediate results, we've gotten used to demanding the very best out of everyone, all the time.But life doesn't work that way.People need time to adjust to expectations, learn new skills, and reach a certain standard, and that journey will look different depending on the person. Effective leaders recognize that everyone has a learning curve, and they provide the support their teams need to experience growth on a timeline that makes sense. That's what leads to excellence.On this week's podcast episode, I'm addressing a topic that may be a difficult pill for leaders to swallow, but one of the most important lessons they can learn: The value of tolerating “good enough” for long enough to achieve excellence.Join me for a conversation about:What it means to tolerate "good enough"The difference between expectations and standardsThe impact of setting realistic expectationsQuestions to ask yourself to identify what's good enoughLearn more and apply for the Director’s Inner Circle & Owner’s HQ: http://Chanie.me/jointhedic   . You can work on more of the skills that make effective leaders by joining our Owner's HQ and Director's Inner Circle membership programs. As a member, you'll gain ongoing access to tools, resources, coaching, and community that can help you build and sustain a school of excellence. Or, if you're looking for easy-to-implement resources you can use to facilitate the growth of your team, check out our Time Management & Accountability bundle. It contains a series of tools and templates that will help you create more accountability among your staff and free up time to focus on the growth and development of your center. https://schoolsofexcellence.com/time 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 ambition look like to you?Does it mean owning the best school in your city? Expanding your center? Retiring early?Maybe it's none of those things… and that's okay.Contrary to what we're made to believe, there's more than one charted path to success. Your destination can be whatever you want it to be—and the journey to get there can look however you want it to.What's more, how you define ambition may change over time.While you can achieve extraordinary greatness in multiple domains of your life, you won't be able to do it all at once. It's going to work in seasons, and it's up to you to decide what's worth pursuing at any given time.How do you make that decision? That's what I'm discussing on this week's podcast episode. Together, we'll explore what ambition is to you and how you can achieve greatness in all areas of your life.Join me for a conversation about:The definition of ambition and what it looks like to different peopleWhy we get stuck on one view of successHow different seasons influence your priorities and possibilitiesHow to decide which goals to pursueLearn more and apply for the Director’s Inner Circle & Owner’s HQ: http://Chanie.me/jointhedic  . Ambition is a major topic of conversation within our Owner's HQ and Director's Inner Circle membership programs, as it takes passion and drive to do the inner and outer work necessary to build a school of excellence. You can join the conversation, as well as gain ongoing access to tools, resources, coaching, and community, by applying today. Focusing on big-picture goals is also a lot easier when you have the time to do it! With our Time Management & Accountability bundle, you'll get a series of tools and templates to help you become more productive and hold your team accountable. With the extra time, you can spend more time working on the growth and development of your center. https://schoolsofexcellence.com/time 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 if I told you that you didn't have to be at your center 40+ hours a week?Would you believe me?The reality for a lot of owners is that the line between home and school is so blurred it's almost nonexistent. They spend so much of their time wrapped up in the day-to-day operation of their centers that they end up spending more time there than they do at home with their families.This was the case for Ashley Corthell, owner of Daybreak Academy in Utah. When I first connected with her, she was spending 45+ hours per week at her school. During the few hours she was at home, she was too stressed to truly be present.In Ashley's words, school was sucking the life out of her.But all of that changed when she joined the Schools of Excellence Owner's HQ membership program. Inside the membership, Ashley built skills and gained access to resources and coaching that helped her adjust her mindset, better manage her time, and transform her school's culture.With the support of other owners, she learned to use her hours at school more productively and set healthier boundaries, which made her more intentional about how and where she was spending her time. As a result, not only did the line between school and home become better defined, but Ashley was able to reduce the number of hours she spent at her center to just 10 hours per week!And Ashley isn't the exception either. She's one of hundreds of owners and directors who have transformed their schools—and lives—thanks to the opportunities available in the membership.So, when I asked you whether you thought it was possible to spend less than 40 hours per week at your center, it wasn't hyperbole. It was a question based on the very real experiences of leaders just like you.If you're ready to start spending less time running your center and more time focused on its growth and development, I encourage you to check out this week's podcast episode. You'll hear more about Ashley's story and how the membership impacted her life and leadership.Join us for a conversation about:The struggles Ashley faced before joining the membershipWhat she learned by being surrounded by other like-minded ownersHow her center looks now that she's a more confident leaderWhat's next for her and her schoolLearn more and apply for the Director’s Inner Circle & Owner’s HQ: http://Chanie.me/jointhedic  If Ashley's story resonated with you, don't wait and apply for the membership today. Within the Director's Inner Circle and Owner's HQ membership programs, you'll gain access to the same tools, resources, coaching, and community that made such a huge impact on Ashley's leadership.If you don't think you're quite ready for the membership, we have a variety of other resources that can help you become a more effective leader, such as our Time Management & Accountability bundle. It contains a series of tools and templates that will help you make better use of your time so you can spend fewer hours at school and focus on the growth and development of your center. https://schoolsofexcellence.com/time 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 that the impending chaos of a new year is incredibly unsettling. You’re preparing for new kids, new teachers, new protocols, and new expectations, and you know everyone will look at you like deer in the headlights.It's inevitable… and believe it or not, that's a good thing.Confused? Stay with me.When you operate under the assumption that the start-of-the-school year mayhem is avoidable, any disorder that occurs becomes a reflection of your competency as a leader.The chaos becomes your fault, and it produces feelings of anxiety, self-doubt, and even shame.But when you recognize that chaos is simply an inherent characteristic of transition—not a result of your leadership—you give yourself the opportunity to take a deep breath, adjust your mindset, and create a plan for how to deal with the inevitable disarray of a novel environment.In other words, the mark of a strong leader isn't the absence of mayhem. It's the presence of a calm and collected state-of-mind that helps you weather the storm.In this week's podcast episode, I'm helping you set yourself up for success by talking you through how to prepare for the chaos at the start of the school year.Join me for a conversation about:Where the start-of-the-year chaos comes fromHow it shows up in your life and leadershipsWhat can be gained by embracing the mayhemStrategies to help you plan for what's to comeLearn more and apply for the Director’s Inner Circle & Owner’s HQ: http://Chanie.me/jointhedic  An important part of navigating the chaos is having people you can rely on for support. In our Director's Inner Circle and Owner's HQ membership programs, you'll have the opportunity to connect with other like-minded leaders who can validate your experience and offer solutions as you work through the transition. As a member, you'll also gain access to tools, resources, and coaching that can help you build and sustain a school of excellence. Or, if you're looking for easy-to-implement resources that can help you remain focused, check out our Time Management & Accountability bundle. It contains a series of tools and templates that will help you make better use of your time so you can focus on the growth and development of your center. https://schoolsofexcellence.com/timeMore 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.

The first staff meeting of the year—we've all been there.You go into the meeting filled with the ripe excitement of possibility, ready to share your ideas, goals, and expectations. You have all the energy of a student showing off sparkly new notebooks on the first day of school.Then the meeting happens and… you end up word vomiting over your entire staff.Sound familiar?Without a doubt, the deluge of information comes from the very best of intentions. You're optimistic about the school year and want to set your staff up for success by telling them everything they need to know.But in trying to enmesh every detail into a single meeting without structure—without purpose—you end up spewing information in all directions instead of uniting everyone under a common goal.In this week's podcast episode, I'm walking you through how to prepare for your first staff meeting so you can start this school year off on the right foot.Join me for a conversation about:The importance of creating structure for your staff meetingThe three segments of a successful meetingWhat to discuss (and not to discuss!)Questions to ask your staff to promote teamwork and school valuesLearn more and apply for the Director’s Inner Circle & Owner’s HQ: http://Chanie.me/jointhedic  While there's definitely a formula to running a successful staff meeting, it's also a skill that takes time to build. I can help you develop that skill within our Owner's HQ and Director's Inner Circle membership programs, which provides leaders like you with ongoing access to tools, resources, coaching, and community that can help you build and sustain a school of excellence. Or, if you're looking for easy-to-implement resources that you can start using today, check out our Time Management & Accountability bundle. It contains a series of tools and templates that will help you make better use of your time—whether at staff meetings or at the desk in your office. https://schoolsofexcellence.com/time 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.

Take a moment to remember why you became a school leader.If you’re anything like me and the leaders in my programs, you’re interested in leaving a legacy in your community.You want to positively impact the next generation of children and the community you serve.To leave a lasting legacy, you have to play the long game. The concept of legacy is one we’ll be exploring during this final episode of our five-part series of the Pyramid of Excellence. This week, we’re at the top of the Pyramid of Excellence: Aligned and Legacy Stages.In the Aligned Stage, you’re introducing new initiatives and levels of programming to carry your center forward, while the Legacy Stage is all about your long-term vision and creating sustainability beyond your own tenure.It’s time to go beyond the leadership development of the previous Integrated Stage and identify the people I call “lifers.” These are the “ride-or-die” individuals who will link with you to ensure the ongoing, long-term success of your center.Join me for a conversation about:Developing a succession plan for your center with those most equipped to carry the torchEvaluating and refining the long-term sustainability of your centerWhat it looks like to work in the Aligned vs. the Legacy stageManaging your stress, attitude, and capacity for discomfortThe emotional journey of stepping into a new, legacy roleLearn more and apply for the Director’s Inner Circle & Owner’s HQ: http://Chanie.me/jointhedic  In the Schools of Excellence Owner's Only HQ and Director's Inner Circle membership program, we’re used to complicated emotions. By joining our community, you'll get tools, resources, and coaching to help you flourish, even in the face of complexity.At the Aligned and Legacy Stages of your business, you’re also learning to hand over some of the responsibilities you’ve clung to. In the Delegate to Elevate Workshop, you’ll learn how to approach delegation in a way that will allow you to truly set yourself up for a legacy role. https://schoolsofexcellence.com/delegateMore 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.

Many of the school leaders I meet are in the midst of growing their centers, and they all share one common challenge.Balancing expansion with the quality of education.Can you relate?Striking this balance is no small feat, and it requires complete trust in your team. More than that—it’s crucial work for the long-term development of your center. The good news is you have the Pyramid of Excellence as a guide to help you think about how to expand your center while ensuring the quality of your programming.It’s the primary focus of the next stage of the Pyramid of Excellence: Integrated.To navigate this stage, you must get strategic, clarify roles and responsibilities, and hold yourself accountable.Feeling comfortable within this stage is so important, because this is where most center leaders spend the vast majority of their career. We’ll explore the Integrated Stage in this week's podcast episode—the fourth in our five-part series about the Pyramid of Excellence. If you missed any of the previous episodes on Survival or Disordered, make sure you give them a listen first!Then, join me for a conversation about:Practical tips and insights for navigating the complex Integrated stageAligning your center’s team with the values of the companyHow to navigate this stage in a healthy, balanced wayDeveloping a strategic plan for the next stage in the PyramidLearn more and apply for the Director’s Inner Circle & Owner’s HQ: http://Chanie.me/jointhedic   At the Integrated Stage, it’s so important to find a support system. Within the Schools of Excellence Owner's Only HQ and Director's Inner Circle membership programs, you’ll have access to a community of other owners and directors who are actively working through the Pyramid of Excellence, along with tools, resources, and coaching that will help you move forward with confidence.Another important aspect of the Integrated Stage is delegation. You have a team and now it’s time to trust them! With our on-demand Delegate to Elevate Workshop, you can learn how to hand off responsibilities, free up more of your time, and enhance your quality of life. https://schoolsofexcellence.com/delegateMore 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.

Does any of this sound familiar?You know you need a strong team, but you don’t feel like you have the infrastructure to support itConstant questions are coming your way, pulling you in every directionWork-life balance has become a thing of the past, and your personal life is feeling the strainIf any of the above are true for you, your center might be in the Disordered Stage of the Pyramid of Excellence.This is where you need to build communication and trust… but are also dealing with a lot of overwhelm. Everyone is busy, and slowing down feels impossible.Fortunately, there’s some good news buried within that stress. For one, if you’ve recently entered the Disordered Stage, it means you’re growing. That’s something to celebrate!More importantly, there are clear steps for moving forward.In this week's podcast episode, we're continuing our deep dive into the Pyramid of Excellence by exploring the second phase of your center's journey through the pyramid: the Disordered Stage. Join me for a conversation about:How to build trust, communication, and transparency within your teamThe impact of the Disordered Stage on self-care, personal relationships, and work-life balanceWhat to do to stabilize operations in a sustainable way that allows you to avoid burnout and maintain school cultureSteps to move to the next stage in the PyramidLearn more and apply for the Director’s Inner Circle & Owner’s HQ: http://Chanie.me/jointhedic  Feeling like you’ve lost any sense of harmony between your center and your home is a challenging place to be. Finding this balance is a frequent topic in the Schools of Excellence Owner's Only HQ and Director's Inner Circle membership programs. As a member, you'll gain ongoing access to tools, resources, coaching, and a community that will help you find the equilibrium you're looking for so you can continue building a school of excellence.You can also learn how to create more space for your personal life through our on-demand Delegate to Elevate Workshop. In this 90-minute online workshop, I'll show you how to delegate effectively so you can better respond to your team’s needs, manage your schedule, and decrease your workload. https://schoolsofexcellence.com/delegateMore 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.

Everyone starts somewhere.You may have just opened a new center. Or maybe you’re coming through the other end of a crisis.Either way, this major phase of transition has placed you in the first stage of the Pyramid of Excellence: Survival.Survival isn’t inherently bad. In fact, it can be connected to beautiful moments of surrender, opportunity, and hope.It’s also finite: Most centers only exist in Survival for a few months. During that time, there are a lot of questions and decisions to make.In this week's podcast episode, we’re diving deep into this busy period of a center’s life to help you better understand what it looks like and what you can do to move through it as gracefully as possible.Join me for a conversation about:What causes a center to hit Survival, even if they’ve been around for a whileThe different characteristics of a center at the Survival stageSpecific steps for getting out of Survival and moving to the next stageLearn more and apply for the Director’s Inner Circle & Owner’s HQ: http://Chanie.me/jointhedic   If you’re feeling the pressure, this is a wonderful time to join our Owner's Only HQ and Director's Inner Circle membership programs. No matter which stage your center is at, we can help you get the tools you need to thrive.Or, if you’re looking for resources you can implement quickly, consider enrolling in our on-demand Delegate to Elevate Workshop. This 90-minute workshop will help you learn what to hand off, so you can start to calm the chaos. https://schoolsofexcellence.com/delegateMore 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.

For years, I've been developing, cultivating, and nurturing the mindset and skills of owners and directors in early childhood education so they can build and sustain schools of excellence.But it wasn't until somewhat recently that I started to take a hard look at the processes I was using to help leaders. I wanted to distill them down into a repeatable, consistent framework that allowed leaders to better understand where they were at and what they needed to work on next. That’s how the Pyramid of Excellence was born.It’s a trademarked system that allows you to see exactly where you are on your journey so you can lay the proper foundation for building a school of excellence.In this week's podcast episode, I'm kicking off a 5-part series about the Pyramid of Excellence where I'll break down each part of the pyramid to give you deeper insight into what each stage looks like, as well as what you can do to move forward.Join me for a conversation about:The 5 stages of the Pyramid of Excellence: Survival, Disordered, Integrated, and Aligned, and LegacyWhat each stage looks like from the outside and the insideHow to gauge which stage you’re in along your journey to building a school of excellenceWhat you can do to transition from one stage in the Pyramid to the nextLearn more and apply for the Director’s Inner Circle & Owner’s HQ: http://Chanie.me/jointhedic  Moving through the Pyramid of Excellence is no small feat. Every step of the way comes with unique challenges and opportunities. If you’re looking for support along the way,  join our Owner's Only HQ and Director's Inner Circle membership programs. As a member, you'll gain ongoing access to tools, resources, coaching, and community that will help you build and sustain 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.

Let me ask you a couple of questions:When you're looking at making a big-ticket purchase to update the infrastructure of your school, how long does it take you to pull out the credit card?What about when you're looking at investing in the professional development of your leadership team?I'm willing to bet there's a pretty large discrepancy between your first answer and your second, and it's worth asking yourself why.When you look at everything through a financial lens, it's much easier to measure the ROI of a new carpet in the toddler classroom than leadership training for your education director. But here's the thing: Humans aren't cash registers.They have feelings, families, and goals—things that don't cleanly factor into mathematical calculations. And that means that "profitability" in the traditional sense isn't an adequate way of measuring ROI when it comes to your team.In this week's podcast episode, I'm exploring the shortcomings of traditional ROI in education and leadership development and how school leaders need to change their perspective for the benefit of their teams and centers.Join me for a conversation about:Why traditional ROI doesn’t work in the education fieldRethinking ROI in a way that doesn’t solely encompass financialsHow to make more aligned ROI decisionsOnce you stop using traditional measures of ROI to make every decision, you can start investing more in your team, which will not only help with retention but also the overall success of your center. Learn more and apply for the Director’s Inner Circle & Owner’s HQ: http://Chanie.me/jointhedic  If you're looking for long-term support, join our Owner's Only HQ and Director's Inner Circle membership programs. As a member, you'll gain ongoing access to tools, resources, coaching, and community that will help you build a school of excellence. One investment that can make a huge difference for your center is enrolling in our on-demand Delegate to Elevate Workshop. During the 90-minute workshop, you'll learn how to delegate effectively so you can reclaim your time, improve your quality of life, and lead a high-performing team. https://schoolsofexcellence.com/delegateMore 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.

For the first time in history, we have 5 different generations in the workplace: the Silent Generation, Baby Boomers, Gen X, Millennials, and Gen Z.And it's causing a whole lot of tension across various industries, including early childhood education.But the source of this tension isn't the fact that there are 5 generations working alongside each other. Instead, the issue stems from the way we're choosing to address this unique time in history.Whenever you bring different people together in one space, there are bound to be contrasting opinions, varying perspectives, and distinct ways of doing things.What comes to mind as the perfect example is Passover—children, parents, grandparents (and even great-grandparents!) all in one room, coming together to commemorate a story that each generation experiences differently.But do those differences prevent us from telling that story and celebrating together as a family?Of course not! Quite the opposite, in fact. It's our differences that add nuance and develop  a deeper understanding of our heritage.The same can be said within the context of the workplace.Instead of seeing generational differences as something you need to overcome, manage, or fix, you should look at them as an opportunity to create a more inclusive environment that encourages personal and professional growth.How you go about shaping that environment is what I'm exploring on this week's podcast. I'll take you through a detailed comparison of the 5 generations and discuss how you as a leader can navigate those differences within your center.Join me for a conversation about:The 5 generations in our modern workforceThe core characteristics of each generation based on their unique experiencesHow each generation compares in terms of communication styles and motivationStrategies for navigating generational differences to create an inclusive environmentLearn more and apply for the Director’s Inner Circle & Owner’s HQ: http://Chanie.me/jointhedic  If you're looking for support in navigating generational differences that you can rely on long-term, join our Owner's Only HQ and Director's Inner Circle membership programs. As a member, you'll gain ongoing access to tools, resources, coaching, and community that will help you level up your leadership, transform your culture, and build a school of excellence. One issue that comes up frequently with regard to generational differences is delegation, as different generations tend to prefer different management styles. If this resonates with you, I encourage you to attend our on-demand Delegate to Elevate Workshop. During this 90-minute online workshop, you'll learn how to delegate effectively so you can manage a high-performing team that will help you achieve your goals. https://schoolsofexcellence.com/delegateMore 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.

Do you know the difference between equality and equity?It's a distinction that could be at the heart of some of the issues you're facing at your center. Equality is all about fairness. It's about treating each and every person exactly the same way. And while that may seem great in theory, in practice, it ultimately harms your center's culture and prevents you from maximizing your team's potential.Let me give you a real-life example from a school leader who I'll call Lisa.Lisa was leading a group of 30 teachers, and she was struggling with team accountability—specifically punctuality.One of the teachers that was failing to show up on time was a single mom. Without any help at home, she couldn't find a way to get her kids to school and come to work on time.Being the empathetic leader she is, Lisa could see that the issue was largely outside of the teacher's control. Plus, the teacher was otherwise very reliable and wonderful at her job.So, to solve the problem, Lisa was willing to create a flexible schedule that would allow the teacher to stay late to make up for the missed time in the morning.Except for one problem: fairness.Even though she had come up with a reasonable solution, Lisa was afraid to implement it out of fear of being unfair to the other teachers.The thing is, life isn't fair. Nor should it be!Why? Because every single person is different. And by ignoring that fact, you risk denying what makes them unique and alienating them rather than lifting them up.The solution, then, is to treat your team equitably rather than equally.Unlike equality, which views everyone through the lens of sameness, equity is about seeing people's differences and providing them with what they need to succeed.By recognizing that everyone has strengths and weaknesses, you can create a stronger and more cohesive team.And isn't that the ultimate goal?In this week's podcast episode, I'm exploring what I like to call "the fairness game," or the idea that treating people equally is the mark of good leadership. As you'll learn in the episode, this is far from the truth and can actually harm your center.Join me for a conversation about:Why treating all employees fairly, or equally, is a bad ideaThe important difference between equality and equityHow to create an equitable environment at your centerReplacing fairness-based leadership with values-based leadershipLearn more and apply for the Director’s Inner Circle & Owner’s HQ: http://Chanie.me/jointhedic    If you're looking for long-term support in creating a healthier school environment, join our Owner's Only HQ and Director's Inner Circle membership programs. As a member, you'll gain ongoing access to tools, resources, coaching, and community that will help you become a stronger leader for your center.In addition to creating a more equitable environment, you can learn to maximize your team's potential by attending our on-demand Delegate to Elevate Workshop. During the 90-minute online workshop, you'll learn how to delegate effectively so you can develop a high-performing team that can support you as you work toward building a school of excellence. https://schoolsofexcellence.com/delegateMore 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.

As a leader, you're responsible for a lot of people.But what does that responsibility really mean?Is it about taking on the problems of your team and staff? Or is it about helping them become the best professionals and individuals they can be? You see something I often see when working with owners and directors is their tendency to take responsibility for issues that don't belong to them.They see a teacher struggling to manage their classroom or come to school on time, and their first reaction is to step in.Why? Because seeing people in discomfort is uncomfortable, and we think that by taking on their pain, we're helping them in the best way possible.But the truth is that when you intervene, you're actually taking away from their human experience and eliminating the opportunity for them to learn and grow.The best thing you can do as a leader is learn to sit with the discomfort of watching others struggle, so you can support them to make their own decisions.How? That's what I'm discussing on this week's podcast episode. Join me as I sit down with author, speaker, podcast host, and leadership coach Heather Chauvin for an enlightening conversation about emotional discomfort and how changing your perspective on it can help you become a stronger leader.We'll be talking about:What Heather's learned from her journey through motherhood & cancer treatmentCompassion fatigue and how it impacts leadersWhat practices you can use to learn to sit with discomfortHow to help your team & staff learn to manage their own emotionsPractical tips to help you take action toward developing stronger leadershipLearn more and apply for the Director’s Inner Circle & Owner’s HQ: http://Chanie.me/jointhedic  If you'd like to learn more about Heather and her journey, you can check out:Emotionally Uncomfortable Podcast: https://heatherchauvin.com/podcastTEDx talk: https://www.ted.com/talks/heather_chauvin_dying_to_be_a_good_mother/detailsDying to be a Good Mother book: https://heatherchauvin.com/book-orderFree resources from Heather: http://heatherchauvin.com/freegiftsYou can also attend our on-demand Delegate to Elevate Workshop to learn how to set healthier boundaries around your time. During the 90-minute online workshop, I'll show you how to delegate effectively so you can better manage your schedule, decrease your workload, and develop a high-performing team that can help you build a school of excellence. https://schoolsofexcellence.com/delegateMore 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.

Let me know if this sounds familiar:You're emotionally, mentally, and physically exhausted on a daily basisYou feel disconnected from your work, your team, and your staffYou're doing only what needs to be done to keep your center afloatIf you identify with these statements, you're not alone.Exhaustion, disconnect, and reduced performance are the three core signs of burnout, and they're running rampant in early childhood education. But what's perhaps even more common than burnout itself is the denial about how to address it.While not a medical condition, burnout is not something you can fix with pedicures, bath bombs, or weekend getaways.Think about it—you didn't become burned out overnight. It's the result of ongoing, damaging behaviors like overworking yourself, failing to set boundaries, and prioritizing success over all else.So, how can you expect to overcome it in just a couple of weeks?The truth is that recovering from burnout takes years of intentional self-work.It's a long and difficult process that requires a strong commitment to yourself, your team, and your staff.But the end result is not only a stronger leader, but a stronger center.In this week's podcast episode, I'm exploring the topic of burnout: what it is, why it happens, and how leaders can overcome it so they can create healthier cultures in their schools.Join me for a conversation about:The primary signs of burnoutThe four pillars of burnout & burnout recoveryHow leaders in particular reach the point of burnoutStrategies to work through burnout (HINT: They don't include taking a vacation)Learn more and apply for the Director’s Inner Circle & Owner’s HQ: http://Chanie.me/jointhedic  If you're looking for long-term support in burnout recovery, join our Owner's Only HQ and Director's Inner Circle membership programs. As a member, you'll gain ongoing access to tools, resources, coaching, and community that will help you become a stronger and more grounded leader for your center.One of the primary reasons leaders reach a state of burnout is because they try to take on too much on their own. You can work on combating this issue by attending our on-demand Delegate to Elevate Workshop. During the 90-minute workshop, you'll learn how to delegate effectively so you can reclaim your time and improve your quality of life. https://schoolsofexcellence.com/delegateMore 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 hear a lot of leaders say they'd love to provide advancement opportunities for their staff, but no one's interested in taking on more responsibility.They insist that even with the promise of higher pay, staff members turn down the offer.Why do you think that is?The mainstream answer is that not everyone wants to be promoted—some people just want to show up, do their job, and go home.While that may seem true on the surface, the reality extends far deeper.At their core, people want to level up—they just lack the confidence to accept the opportunities that come their way.Your job as a leader is to not only create opportunities for your staff to grow, but also give them the resources to be successful.In this week's podcast episode, I'm closing out our multipart series on building a culture of retention within your center by focusing on promotion and how you can help everyone on your team and staff reach their full potential.Join me for a conversation about:Why people don't "want" to be promotedThe different types of growth opportunities availableStrategies for building a culture of promotionHow to know whether someone is ready to be promotedI hope you've found this deep dive into building a culture of retention valuable. My hope is that by combining the strategies you've learned throughout the series, you start to see a difference in your center's retention and can create a team that's just as committed to building a school of excellence as you are.Learn more and apply for the Director’s Inner Circle & Owner’s HQ: http://Chanie.me/jointhedic  If you're looking for more intensive support than a workshop can provide, I encourage you to join our Owner's Only HQ and Director's Inner Circle membership programs. As a member, you'll gain ongoing access to tools, resources, coaching, and community that will help you become a stronger leader for your staff. 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 while back, I was working with a school that was having trouble with one of their new teachers. She was relatively new to her role, and although she was gentle and loving to the children, she was struggling with classroom management and transitions.The owner and director of the center knew they needed to discuss the issue with the teacher, but they were afraid of initiating such a difficult conversation. In particular, they feared that if they tried to provide feedback, the teacher would leave her job.If this situation sounds familiar, I'm not surprised. It comes up again and again among the leaders I work with.One of the hardest parts of having difficult conversations is holding people accountable for their actions. We think that when we push people toward accountability, they'll leave and never come back.But holding people accountable isn't about pushing people away—it's about creating stability, safety, and continuity inside your center, which are all things that significantly contribute to retention.In this week's podcast episode, I'm continuing our multipart series on building a culture of retention within your center. This time, I'll be focusing on accountability and how you as a leader can better hold your staff—and yourself—accountable and increase retention.Join me for a conversation about:Accountability and why we fear itHow accountability is foundational to relationshipsThe difference between a culture of blame and a culture of accountabilityHow to create a culture of accountability within your centerLearn more and apply for the Director’s Inner Circle & Owner’s HQ: http://Chanie.me/jointhedic  if you're looking for support that you can rely on long-term, join our Owner's Only HQ and Director's Inner Circle membership programs. As a member, you'll gain ongoing access to tools, resources, coaching, and community that will help you as you build a school of excellence.Get the Difficult Conversations Template here: https://discovered.thrivecart.com/difficult-conversations-template/Get the Scripts Workbook here: https://discovered.thrivecart.com/script-workbook/ 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 our core needs as human beings is a sense of service which prompts us to help and support others. Put differently, we have an innate need to want to contribute in a meaningful way.Yet the pattern I see in a lot of centers is that their culture is built around obligation rather than contribution.In a culture of obligation, people see obstacles as burdens, changing demands as reasons to give up, and unclear directions as an excuse to wait to be told what to do. It's a type of environment where people are there because they feel they have to be.On the other hand, in a culture of contribution, people view obstacles as situations to step up, changing demands as chances to collaborate, and unclear directions as opportunities to become a leader. In this culture, people aren't there because they feel they have to be—they're there because they want to be. They stick around because they want to contribute to something greater than themselves.But that sort of environment isn't created out of nothing. It takes careful reflection on your part as a leader to cultivate a space where your team and staff want to show up in meaningful ways.In this week's podcast episode, I'm continuing our multipart series on building a culture of retention within your center. This time, I'll be focusing on contribution and how cultivating this type of environment can create long-term benefits for your center. Join me for a conversation about:The difference between a culture of contribution and a culture of obligationContribution and why it has a place among the 6 core human needsWhy few people have contribution as part of their retention strategy7 questions to consider when cultivating a culture of contribution in your centerThis episode requires a lot of reflection, so you may want to listen more than once or save it for a moment when you can sit down and focus. But rest assured that the effort you dedicate to self-reflection now will help you immensely as you start to make changes within your center.Learn more and apply for the Director’s Inner Circle & Owner’s HQ: http://Chanie.me/jointhedic  Looking for support as you work on developing a mindset of contribution among your team and staff? Our Owner's Only HQ and Director's Inner Circle membership programs provide the perfect space to validate your struggles, learn from other leaders, and brainstorm solutions. Plus, you'll also get access to other tools, resources, and coaching that will help you on your journey to 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.

Do you remember when the only people on-call 24/7 were emergency workers?Back then, there was a much clearer divide between work and life. Once you left the "office," you could focus your attention on whatever was happening at home until you returned to work.These days, it's far less simple. We live in a world of instant gratification, where smart phones and watches and other devices ping and ding at all hours, programming us to always be on-call.This has blurred the separation between our personal and professional lives, leading to enormous amounts of stress, emotional exhaustion, and burnout within our centers.But contrary to popular rhetoric, the answer isn't to return to a complete separation.In fact, I don't think there was ever a real separation between work and home. So much of what we do professionally impacts our personal lives and vice versa.What we need is to find harmony between the two worlds.By creating space for your staff to enrich their lives through activities and experiences that exist beyond their professional lives, the more likely they are to feel fulfilled in their work and want to stick around.In this week's podcast episode, I'm continuing our multipart series on building a culture of retention within your center. This time, we're focusing on quality of life and how it impacts your staff's performance, wellbeing, and willingness to stay.Join me for a conversation about:The impact of instant gratification on our ability to create a work-life balanceWhy we need harmony rather than separation between work and homeHow to create that harmony within your centerSpecific strategies to encourage work-life harmony and integrationLearn more and apply for the Director’s Inner Circle & Owner’s HQ: http://Chanie.me/jointhedic   Quality of life is an ongoing topic of conversation within our Owner's Only HQ and Director's Inner Circle membership programs. If you're looking to get support and solutions from other leaders who are on the same journey, I encourage you to fill out an application. In addition to an incredible community, members also gain access to tools, resources, and coaching that can help them build schools 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.

What does it feel like when you belong?It's not always easy to put into words, but when you know, you know.Think about what it's like to go to the mall. Each of its stores has a unique environment and style that appeal to different types of people—you won't find the same crowd in Abercrombie & Fitch as you would in Old Navy.The reason for that has to do with belonging.Even if you can't explain why, you feel drawn to certain stores over others because in some way, they make you feel like part of a community—one that welcomes you in without judgment.It's an experience that many leaders have had at our Summit of Excellence, including Sheila Smozynski. At last year's event, Sheila was deeply moved by the connection she felt with other owners and directors:"This room is a safe space. I feel so supported! People shared hard things at the table, and there were tears. I feel I can relate, and most importantly, I belong here! I can share my story because no one will judge me. Chanie created an energy in the room where we all just want to connect and build relationships." Feeling like you belong is a powerful experience. It has the potential to make or break the way you feel about an entire community of people.And that's exactly why it's so important that you nourish a sense of belonging among your staff.Creating a culture of community in your center not only supports the health and well-being of your staff, but it also makes them want to stay—which is what so many owners and directors need during a time when staffing is such a hot topic within the early childhood education space.In this week's podcast episode, I'm diving into the first of a multipart series on building a culture of retention within your center. To begin, I'm focusing on the role of gratitude and community in creating an environment that your staff are excited to be a part of.Join me for a conversation about:Why retention continues to be a struggle for early childhood education programsCommunity and what it means to design a culture of belongingWhy the way you were raised affects your mindset toward communityHow the gratitude matrix can make staff feel valued and appreciated Learn more and apply for the Director’s Inner Circle & Owner’s HQ: http://Chanie.me/jointhedic  I love doing these deep dive series together, but in truth, there's so much more to explore than I could ever put in a podcast. If you want to go even deeper in building a culture of retention and challenge yourself as a leader, our Owner's Only HQ and Director's Inner Circle membership programs are the perfect space for you. You'll have the opportunity to grow alongside other leaders through a combination of tools, resources, and coaching that will help you build a school of excellence and leave behind a legacy. 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.

Within the early childhood education space, many owners have dreams of growing their centers but are hesitant about taking on investors. Oftentimes, their skepticism stems from the fear of their vision being compromised by a loss of control and misaligned values.And while this is a valid concern, it's also misplaced.Taking on an investor isn't like hiring a boss. It's not about handing over the power to the person with the most capital.Instead, working with an investor is like building a partnership. The goal is to find a person who understands your vision and shares your values, so they can help you build your legacy.In this week's podcast episode, I'm sitting down with my long-time collaborator and friend, Scott Wayman of Kangarootime, to chat about how to change the narrative surrounding investors and funding in the early childhood education space.Join us for a conversation about:Scott's journey in building his business as someone from a modest backgroundHis experience finding Kangarootime's first investorWhat you should look for in an investorHow to prepare your business for seeking out capital fundingThe latest exciting updates from KangarootimeLearn more and apply for the Director’s Inner Circle & Owner’s HQ: http://Chanie.me/jointhedic  Capital funding and investment partnerships are just one aspect of building your legacy. Through our Owner's Only HQ and Director's Inner Circle membership programs, you can join other leaders who are working toward creating schools of excellence and gain access to tools, resources, community, and coaching that will help you achieve your goals. Speaking of partnerships, this year I'm collaborating with Kangarootime by participating as a speaker at their annual Bounce conference for childcare owners and leaders. I'll be one of many experts and business owners presenting on topics related to the industry. You can find out more about the conference and grab your ticket here: https://www.bounceconference.com/registrationMore 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 all have limits to what we can tolerate… and what we can't.Once, I was working with a director who went into a tailspin if the grapes at snack time weren't sliced. Whenever she saw that a staff member had forgotten to slice them, she would react with panic and anger. While un-sliced grapes may not bother everyone to such a degree, they pushed this director to her limits.Whether it's fruit that's not cut or showing up late to meetings, everyone has different limits and triggers, and it's important to be aware of what they are—not just for your own sake but for the sake of your team and center.Your triggers can cause you to react harshly out of the blue, pushing your team and staff into a state of hypervigilance. And once they've entered that state, they're more likely to make mistakes with the important tasks you delegate. This can lead you to think they're not fit for the role when, in reality, they just might need more patience and guidance to be successful.So, how do you know when it's really time to fire someone?This week's podcast episode is the final in a three-part series exploring the Delegation Dip and how you as a leader can respond—rather than react—to this phenomenon. This week, I'm talking about how your triggers may be causing you to fire quality team members too early and what you can do about it.Join me for a conversation about:How the "hire slow, fire fast" paradigm lacks the nuance of realityUnderstanding the triggers that may cause you to overreact to performanceHow to know if you're firing too quicklyThe difference between standards and expectationsIt's tempting to want to look at firing in a black-and-white way. But the reality is far less simple. Deciding when to retain a team member (or when to let them go) requires that you lead with discernment—a skill that you'll continue to build as you grow in your leadership.Learn more and apply for the Director’s Inner Circle & Owner’s HQ: http://Chanie.me/jointhedic  Discernment is just one of the skills we work on in the Schools of Excellence Owner's Only HQ and Director's Inner Circle membership programs. If you're looking to gain access to tools, resources, community, and coaching that will help you take your leadership to the next level, I encourage you to apply today.As a member, you'll also be able to take advantage of our new partnership with BetterHelp, the world's largest online counseling provider. We've partnered with BetterHelp because we value the mental health and emotional wellbeing of our leaders. So, together we're giving our members (plus their leadership teams and staff) one FREE month of counseling, as well as 15% off for all future sessions.  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 if I told you that training a new team member wasn't much different from coaching an Olympian?Bear with me for a second.When you coach your son's Little League baseball team, you're likely giving him and all his teammates one of their first introductions to the sport. That means you have to teach them every aspect of the game—from their batting technique to how to lose gracefully.That's going to be very different from the experience of a coach who's training an Olympian, someone who's already the best of the best at what they do.And yet… Olympians still need to be coached.The difference between coaching Little League and coaching Olympians (aside from the obvious age and size difference) lies in what the athletes need to be coached on.The same can be said within the context of your center. Do you see where I'm going with this? If not, keep reading.Of course, every school leader wants to hire an "Olympian"—the team member who can hold their own and exceed expectations.But hiring a top-notch employee doesn't mean that person doesn't need any training at all. In fact, falling into the trap of thinking you can leave them to their own devices is an example of neglect, and it happens all too often.This week's podcast episode is the second in a three-part series exploring the Delegation Dip and how you as a leader can respond—rather than react—to this phenomenon. This week, I'm talking about neglect, which is the sneakiest reaction to the Delegation Dip.Join me for a conversation about:What neglect is and why it happensThe signs of neglect and how it develops over timeIts effect on relationships in the workplaceHow to course correct once you've identified itTo be successful, every team member—whether closer to the Olympian or Little League end of the spectrum—needs loving guidance and support, no matter how capable they are. As a leader, it's up to you to ensure that no one gets left behind.Learn more and apply for the Director’s Inner Circle & Owner’s HQ: http://Chanie.me/jointhedic   At Schools of Excellence we're committed to supporting the mental health and emotional wellbeing of our leaders. That's why we've partnered with BetterHelp, the world's largest online counseling provider, to give our members (plus their leadership teams and staff) one FREE month of counseling, as well as 15% off for all future sessions. If you aren't currently a member but would like to benefit from our partnership with BetterHelp, you can fill out an application for our Owner's Only HQ and Director's Inner Circle membership programs. As a member, you'll not only have the chance to invest in your mental health but also gain access to tools, resources, community, and coaching that will support you on your journey to 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.

Discernment is a topic I address here often, and for good reason: It's a key ingredient to many aspects of strong leadership.One of the areas in which discernment is especially important is delegation.Whether at home with your family or at school with your team, there are times to delegate and there are times to maintain ownership of tasks. Just as you wouldn't delegate the responsibility of driving your car to your 12-year-old son, you wouldn't delegate a high-level, mission-critical task to someone who's new to the school or their role.And when you do decide it's appropriate to delegate a task, it's important that you keep in mind what I call the "Delegation Dip."The Delegation Dip is a 3–6 month period where the one who's newly responsible for a task is still learning the ropes. During this time, no matter how qualified the person may be, they're likely to underperform as they learn how to meet (and exceed) expectations.It can be extremely difficult for leaders to be patient during the Delegation Dip—usually because they care so deeply about the overall outcome. And that can lead to three different negative behaviors: micromanaging, neglecting, and hiring too soon.This week's podcast episode is the first in a three-part series exploring the Delegation Dip and how you as a leader can respond—rather than react—to this phenomenon. Today, I'm discussing micromanaging, the first of the three most common negative reactions to the Delegation Dip.Join me for a conversation about:The process of deciding when to delegateThe Delegation Dip and the three most common ways leaders react to itWhat micromanaging looks likeHow you can avoid micromanaging during the Delegation DipLearn more and apply for the Director’s Inner Circle & Owner’s HQ: http://Chanie.me/jointhedic  As excited as I am about this podcast series, I'm really only able to scratch the surface of the Delegation Dip and the role it may be playing in your center. If you want to dive deeper into this and other aspects of leadership, you should apply to join our Owner's Only HQ and Director's Inner Circle membership programs, where you'll gain access to tools, resources, community, and coaching that will help you build a school of excellence.In addition, as a member, you'll also have a chance to take advantage of our new partnership with BetterHelp, the world's largest online counseling provider. As part of our commitment to supporting the mental and emotional wellbeing of our leaders, we're working with BetterHelp to give our members (plus their leadership teams and staff) one FREE month of counseling, as well as 15% off for all future sessions.  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 you go to a restaurant, the quality of the food is critical to whether or not you like the restaurant and want to go back. But food isn't the only thing that matters, is it? There are a lot of other aspects of the experience that are just as important, if not more so. The service, atmosphere, and cost are just a few things that come to mind.Well, the same can be said about early childhood education. Just like the food at a restaurant, the children are the highest priority at your school. Their health, safety, and education are at the center of everything you do.But the parent experience is also absolutely critical to a child's success, which means that they, too, deserve careful attention.In this week's podcast episode, I'm sitting down with Ron Spreeuwenberg, the Co-Founder & CEO of HiMama, a software company that helps early childhood education centers manage their schools, engage parents, and support their staff.During the episode, Ron and I chat about why the parent experience is so important to early childhood education centers and what you and your team can be doing to make it more of a priority this year.Join us for a conversation about:The story and values behind HiMamaWhy parent communication and engagement is so criticalHow to better address the concerns of today's parentsWhat early childhood education leaders need to be thinking about for 2023Learn more and apply for the Director’s Inner Circle & Owner’s HQ: http://Chanie.me/jointhedic   At Schools of Excellence we value the mental health and emotional well being of our leaders. That's why we've partnered with BetterHelp, the world's largest online counseling provider, to give our members (plus their leadership teams and staff) one FREE month of counseling, as well as 15% off for all future sessions. If you aren't currently a member but would like to benefit from our partnership with BetterHelp, you can fill out an application for our Owner's Only HQ and Director's Inner Circle membership programs. As a member, you'll not only have the chance to invest in your mental health but also gain access to tools, resources, community, and coaching that will support you on your journey to 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.