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

Many school leaders feel time-pressured, tethered to their smartphones so they can stay on top of work and home responsibilities. It can be tough to step off the daily merry-go-round, put your phones, laptops, and to-do lists aside, and find decent chunks of quiet time to reflect on your life. In fact, we may not even be sure how. Today’s episode is number 50 for the Schools of Excellence Podcast! With this milestone, it’s also an invitation to pause. An invitation to tune into your body and mind and what you need. Consider this a sign that it's high time you intentionally took a break from your daily hustle and just rested. Pause your mind from the productive work mode and get into play mode. If you have no idea of how to do this, tune in! Resources and links mentioned in this episode: Access the Teacher Training Vault: https://schoolsofexcellence.com/early-childhood-teacher-trainings/ Access the Confidence and Resiliency Training: https://discovered.thrivecart.com/confidence-resiliency-training/ Sign up 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 a 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 everyday which impact yourself, your teachers, parents, family, and children who you serve everyday.

If you rely solely on referrals to fuel your school, you’re making one of the most common mistakes a school leader can make. This puts the fate of your school entirely into the hands of your school’s families. They determine when (or if) you get your next family. Today, I’m excited to share with you my interview with Mike Michalowicz. Instead of living in the constant cycle of feast or famine, Mike Michalowicz shares a way to keep the “marketing machine” running 24/7 to help you attract the best possible families. This simple 3-step method is all about being different instead of just being “better”. Mike is a New York Times bestselling author with over 2 million readers and leads two multi-million-dollar ventures. He is a former small business columnist for The Wall Street Journal and business makeover specialist on MSNBC. Mike is a popular main stage keynote speaker on innovative entrepreneurial topics; and is the author of Get Different, Fix This Next, Clockwork, Profit First, Surge, The Pumpkin Plan and The Toilet Paper Entrepreneur. Last week his newest book, Get Different, was released. Listen now to my interview with Mike to hear his strategies on how to stand out from the crowd, and start bringing in more families by being different. In this special guest episode, we speak about: Specific ways of how child care leaders can get different and differentiate their marketing. Why Mike decided to write Get Different, his most recent book. How Mike’s approach to marketing strategies is a gateway to eradicating entrepreneurial poverty. What makes you stand out from your competition. How to come up with creative marketing ideas that will have families referring more people to you. .. and so much more! Connect with Mike Michalowicz: Get his new book, Get Different: https://gogetdifferent.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mikemichalowicz/?hl=en Resources and links mentioned in this episode: Access the Teacher Training Vault: https://schoolsofexcellence.com/early-childhood-teacher-trainings/ Access the Confidence and Resiliency Training: https://discovered.thrivecart.com/confidence-resiliency-training/ Sign up 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 a 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 everyday which impact yourself, your teachers, parents, family, and children who you serve everyday.

Sometimes we think we can plan our way out of chaos, or if we plan enough then we can avoid chaos entirely. But this isn’t always the case. Because you can never plan enough! That’s the perfectionist mindset. What you actually need is the mental toughness and resilience to rise back up again after chaos. In today’s episode, I take you through a few common things regarding chaos that I see in schools, and some powerful ways to combat it. If you’d like to know why having a community that understands that chaos and ambiguity are part of leadership, tune in! In a nutshell, I speak about: The mindset around navigating through a season of chaos. The biggest indicator of getting staff into chaos Normalizing what is developmentally appropriate for your staff. Why you should stop trying to make things easier in every given moment. … and so much more! Resources and links mentioned in this episode: Access the Teacher Training Vault: https://schoolsofexcellence.com/early-childhood-teacher-trainings/ Access the Confidence and Resiliency Training: https://discovered.thrivecart.com/confidence-resiliency-training/ Sign up 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 a 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 everyday which impact yourself, your teachers, parents, family, and children who you serve everyday.

I know you have hundreds of things you wish you could do with your life, but you just can’t find the time, right? You want to read a book, learn to cook, watch a drama series, exercise, practice yoga, walk your dog, build a school of excellence, and still be able to spend quality time with your family. But you just don’t have enough time for all these. It is not that you don’t have enough time, instead, it is because you don’t really know how to manage yourself and your time. After all, every one of us was given the same amount of time each day. In today’s episode, I share tips on how to get out of the time poverty mindset and into the time abundance mindset. Truth is, time is a mindset. And you can only break free from being in time poverty to time abundance by understanding what time poverty actually means. Tune in to today’s episode to learn more about: What time poverty actually is and what it’s not. Why you should stop saying, “I don’t have time” and replace that with, “This is not a priority for me right now” The side effect of wanting less. Tracking your time for a gut check of where your time is going. How doing more for other people contributes to a time abundance mindset. … and so much more! Resources and links mentioned in this episode: Ever wish you had access to a toolkit that combines Parent-Teacher Conferences, a guide for Having Difficult Conversations, Teacher Appreciation Ideas and a To-Do List Management guide? Access the School Leadership Tool Kit: http://chanie.me/toolkit Sign up 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 a 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 everyday which impact yourself, your teachers, parents, family, and children who you serve everyday.

Welcome back to the new school year! After the roller coaster ride of the past school year, school leaders will be bracing themselves for all kinds of challenges this year. However, what still seems to be missing is the ability to reflect: to stand back and consider issues deeply – and to look honestly at themselves as leaders. It isn’t surprising that school leaders find this difficult, given the unparalleled changes businesses have faced in recent years. In today’s episode, I take a moment to remind you why you need to schedule 15-minute meetings with yourself in this new school year. A meeting with yourself can be very casual. The main point of the meeting is to set aside enough time to really reevaluate the goals you’ve set for yourself (and your team) and decide which to keep pursuing and which to move, reevaluate, or terminate altogether. In a nutshell, I talk about: How to focus on the big picture during your personal meetings. Critical questions to consistently ask yourself for a better life. Why you shouldn’t talk about your dreams with people whose job is to protect you. How to rewire your brain to become the leader that you've always wanted to be. … and so much more! Resources and links mentioned in this episode: Ever wish you knew EXACTLY what to say to a Teacher, Parent or Admin Team in a Hard Moment? Access the scripts workbook http://chanie.me/scripts Sign up 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 a 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 everyday which impact yourself, your teachers, parents, family, and children who you serve everyday.

Grace is a word that's rarely spoken about in the realm of leadership. Because as leaders of schools of excellence, we often want it all. We want things done quickly. And we want to get it right every single time. But what isn't typically spoken about is the level of grace and responsibility required in our lives in order to balance leadership with understanding and action with outcomes. Which is truly necessary for transforming into the leader we need to become. But how do we lead through this tension of grace and responsibility? In today’s episode, I speak about how to balance leadership, responsibility and grace. I also share some of the feedback I got from our Facebook group Schools of Excellence Lounge, of when people most want grace from their teams. By the end of this episode, you’ll realize that there’s no better way to define a school of excellence than one where your staff learn to give grace to each other. In a nutshell, I talk about: Leading from a place of generosity versus obligation. Respecting that people look at things from different perspectives. Giving your team grace but still holding them accountable. Being compassionate to yourself (and your team) when you make mistakes. Leading with empathy without being taken advantage of. …. and so much more! Click Here to Listen on Apple Podcasts Click Here to Listen on Non-Apple Devices Resources and links mentioned in this episode: Ever wish you knew EXACTLY what to say to a Teacher, Parent or Admin Team in a Hard Moment? Access the scripts workbook HERE Sign up for the Director’s Inner Circle & Owner's HQ HERE 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 a 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 everyday which impact yourself, your teachers, parents, family, and children who you serve everyday.

When was the last time you stepped out of your comfort zone and tried something different? Did you know that your life begins where your comfort zone ends? While it is easy to develop a routine and stick to it, switching things up and putting yourself out there will open more opportunities for you and your school. In today’s episode, I talk about the 5 signs you are too comfortable and need to take some risks. Taking risks isn’t exactly fun (at least not for most people), but it’s a necessary part of life. In fact, risk is pretty much built into every aspect of life. SO how can you get more comfortable with taking risks? Tune in to learn more! In a nutshell I talk about: Why failure needs to be in your vocabulary in order to grow as a leader. How lack of questions is an indicator of you not pushing yourself enough. Why you should pay attention to your thought process when you encounter an obstacle. How to lead with questions rather than answers Click Here to Listen on Apple Podcasts Click Here to Listen on Non-Apple Devices Resources and links mentioned in this episode: Ever wish you knew EXACTLY what to say to a Teacher, Parent or Admin Team in a Hard Moment? Access the scripts workbook HERE Sign up for the Director’s Inner Circle & Owner's HQ HERE 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 a 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 everyday which impact yourself, your teachers, parents, family, and children who you serve everyday.

Summer is winding down, and every teacher has plans in the works as they look forward to the new school year. Whether you run a private school or a child care facility, it’s time to make some plans to get your school ready! In today’s episode, I talk about a very interesting concept - winning. We all want to win. Winning gives us a high because of the adrenaline rush that comes with something that we've worked really hard to achieve. And at the same time, winning is a word that you get to decide what meaning you want to attach to it. It can be used to define how confident we are to show up, the risks that we are willing to take and the courageousness with which we enter difficult conversations. If you are looking to set up your staff for success by defining what winning looks like, this episode is for you! In a nutshell, I talk about: How winning defines how we show up to the world. How teachers define success in their minds and what you need to do about it. The success experience – what it is and what it is not. And how to help your staff redefine success in their role in the context of different challenges that come up. Click Here to Listen on Apple Podcasts Click Here to Listen on Non-Apple Devices Resources and links mentioned in this episode: Sign up for the Elevate to Delegate Workshop at HERE 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 a 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 everyday which impact yourself, your teachers, parents, family, and children who you serve everyday.

Starting off the new school year on the right note will set up your school for excellence. As a school leader, the last thing you’d want is overloading your staff with content, hence the reason why you need to break it down into segments. And the segments are divided based on how the brain processes information. In today’s episode, I share a segment of training that took place inside our Director’s Inner Circle & Owner's HQ flagship program. I created this training to teach our members how they can lead and prepare for their first staff meeting. And as our amazing podcast listeners, we are sharing this section as a special gift to you! Tune in to learn more about: How to lead your first staff meeting. What to talk about during your first staff meeting. How to divide the time blocks during your meeting. Some of the exercises to do and the questions to ask your teams. Staff meeting headline ideas and tips for choosing them. How to tell if you and your team are getting results and growing your mindset Why you should be specific about the kind of results you are after as the school leader. Ideas for helping your staff lean on each other. And how to wrap up your staff meeting. Click Here to Listen on Apple Podcasts Click Here to Listen on Non-Apple Devices Are you a school owner focused on growing and scaling your center? And trying to build a stellar team to help you accomplish your growth goals? Join me on Tuesday, August 24th for a LIVE 90-minute workshop. Delegate To Elevate: Roles & Responsibilities of a High-Performing Team. To learn more at chanie.me/delegatetoelevate Resources and links mentioned in this episode: Sign up for the Elevate to Delegate Workshop at chanie.me/delegatetoelevate Sign up for the Director’s Inner Circle & Owner's HQ 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 that impact yourself, your teachers, parents, family, and children who you serve every day.

Great school leaders use a variety of tools to maximize their impact as leaders. One of them is leadership philosophies that are helpful in establishing their leadership framework. Leadership philosophies are developed over time, with experience, and are not role or company-specific. They are both deeply personal and always professional, conveying not only priorities, expectations, and communication style but also values and morals. In today’s episode, I speak about how to create a personal leadership philosophy, and why it is important. I know you probably already have your leadership philosophy - the way that you choose to lead and manage your people - and so I want you to take a moment and pause. Take a moment to reflect, slow down and really understand what your leadership approach is. Your leadership philosophy defines your reputation and your character in your organization and beyond. In this episode, I speak about: How to approach personal and company leadership. The micromanager vs the hands-off leadership approach and why they are interdependent. The three parts of my personal leadership philosophy and how they manifest in my day to day. The challenges of living up to your leadership philosophy. … and so much more! Click Here to Listen on Apple Podcasts Click Here to Listen on Non-Apple Devices Are you a school owner focused on growing and ki scaling your center? And trying to build a stellar team to help you accomplish your growth goals? Join me on Tuesday, August 24th for a LIVE 90-minute workshop. Delegate To Elevate: Roles & Responsibilities of a High-Performing Team. To learn more CLICK HERE or go to chanie.me/delegatetoelevate Resources and links: Access the unique Confidence and Resilience Training using this link: chanie.me/confidencetoolkit Here are some other ways The Schools of Excellence can help you and your staff. Access the Intentional Play Builder: https://discovered.thrivecart.com/the-intentional-play-builder/ Access ​the School Leadership Toolkit: https://schoolsofexcellence.com/the-school-leadership-toolkit/ Access ​the Early Childhood Teacher Bundle: https://schoolsofexcellence.com/early-childhood-teacher-trainings/ 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 a 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 everyday which impact yourself, your teachers, parents, family, and children who you serve everyday.

Today’s episode is the second episode in our special summer series! This summer series is all about the different ways that you can prepare yourselves for the upcoming school year. After nearly two decades in this field and speaking with hundreds of school owners and directors. There are very specific patterns of behavior I have noticed in successful school leaders. In this episode, I share the top 5 signs of a thriving school leader and how you can incorporate them as you continue to build your school of excellence and leave your legacy. In a nutshell, I speak about: Communication - a thriving leader is one that builds time into their calendar to speak to their teams. The importance of celebrating wins and success even though it is very easy to get pulled into hardships and what is and isn't working. The biggest mindset shift that school leaders need to make - investing in their people. How strategy can be likened to planning a trip and how it plays a key role in successful school leadership. How radical self awareness will change your entire life. … and so much more! Click Here to Listen on Apple Podcasts Click Here to Listen on Non-Apple Devices Resources and links mentioned in this episode: Access the unique Confidence and Resilience Training using this link: chanie.me/confidencetoolkit Here are some other ways The Schools of Excellence can help you and your staff. Access the Intentional Play Builder: https://discovered.thrivecart.com/the-intentional-play-builder/ Access ​the School Leadership Toolkit: https://schoolsofexcellence.com/the-school-leadership-toolkit/ Access ​the Early Childhood Teacher Bundle: https://schoolsofexcellence.com/early-childhood-teacher-trainings/ 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 a 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 everyday which impact yourself, your teachers, parents, family, and children who you serve everyday.

Soon the last weeks of summer will be upon us, the new school year is right around the corner. New beginnings always have a few pieces to them. There is the joy of something new and there is the anticipation of the transitions. Sometimes we can overthink the new year - which is why I created this episode. Today I share the eight guideposts to prepare you for an amazing school year. As a school leader, you probably will spend at least some of your summer vacation planning for the new school year. While planning and organizing are important, It's equally vital to understand how to prepare your OWN mindset for the new year. Remember the ripple effect episode I did in the beginning? You are at the center of it all. In a nutshell, I talk about: What happens in moments of survival when survival becomes a habit. The 8 signs of survival habits and what to do in order to get out of survival mode. Powerful strategies to gear you up and set you up for success for the new school year. Why asking for help is a huge component of my leadership philosophy. … and so much more! Click Here to Listen on Apple Podcasts Click Here to Listen on Non-Apple Devices Resources and links mentioned in this episode: Access the unique Confidence and Resilience Training using this link: chanie.me/confidencetoolkit Here are some other ways The Schools of Excellence can help you and your staff. Access the Intentional Play Builder: https://discovered.thrivecart.com/the-intentional-play-builder/ Access ​the School Leadership Toolkit: https://schoolsofexcellence.com/the-school-leadership-toolkit/ Access ​the Early Childhood Teacher Bundle: https://schoolsofexcellence.com/early-childhood-teacher-trainings/ 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 a 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 everyday which impact yourself, your teachers, parents, family, and children who you serve everyday.

Summer is such an exciting time! It is a season filled with so many great ideas which if not well thought out, will never get to see the light of day. Tune in to today's episode to learn how the IRER method has been a game-changer for me and my family. Planning for summer using the IRER method has 4 parts to it. Intention, Reflection, Experience, and Rhythms. Why intention? Because there is a very big difference between creating an intentional plan and playing it cool. Reflecting on your wins reminds you how far you have come, and how much more you are capable of achieving. While experiences allow you to schedule your life, rhythms help you stick to the schedule! Some of the episode highlights include: What it means to start with intention and what is in it for you. Building the confidence and a mindset to stop falling apart when chaos happens. Reflective questions to ask yourself as you plan out your summer. Some of the rhythms that my family and I are bringing back this summer. ... and so much more! Remember, rhythms create a culture and become part of who you are as a family. Click Here to Listen on Apple Podcasts Click Here to Listen on Non-Apple Devices Resources and links mentioned in this episode: What Stage of the Pyramid of Excellence are you in? Answer a few questions to find out at chanie.me/pyramid Access the Reflective Questions for the End of the School Year via: chanie.me/reflectivequestions Check out the unique confidence and Resilience training using this link: chanie.me/confidencetoolkit Want your staff to be more confident? Want your team to be resilient in the face of constant changes? Your staff needs tools and strategies to learn how to choose how they show up. Pre-Order my Confidence and Resiliency Trainingtoday at chanie.me/confidencetoolkit This 30-minute recorded training will guide your team on the 3 essential ingredients to become confident and resilient. Get it Now → chanie.me/confidencetoolkit 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 a 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 everyday which impact yourself, your teachers, parents, family, and children who you serve everyday.

Are you on the verge of falling apart and wondering whether this is what resilience for school leaders looks like? Having an amazing school is not a result of having amazing systems or infrastructure. While those are important and critical for success, the leaders who truly excel are those that have built strong, confident, and resilient toolkits. The ones that have fully understood their stress cycles and helped their team do the same. In today's episode, I speak about building your confidence and resilience toolkit. This toolkit is mainly built by becoming self-aware and taking the necessary steps towards improving yourself. Tune in to learn more about: What a confidence and resilience toolkit is How to recognize your stress cycles and invite calm into your life. The best way to combat burnout, staff quitting or high turnover rates and building a culture of excellence Why you constantly need to be investing in your skillset. The self-awareness questions to ask yourself if you are looking to build your confidence. ... and so much more! Remember, wise people do not catch up, they learn how to close their skill gap. Click Here to Listen on Apple Podcasts Click Here to Listen on Non-Apple Devices Resources and links mentioned in this episode: Check out the unique confidence and Resilience training using this link: chanie.me/confidencetoolkit Want your staff to be more confident? Want your team to be resilient in the face of constant changes? Your staff needs tools and strategies to learn how to choose how they show up. Pre-Order my Confidence and Resiliency Training today at chanie.me/confidencetoolkit This 30-minute recorded training will guide your team on the 3 essential ingredients to become confident and resilient. Get it Now → chanie.me/confidencetoolkit 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 a 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 everyday which impact yourself, your teachers, parents, family, and children who you serve everyday.

In today’s episode, I speak with a close friend and guest expert, Sally Haughey, CEO and Founder of FairyDust Teaching. FairyDust started in 2010 as a space for Sally, an early childhood educator to blog out her thoughts and ideas. She was in a highly academic setting and still wanted to bring in the wonder to her classroom. From there it expanded and grew. FairyDust Teaching has cultivated a community from over 101 countries. Sally has authored several books, including The Wonder Art Workshop and Through the Child's Eyes. She has been producing dynamic Play conferences/summits since 2014, has offered hundreds of PD hours through online professional development courses, the Wunder-Led certification program, and the Wonder League membership program. In this episode, we speak about: Sally’s childhood experiences with wonder and play How Sally’s personal pathways have helped her to harness her own inner wisdom. Sally’s early days as a teacher, and how she was hunting for answers that actually didn't exist. The values, the principles, and the character that continues to guide Sally’s pursuit in building FairyDust Teaching. Her core message to you who is listening today. … and so much more! Join The Free to Play Summit on July 12-16 at chanie.me/freetoplay The Free to Play Summit has gathered 25+ of the best and brightest experts in early childhood education from six continents. Each will share their observations, insights, and ideas, and together engage this moment to create a better world for young children, their caretakers, and their teachers. The conference offers strategies and tools for both early years educators and parents of children up to 5 years of age. It will be online live July 12th through July 16th. The Free to Play Summit, which is THE place to confidently own your personal approach to play-based learning in your classroom. My friend Sally Haughey, founder of Fairy Dust Teaching and creator of the Play-Activated Learning® model, has created an incredible 5-day guided journey that is 100% online and available worldwide. You’ll get 26 hours of online learning, absolutely free. Fairy Dust Teaching has been hosting this incredible event for years (this is the “original” that has inspired countless others to host their own summits!). Even better, this summit has been designed to give you something more - your OWN map to play. Over 5 days, you’ll listen in on conversations with a curated global panel of educators and experts — not to replicate their approach, but to truly discover your own. Piece by piece, day by day, the summit will help you borrow new insights and the latest research, then combine them with your own ideas — so you can construct your bespoke map for teaching through play, your way. As you build your map, you’ll identify the personal values, ideals, and principles that will guide your practice. With your FREE access to the summit, you’ll receive the full “make your own map” experience. Secure your spot! chanie.me/freetoplay The Summit kicks off July 12, 2021, and runs for 5 days entirely online. You will have 24 hours to access each day’s sessions.

Are you the kind of school leader that is obsessed with results? Do you find it hard to celebrate the small milestones that your school crosses and constantly in pursuit of ticking the next box? Do you constantly beat yourself up for not achieving certain goals? Well, you could be suffering from perfectionism! Yes, that’s a thing! In today’s episode, I speak about the 3 important steps to follow if you are looking to overcome the perfectionist mindset and focus on the process. And no, it’s not that I am encouraging you to settle for less – I want you to recognize that you must work hard in pursuit for excellence, and then accept whatever happens. Stop beating yourself up whenever outcomes do not meet your expectations. Waiting to only celebrate your wins is punishing yourself. You deserve more than that! Yes, you do! In this episode, I talk about: What perfection is and what it’s not. How to stop obsessing over the results and learn to fall in love with the process. The three steps to overcoming the perfectionist inside you. The reasons why you struggle appreciating feedback. How to start embracing your mistakes and failures, and seeing them as opportunities for improvement. ...and so much more! Remember, perfection is actually an addiction, because it is a form of distraction from action and progress. Click Here to Listen on Apple Podcasts Click Here to Listen on Non-Apple Devices Resources and links mentioned in this episode: Access the School Leadership Toolkit at chanie.me/toolkit Access the Time Management & Accountability Bundle at Chanie.me/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 a 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 everyday which impact yourself, your teachers, parents, family, and children who you serve everyday.

Sara Schreiner is the owner of sunshine Academy in Laurel Montana. She's married to Greg and the two of them have two children; Sophia-Jo and Wyatt who is six. Sara cares deeply about her team and the families that she serves. And her unshakable optimism and her mindset to be in the pursuit of excellence are truly remarkable. Sara has 25 teachers, 120 families, and 135 children that she's been entrusted to care for and serve. Today’s episode begins with Sara inviting us into her home on that fateful night in March when it all began. In this final episode of Stories of Resilience, we talk about: How she was quickly able to process the emotions that the pandemic brought. How she arrived at the really hard decision of remaining open amidst the pandemic. How Sara knew that the pandemic was going to impact people in a very traumatic way, and what she did about that. Sara’s unique parenting philosophy and how she incorporated it into the curriculum at Sunshine Academy. How she intentionally separated feedback from opinions and attacks. How she intentionally has practices that elevate her thinking and what she does to keep it consistent. How Sara has created healthy boundaries and how they help her live a beautiful quality of life. Creating boundaries around phone usage as part of your resilience training. How Sara is different now, from the person she was in January of 2020. How this season has been rough on both Sara’s personal and professional life. Some of her big dreams and what’s on the horizon for her and for her company. Sara Schreiner is a beacon of light and joy. What a privilege it is to work alongside her and be part of her journey! -------- Sign up for the Ideal Week for High Achieving School Leaders HERE The Ideal Week for High Achieving School Leaders Wednesday, June 23 - 12:00-1:00 pm EST (replay available) In this 90 Minute premium online masterclass, EC Leadership Coach, Chanie Wilschanski with the Schools of Excellence, will teach you the strategies on How to Set the Right Priorities to Build your School of Excellence This workshop features... 90 Minutes Workshop with Training and Done-With-You Implementation walk-thru Live Q&A with Chanie Workbook for Guided Implementation Access to Live Workshop & Lifetime Access to Recording Gain the input and advice from other High Achieving School Leaders on what's working and is driving their current success Practical plans and strategies to start putting into action in your school right away. The guidance from an industry expert, with over 15 years of experience in the field. And much more… Sign up for the Ideal Week for High Achieving School Leaders HERE ------- 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.

As a school leader, the urgent demands of life will always fight for your attention. And so you need to decide what gets your attention, not the other way around. Your ideal week is a week that you would have 100% control of what you could do with your week. If your week included all the things that could nourish you and your family, and take you closer to your legacy and impact, what activities would get your time? These are the activities that should be at the top of your priority list! In today’s episode, I share with you tips for crafting your ideal week, and what to do to achieve one. Over the years, I have come to realize that time is money; and the same way we guard our money should be the same way we guard our time! If you are looking to make your dream summer become a reality as the school year comes to a close, this episode is for you! In a nutshell, I cover: Treating your time like a budget (and sticking to it) The importance of scheduling empty space in your calendar Scheduling your life and being fully in charge of it ...and so much more! Click Here to Listen on Apple Podcasts Click Here to Listen on Non-Apple Devices Resources and links mentioned in this episode: Sign up for the Director’s Inner Circle & Owner's HQ HERE Access the School Leadership Toolkit HERE Sign up for the Ideal Week for High Achieving School Leaders HERE The Ideal Week for High Achieving School Leaders Wednesday, June 23 - 12:00-1:00 pm EST (replay available) In this 90 Minute premium online masterclass, EC Leadership Coach, Chanie Wilschanski with the Schools of Excellence, will teach you the strategies on How to Set the Right Priorities to Build your School of Excellence This workshop features... 90 Minutes Workshop with Training and Done-With-You Implementation walk-thru Live Q&A with Chanie Workbook for Guided Implementation Access to Live Workshop & Lifetime Access to Recording Gain the input and advice from other High Achieving School Leaders on what's working and is driving their current success Practical plans and strategies to start putting into action in your school right away. The guidance from an industry expert, with over 15 years of experience in the field. And much more… Sign up for the Ideal Week for High Achieving School Leaders HERE 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.

Jennifer Bulmer is the owner of Juvenescence Child Development Centre in Calgary, Alberta - in Canada. She is a proud mom to 2 teenage daughters ages 13 and 15. Jennifer’s humor, emotional intelligence, and wit consistently come across in our conversation today. Her attitude of “it's all gonna work out and be okay” has served her very well in life. With 25 teachers, 85 families, and 110 children, the news of the Covid pandemic coming closer to her school doors was something that she didn't have the heads up or ample time to prepare for. She shares how the pandemic affected her school's operations and how she managed to stay afloat. In this episode, we speak about: The strategies and resources Jennifer has used to make her school better. How Jennifer's intellectual wisdom, talent, and skills came in handy during a crisis. How Jennifer's mindset works within the constraints of the business. Where Jennifer's tenacity came from. How mindset is a ripple effect. How Jennifer creates time and space to show up for her leadership team, yourself, and her kids. The culture of connection and collaboration at Juvenescence Child Development Centre. Understanding the various ways through which one can show empathy and compassion to their team. ... and so much more! Resources and links mentioned in this episode: Access the Four Shields of a Difficult Conversation HERE Scripts Workbook https://discovered.thrivecart.com/script-workbook/ Sign up for the Ideal Week for High Achieving Owners Workshop HERE In this 90 Minute premium online masterclass, EC Leadership Coach and Host of The Schools of Excellence Podcast, Chanie Wilschanski, will teach you the strategies on How to Set the Right Priorities to Build your School of Excellence If you are ready to take your school to the next level of growth and are looking for support, community, and accountability to make that happen - then would love for you to apply for our director's inner circle or owners HQ program. Apply for the Director’s Inner Circle & Owner's HQ 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 a 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 addition to weekly solo episodes, she’ll also be inviting industry leaders and the changing makers of the landscape of education to give listeners insider knowledge of what it takes to sustain excellence.

So many of us get caught up in the different types of support that we need. Sometimes we think we only need financial support, or bookkeeping support, or tax accounting, or team support. And really, those are all peripheral. Those are all kinds of outside contextual things that every school leader needs. In today’s episode, I talk about the six types of support that you specifically need for yourself. So not for your team, not for your financial team, not for your administrative team, but specifically for you. When seeking the kind of support I talk about in this episode, it is important to check whether your mentor has walked down the path you are currently walking on. Choose people that have done what it is that you're trying to do, because this significantly increases your chances of succeeding. In a nutshell, I discuss: The 6 types of support that every school leader needs The difference between a mentor and a coach, and why you need both The 4 things to pay attention to when choosing a coach or mentor ...and so much more! Click Here to Listen on Apple Podcasts Click Here to Listen on Non-Apple Devices Resources and links mentioned in this episode: This week I opened of the doors to my membership program, Directors Inner Circle and Owners HQ. Sign up for the Director’s Inner Circle & Owner's HQ HERE If you are ready to take your school to the next level of growth and are looking for support, community and accountability to make that happen - then would love for you to apply for our directors inner circle or owners HQ program. Apply for the Director’s Inner Circle & Owner's HQ

It's the last day of the Build to Last Workshop! Directors and owners spend on average 4 hours solving fielding and solving problems from teachers a day. 4 HOURS! Navigating conflict is 90% of your job. This is why so many school leaders before joining our program are working 13 hour days, nights, and weekends. They are busy managing conflict all day that the only time they have to finish their to-do list is after hours. Today we learn to start solving that. Today we spoke about: The different types of conflict. Strategies on how to navigate & deal with conflict, and impossible conversations Determining how you want to show up and lead difficult conversations Click here to watch the replay. Didn’t grab your workbook yet, click here to download it. Today you also heard that I opened the doors for my flagship programs, the Director's Inner Circle and Owners HQ. I want to share with you just 10 of the 100 done for you systems and frameworks that we have inside the program. How to help teachers meet their deadlines How to hire and train staff How to conduct classroom observations The 6 performance keys assessment to see the teachers strengths and weaknesses The site tour audit - How to observe your locations and make improvements The daily huddle - how to ensure all admin team are on the same page Effective meeting blueprint - how to plan, lead and succeed at every staff meeting Leadership habits- the habits you need to succeed at school The parent meeting playbook - the entire meeting framework for how to meet with parents of children with challenging behavior The 4 parent archetypes - scripts and templates to connect with every type of parent These are just 10 of the 100 trainings waiting for you inside the membership And…. These trainings come with a personal accountability advisor. Someone who will show you HOW to implement this in your school. Education and information is NOT enough You need to know how to implement it in your school. Apply today! When you apply before Monday, June 7th at 7 pm EST you will receive the Early Bird Special- my Confidence and Resiliency Training, a $500 value- free!

Today is Day 3 of the Build to Last Workshop Series! In today's training, I discuss how to build a culture of excellence: Do you want staff that show up excited to work? Staff that supports each other? That don't have constant excuses and excessive call-outs? Staff that take responsibility and pride in their work? Today I'll cover: How do you envision a culture of innovation and risk-taking? Why gifts are not gratitude and that doesn’t build culture Understanding why teachers and staff members play it safe 10 Ways to build culture consistently The difference between gratitude and appreciation We invited our members, Sara and Susan, on to discuss their top strategies and habits to develop culture. Their habits will shock and inspire you! The top practices they implement to sustain culture Weaving values into everything they are doing Willingness to engage in difficult conversations Setting clear boundaries "I realized that culture wasn't just someone at the top sprinkling it down on everyone below them, it is more about training each person on their role and responsibility to define the culture." Sara “As I created clearer boundaries, the teachers are actually excited to invite me into their classrooms to observe!” Susan Click here to watch the replay. Didn’t grab your workbook yet, click here to download it. See you tomorrow!

Are you ready to create a calendar that serves you and leads to NO MORE INTERRUPTIONS? So many directors and owners come to me and tell me they are so overwhelmed or that they are working 12 hour days because they have too long to-do lists or because they are wearing too many hats in their school. It DOESN'T have to be that way. Today I discussed: 3 Myths of the school leaders time “I always need to be available” "I’m the only one who can do this job well” "I use my time well - there just isn’t enough time in the day” Block and Tackle method - a powerful strategy to ensure you don’t get interrupted. What is the definition of an emergency? Sample Theme Days - which is an organizing principle for how to show up in your day Our biggest takeaway from today... activities that aren't moving your school forward you need to delegate out. SPECIAL GUEST on today’s training was Jo David She is a director who shared her calendar She also spoke about How she took a day off even though she had 3 call-outs that morning Why she makes time to train her staff How she is removing 2 hours of work every day! Her theme days and how that is helping her school in this season of growth. and so much more This section with Jo is the last 30 minutes of the training. Resources Mentioned: Scripts Workbook Difficult Conversation Template Door Sign

Welcome to Day 1 of the Build to Last Workshops! Here's what you'll learn in Day 1 all about mindset and leadership: ✅ The 3 Pillars of Building a School of Excellence ✅ Leadership drills ✅ Set boundaries ✅ Relieve stress and invite calm into your life I know that we've had a hard year collectively. I want to show the tools and strategies so that you can navigate your life with more confidence. Join us LIVE from June 1-4 and sign up at chanie.me/buildtolast Chanie mentions: Difficult Conversation Template --------- If you are ready to take your school to the next level of growth and are looking for support, community and accountability to make that happen – then would love for you to apply for our directors inner circle or owners HQ program. Apply for the Director’s Inner Circle & Owner’s HQ

Investing in yourself is very scary because you have to take a bet on yourself. Yet it is one of the most valuable things you can do for yourself because growth doesn’t just happen, you need to make an intentional plan for it. Over time, I have realized that most leaders are afraid of investing in themselves simply because they don’t know if they are worth it! In today’s episode, I address this fear and tell you why you need to focus on investing in yourself. If you have been second-guessing yourself about this, consider today’s episode a sign! In a nutshell, I speak about: The 5 reasons why you should invest in yourself. The number 1 reason leaders don’t invest in themselves. How to challenge your mindset and disrupt your thinking. What happens if you don’t invest in yourself. Some questions to ask yourself before making the decision to invest in yourself. ...and so much more! Remember, not investing in yourself is a risk! You are risking that things will take care of themselves if you don’t invest in yourself and that you will figure everything out on your own! Resources and links mentioned in this episode: Sign up for the FREE Build to Last Workshop HERE A FREE 4-day sprint on June 1-4, 2021 to help you remove overwhelm and interruptions to building a calendar and life that serves your personal and professional leadership goals. What You Will Learn in Build to Last Workshop on June 1-4: #1: How to create a sustainable calendar that has priorities and projects that move your school forward You deserve to have more time for family and the quality of life you want. #2: The habits for a culture of excellence So you build a rhythm for how to design culture every day and you don’t wait for problems to happen. #3: How to create boundaries and finish your to-do list So you can leave work every day confident that that day's work is done. #4: The Four Types of Interteam Conflict So you have the tools and scripts to navigate difficult conversations and have positive results. Click HERE to Sign up for the Build to Last workshop 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 a beautiful quality of life.

Alex Bernath & Miken Oliver lead the Nourish Early Learning Center in Oregon, Ohio. Alex actually lives in Brooklyn, New York, and leads the center from there with her husband Josh and her two children ages one and three. Miken is the director of the day-to-day and is married to Tim and a mom of three children, ages five, three, and one. They have a pretty large center of 25 teachers, 95 families, and 114 children. Nourish is their mom’s school. Their mom took great pride in building and creating a legacy. When tragedy hit, and the sisters lost their mother, father, and their sister in a fatal car crash, they made a decision to keep their mom's legacy alive and continue the center. In today’s episode, Alex and Miken share their story and what running a school of excellence means to them. They talk about: Surviving loss and grief as part of building the mental resilience required in a strong leader. Their are practices around creating rest time and nurturing time for yourself. Learning the tools to release the stress of the day and how therapy has really impacted their lives. Some of the tough decisions they had to make during the pandemic. How all of their muscles - the communication, courage and leadership muscles - were stretched amidst the pandemic. How to effectively set and communicate your boundaries without coming off as selfish. Some of the dreams for Nourish Early Learning Center ...and so much more! ---------- Sign up for the Build to Last Workshop HERE A FREE 4-day sprint on June 1-4, 2021 to help you remove overwhelm and interruptions to building a calendar and life that serves your personal and professional leadership goals. What You Will Learn in Build to Last Workshop on June 1-4: #1: How to create a sustainable calendar that has priorities and projects that move your school forward You deserve to have more time for family and the quality of life you want. #2: The habits for a culture of excellence So you build a rhythm for how to design culture every day and you don’t wait for problems to happen. #3: How to create boundaries and finish your to-do list So you can leave work every day confident that that day's work is done. #4: The Four Types of Interteam Conflict So you have the tools and scripts to navigate difficult conversations and have positive results. Click HERE to Sign up for the Build to Last workshop 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 a beautiful quality of life.

May is an incredible time for reflection regardless of whether you run a 10-month or a 12-month academic school year. End-of-year reflections serve two important purposes - a gauge for determining how we can continuously improve on our processes and a reminder of the kind of mistakes we've made so that we can avoid making them in the subsequent years. The only way to have awareness of how far you've come is by being reflective of what you've done in the past academic year. In today's episode, I will take you through how to run an end-of-the-year staff meeting. I share with you some of the critical questions you should ask your staff, and how to use their feedback as a resource for future improvement. If you've been wanting to know how schools of excellence conduct their end-year staff meetings and why these meetings are usually very productive, this episode is for you! Remember, part of being an educator and building a school of excellence is wanting to consistently get better. And understanding how to wrap up the year really well is important in ensuring that your September is set up for success. In a nutshell, I speak about: The 3 reasons why an end-year review is so critical for your staff. The top 5 questions you need to ask at your end-year staff meetings. How to deduce meaningful information from the responses your staff give to the questions you ask. Strategies for helping your teachers own their development, become more accountable and believe that they have what it takes to teach in a school of excellence. ...and so much more! Click Here to Listen on Apple Podcasts Click Here to Listen on Non-Apple Devices Resources and links mentioned in this episode: Access the End of Year Reflective Questions Workbook for $9 HERE Directors Inner Circle or Owners HQ Member? Access the Reflective Questions HERE Access the School of Excellence Time Management Bundle for $47 HERE Sign up for the FREE Build to Last Workshop HERE A FREE 4-day sprint on June 1-4, 2021 to help you remove overwhelm and interruptions to building a calendar and life that serves your personal and professional leadership goals. What You Will Learn in Build to Last Workshop on June 1-4: #1: How to create a sustainable calendar that has priorities and projects that move your school forward You deserve to have more time for family and the quality of life you want. #2: The habits for a culture of excellence So you build a rhythm for how to design culture every day and you don’t wait for problems to happen. #3: How to create boundaries and finish your to-do list So you can leave work every day confident that that day's work is done. #4: The Four Types of Interteam Conflict So you have the tools and scripts to navigate difficult conversations and have positive results. Click HERE to Sign up for the Build to Last workshop 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 a beautiful quality of life.

Kathy Gray is the owner of Creative Creators Learning Centers in Williamsburg, Virginia. Kathy has 3 daughters ages 17-25 and regularly hangs out with them and has weekly trivia night. She leads 78 teachers, over 380 families, and has been through her share of challenges and personal health scares with her husband Curt. Kathy is an inspiration to school leaders everywhere for what's possible when you get deeply involved in the kind of life you want to create. She has sustained consistent growth in her journey as an owner and has stayed true to what she desires to build. She is committed to the opportunities that she wants to create for the people that she employs, and is indeed an inspiration to many school owners. Tune in to listen to a leader who takes her role of training and coaching her people very seriously. In a nutshell, Kathy talks about: Her husband's cancer diagnosis and how that changed the course of their life. Critical decisions that she's made around closures and what she wanted to do with the parents. Some of the practices that she's been so committed to have helped her ride this season with her team. Intentionally choosing to spend time in relationship building. How the community of other school owners has helped her pull herself out of some of those hardest, loneliest moments. Whether one has to walk through life and get older in order to develop a given midset. How to embrace growth and not be afraid of losing control. --------- Sign up for the Build to Last Workshop HERE A FREE 4-day sprint on June 1-4, 2021 to help you remove overwhelm and interruptions to building a calendar and life that serves your personal and professional leadership goals. What You Will Learn in Build to Last Workshop on June 1-4: #1: How to create a sustainable calendar that has priorities and projects that move your school forward You deserve to have more time for family and the quality of life you want. #2: The habits for a culture of excellence So you build a rhythm for how to design culture every day and you don’t wait for problems to happen. #3: How to create boundaries and finish your to-do list So you can leave work every day confident that that day's work is done. #4: The Four Types of Interteam Conflict So you have the tools and scripts to navigate difficult conversations and have positive results. Click HERE to Sign up for the Build to Last workshop 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 a beautiful quality of life.

Do you run your day, or does your day run you? Do you feel pulled in so many directions to the extent that you hardly can take a rest? I feel you. As a school leader, there are so many things you need to focus on. Yet the most constrained resource that you can never get back or never get more of is your time. This is why you need to be so vigilant about what your time is spent on! In today's episode, I speak about how you can come up with a system that works. A system that will have your school excelling and your teachers properly led. The pillars I speak about are what you need to focus on to build and grow your school. Tune in to learn more! In a nutshell, this episode covers: Why culture is not a project and why everything in your school is about culture Daily operating principles that will help build your school How your routines and habits are going to dictate the type of culture that you create in your school. Important leadership operating procedures that will help you become an amazing school leader Standard operating principles that will set your school apart ...and so much more! Remember, the standards of your school are directly linked to who you attract into your school. If you have been intending to create a system that allows you to focus on productive tasks, control your days and grow your school, this episode is for you! You actually might want to have a pen and paper close. Click Here to Listen on Apple Podcasts Click Here to Listen on Non-Apple Devices Resources and links mentioned in this episode: Access the School of Excellence scorecard HERE Sign up for the Build to Last Workshop HERE A FREE 4-day sprint on June 1-4, 2021 to help you remove overwhelm and interruptions to building a calendar and life that serves your personal and professional leadership goals. What You Will Learn in Build to Last Workshop on June 1-4: #1: How to create a sustainable calendar that has priorities and projects that move your school forward You deserve to have more time for family and the quality of life you want. #2: The habits for a culture of excellence So you build a rhythm for how to design culture every day and you don’t wait for problems to happen. #3: How to create boundaries and finish your to-do list So you can leave work every day confident that that day's work is done. #4: The Four Types of Interteam Conflict So you have the tools and scripts to navigate difficult conversations and have positive results. Sign up for the Build to Last workshop 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 a beautiful quality of life.

The first positive COVID case in Seattle Washington was announced in February 2020. As the rest of the nation went about their regular lives, Kerstin Brinson - the executive director at Kids Center - felt disbelief and shock as she bore witness to people going about their regular lives while it was already wreaking havoc on her 2 locations. As a leader of 50 teachers, over 100 families, and 150 children, she holds great responsibility for their well-being. On top of that, Kerstin is the wife to Jimmy and mother to Jenna who is 22, and Cassidy who is 6, who both come to the centers every day. Kerstin shares her experiences as the news began to spread throughout America, and even as the pandemic overstayed its welcome. She talks about: Why her survival instinct are so high and how the muscle memory of survival served her during those critical moments The kind of leadership skills that came in handy as COVID transferred how schools operated How to trust your decision-making capabilities and some of the critical decisions that Kerstin had to make Some of the mental health challenges that the pandemic brought forth, and how Kerstin and her team handles them Self-care tips that helped Kerstin stay afloat amidst a pandemic that wreaked havoc to the world’s economy The stigma associated with burnout, and how to change this narrative Why the decision to involve managers in the decision to lay off some of her teachers was one of the best decisions she made How being vulnerable to her managers helped them open up and share some of their greatest concerns ...and so much more! --------- Sign up for the Build to Last Workshop HERE A FREE 4-day sprint on June 1-4, 2021 to help you remove overwhelm and interruptions to building a calendar and life that serves your personal and professional leadership goals. What You Will Learn in Build to Last Workshop on June 1-4: #1: How to create a sustainable calendar that has priorities and projects that move your school forward You deserve to have more time for family and the quality of life you want. #2: The habits for a culture of excellence So you build a rhythm for how to design culture every day and you don’t wait for problems to happen. #3: How to create boundaries and finish your to-do list So you can leave work every day confident that that day's work is done. #4: The Four Types of Interteam Conflict So you have the tools and scripts to navigate difficult conversations and have positive results. Click HERE to Sign up for the Build to Last workshop 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 a beautiful quality of life.

Today’s episode is the final one in the four-part series of the Four Shields of Difficult Conversations. So far, I have talked about blaming, crying and deflection. Today I’ll be talking about the final shield - victimhood. Do you ever come across teachers whose life is a series of drama that is never their fault? They could be suffering from the victim mentality! When challenges occur in life, it’s easy to let our emotions get the best of us and assume that the world is out to get us. It’s okay to have a pity party now and then. However, if it gets out of hand, it’s easy to start floundering in victimhood. This episode covers: The difference between an actual victim and someone playing the victimhood card How to navigate your conversations with a staff member that has the victim mindset How to tap into level 1 of commitment inside a teacher with the victim mentality Questions you should be thinking about when entering into a conversation with someone that's possibly in the victim mindset and so much more! Remember, breaking the pattern of victimhood is possible if one is committed to it! If you want an easy strategy for dealing with victimhood as a shield for difficult conversations, this episode is for you! Click Here to Listen on Apple Podcasts Click Here to Listen on Non-Apple Devices Resources and links mentioned in this episode: Get your Scripts Workbook at $97 HERE Access the Difficult Conversations Template at $27 HERE Sign up for the Build to Last Workshop HERE A FREE 4-day sprint on June 1-4, 2021 to help you remove overwhelm and interruptions to building a calendar and life that serves your personal and professional leadership goals. What You Will Learn in Build to Last Workshop on June 1-4: #1: How to create a sustainable calendar that has priorities and projects that move your school forward You deserve to have more time for family and the quality of life you want. #2: The habits for a culture of excellence So you build a rhythm for how to design culture every day and you don’t wait for problems to happen. #3: How to create boundaries and finish your to-do list So you can leave work every day confident that that day's work is done. #4: The Four Types of Interteam Conflict So you have the tools and scripts to navigate difficult conversations and have positive results. Sign up for the Build to Last workshop 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 a beautiful quality of life.

Listen Friday mornings for new episode releases of the Stories of Resilience Series during May and June -- Today, tomorrow, and for an indefinite future We face the challenges of the ever-changing landscape of education. Our schools have seen hard times before In each of these cases the school leader's character, values, resilience, and mental strength have been put to the test. I'm excited to release a 6 part podcast series, The Stories of Resilience, where I share the stories of 6 school leaders who came together with their parents and teachers and made it out on the other side. I believe in the power of resilience to stand back up again. These stories are one of loss and grief yet consistent progress and inspiration. The past isn't a perfect guide to the present or into the future but to know that there are school leaders who have walked through difficult passages before, can help arm us against despair. These stories are vast and sometimes contradictory That's the dichotomy of leadership There is no single answer However, when leaders speak truth to the lies and excuses When compassionate leaders embrace the pain of the grief-stricken teachers and parents These moments shape the concepts and perceptions of the future leaders -- our children Our schools will always be complex There will always be challenges and obstacles And there is always a place for joy and for gratitude --- I’m excited to introduce to you the Stories of Resilience series. I had the opportunity to sit down with my first guest, Nicolene Santomartino. Nicolene is the mom of two, school leader of 10 teachers and 65 families. She holds great responsibility for the people in her care Many remember Italy as one of the largest hotspots for the chaos due to COVID. Nicolene walks us through her experience during this time. In this episode, Nicolene discusses: The strength she found from keeping promises Holding difficult conversations with teachers to maintain accountability during a difficult time How to effectively communicate with parents during difficult times How to show empathy without having negative information tear her down How she recognized burnout and how she built herself back up. How being vulnerable with staff empowered them to open up while feeling safe and realizing self-care is important And so much more. The Difficult Conversation Template ---- If you are ready to take your school to the next level of growth and are looking for support, community, and accountability to make that happen - then would love for you to apply for our director's inner circle or owners HQ program. Apply for the Director’s Inner Circle & Owner's HQ 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 a beautiful quality of life.

The COVID crisis took a huge toll on the educational landscape and school leaders struggled to rise to the ever-changing obstacles that were thrown their way sometimes every hour! We are still reeling with consistent uncertainty, ambiguity, and chaos. Leaders are trying to make sense of it all and rebuild their cultures and trust with the teams and the families. This 6 part series are stories of school leaders who navigated these challenges and the practices and mindset that helped them move forward in a challenging season. Remember - you are NOT alone there is an army of leaders who are walking the same path as you There are thousands of others trying to do the same thing as you When we link arms together - we are stronger Subscribe to the podcast so you can get notified when the stories go live. and please rate and leave us a review - this helps other school leaders find our podcast. and if you want to join our special community of school leaders who are all doing hard things and doing them together. come join me in the schools of excellence lounge here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1320019694692592

As a school owner, you can agree with me that being the boss can be more difficult and less fun than most people think. The biggest challenge? The staff members at your school. Even if you're a born "people person," being in a position of authority means making tough choices, having tough conversations, and often finding yourself in a tough spot. During tough conversations, you may have noticed some of your teachers using the deflection method to avoid taking responsibility. How do you respond to someone who is deflecting? The first place to start with is empathy. Deflection is a defence mechanism from hell, because it is the hardest to work with at school. In today’s episode, I share tips on how to deal with the deflecting mechanism the moment you notice it being used by your teachers. Tune in to learn more about: How to deal with deflecting tendencies in your teachers and hold them accountable How to keep the ball in a deflecting teacher’s court How to gently bring up the deflection tendencies to your staff’s attention without ruining your relationship with them And so much more! Many times, when staff deflect when you bring something to their attention, it's because what you are talking about is not a priority in their life at that time. Click Here to Listen on Apple Podcasts Click Here to Listen on Non-Apple Devices Resources and links mentioned in this episode: Get your Scripts Workbook HERE Acces the Difficult Conversations Template HERE If you are ready to take your school to the next level of growth and are looking for support, community and accountability to make that happen - then would love for you to apply for our directors inner circle or owners HQ program. Apply for the Director’s Inner Circle & Owner's HQ Looking for a do-it-yourself option of learning? Schools in transition is a virtual series for directors and owners who want to focus on stability, security, and success. The world has been shaken by a pandemic. The effects are being felt in our lives every day. How do you lead your teachers during a season like this? How do you support children and parents? How do you make strategic decisions about your school in a season of unknowns? For these answers and much more : You can check out our chanie.me/schoolsintransition 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 a beautiful quality of life.

Gratitude and appreciation need to be a habit - a constant in your life. And having a week in a year that is focused on key stakeholders that drive success in your school, is really special. It shows that you value them, and reinforces a culture you'd want to see in a school of excellence. While we may not remember every single detail of what happens in our lives, we will always remember specific moments of experiences. In this week’s episode, I share ideas on how you can make your teachers feel valued and appreciated this Teachers Appreciation Week. Tune in and get ideas on how you can be intentional with your appreciation this coming week! In a nutshell, I speak about: Why I love teacher appreciation week so much, and its similarities with mothers day Why your calendar is part of your identity The 3 things that teachers need now more than ever The 5 questions you should ask yourself before choosing any fun or creative ideas No matter the situation your school is in right now, there is still room to be creative. As you think about all the work you will be doing in order to make this week special for your teachers, what moments do you hope stays in their brains forever? Click Here to Listen on Apple Podcasts Click Here to Listen on Non-Apple Devices Resources and links mentioned in this episode: Get your FREE workbook for the Teacher Appreciation Week HERE. Sign up for the Ideal Week for High Achieving Owners Workshop HERE. This workshop is ideal for you if you are looking to: Know what the next stage of growth looks like for your school Learn how to build out a calendar that serves your lifestyle and stage of life that you're in Identify the top priorities that you need to focus on to move your school in the right direction Learn what is working for other high achieving school owners in their stage of growth in the season that they're in right now Stop doing diffuse energy in a bunch of different directions that aren’t moving your school forward Sign up for the Ideal Week for High Achieving Owners Workshop HERE. If you are ready to take your school to the next level of growth and are looking for support, community and accountability to make that happen - then would love for you to apply for our directors inner circle or owners HQ program. Apply for the Director’s Inner Circle & Owner's HQ Looking for a do-it-yourself option of learning? Schools in transition is a virtual series for directors and owners who want to focus on stability, security, and success. The world has been shaken by a pandemic. The effects are being felt in our lives every day. How do you lead your teachers during a season like this? How do you support children and parents? How do you make strategic decisions about your school in a season of unknowns? For these answers and much more : You can check out our chanie.me/schoolsintransition 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 a beautiful quality of life.

When leaders fail, their failure is highly attributed to their lack of preparation. As school owners, we tend to work really hard on executing our plans, but we also want to take time to look ahead, predict, understand cautions and traps that we might fall into if our plans are not actualized. We must be ready. We must be prepared. We must lead. In today’s episode, I share predictions on how best to end the school year and cautions on what is going to happen in the fall. Your ability to slow down and make strategic decisions and choices about the next steps in your center is the difference between success and failure. The more you prepare yourself for the predictions I have shared, the more equipped your school is to navigate the chaos and all of the uncertainty that comes its way. In a nutshell, I talk about: How to strategically plan for the coming school year and to end the current year with excellence How to manage the ambiguity, the loss and the chaos that come with ending the year Embracing and building more resilience in yourself as a caution for what’s going to happen in the fall Practical strategies on how to have a high retention rate at the end of the school year and so much more! As a school owner, successful leadership will be displayed by your ability to create and sustain enough momentum for your teachers regardless of the chaos brought about by unpredicted changes. Click Here to Listen on Apple Podcasts Click Here to Listen on Non-Apple Devices Resources and links mentioned in this episode: Sign up for the Ideal Week for High Achieving Owners Workshop HERE This workshop is ideal for you if you are looking to: Know what the next stage of growth looks like for your school Learn how to build out a calendar that serves your lifestyle and stage of life that you're in Identify the top priorities that you need to focus on to move your school in the right direction Learn what is working for other high achieving school owners in their stage of growth in the season that they're in right now Stop doing diffuse energy in a bunch of different directions that aren’t moving your school forward Sign up for the Ideal Week for High Achieving Owners Workshop HERE. If you are ready to take your school to the next level of growth and are looking for support, community and accountability to make that happen - then would love for you to apply for our directors inner circle or owners HQ program. Apply for the Director’s Inner Circle & Owner's HQ Looking for a do it yourself option of learning? Schools in transition is a virtual series for directors and owners who want to focus on stability, security, and success. The world has been shaken by a pandemic. The effects are being felt in our lives every day. How do you lead your teachers during a season like this? How do you support children and parents? How do you make strategic decisions about your school in a season of unknowns? For these answers and much more : You can check out our chanie.me/schoolsintransition 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 a 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 addition to weekly solo episodes, she’ll also be inviting industry leaders and the changing makers of the landscape of education to give listeners the insides knowledge of what it takes to sustain excellence.

Let’s face it, when a teacher starts to cry during a difficult conversation, it can make even the most experienced school owner uncomfortable. It’s hard to know what to do, and our own emotional reactions can get in the way of thinking clearly. In today's episode, I tackle the second shield used by teachers when a difficult conversation comes up - crying. It's not the actual conversation that causes the response; it is the belief of what's actually happening. And a lot of times, when leaders are having such difficult conversations, they tend to stop the moment any emotion is expressed. They have a belief that emotion signifies that the employee is not in a place to receive feedback right now. But it's not true. Let them express their emotion and then pick up the conversation when they have regrouped themselves. We want to start being okay with the tears, and the emotions, and the discomfort that comes with holding difficult conversations. In this episode, I talk about: Why teachers cry during difficult conversations What to (and not to) do when a teacher starts expressing emotions during tough conversations How to validate and honor your employees’ feelings and still hold them accountable And so much more! In next week’s episode, I’ll be talking about the third shield of difficult conversations - deflection. If you didn’t have a chance to check out the first shield, listen to last week’s episode! Click Here to Listen on Apple Podcasts Click Here to Listen on Non-Apple Devices Resources and links mentioned in this episode: Access the Four Shields of a Difficult Conversation HERE Get your Scripts Workbook HERE Sign up for the Ideal Week for High Achieving Owners Workshop HERE. This workshop is ideal for you if you are looking to: Know what the next stage of growth looks like for your school Learn how to build out a calendar that serves your lifestyle and stage of life that you're in Identify the top priorities that you need to focus on to move your school in the right direction Learn what is working for other high achieving school owners in their stage of growth in the season that they're in right now Stop doing diffuse energy in a bunch of different directions that aren’t moving your school forward Sign up for the Ideal Week for High Achieving Owners Workshop HERE. If you are ready to take your school to the next level of growth and are looking for support, community and accountability to make that happen - then would love for you to apply for our directors inner circle or owners HQ program. Apply for the Director’s Inner Circle & Owner's HQ Looking for a do-it-yourself option of learning? Schools in transition is a virtual series for directors and owners who want to focus on stability, security, and success. The world has been shaken by a pandemic. The effects are being felt in our lives every day. How do you lead your teachers during a season like this? How do you support children and parents? How do you make strategic decisions about your school in a season of unknowns? For these answers and much more : You can check out our chanie.me/schoolsintransition 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 a 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 addition to weekly solo episodes, she’ll also be inviting industry leaders and the changing makers of the landscape of education to give listeners the insides knowledge of what it takes to sustain excellence.

Like it or not, schools are home to a number of difficult conversations. Discussing topics such as... pay and benefits Inappropriate behavior Underperformance These can be uncomfortable. But having successful one-on-one conversations is what separates great school leaders from ineffective ones. Difficult conversations may not be fun, but school leaders who navigate them successfully can build stronger relationships with their staff and provide needed guidance and correction on workplace performance or behavior - which fosters staff engagement. Today’s episode is the first of a four-part series on the four shields of difficult conversations. As a leader, it is your responsibility to take note of when your team is using these shields and take the necessary steps towards having those difficult conversations. It is only by doing this that your team will feel heard, supported and held accountable. In this episode, I talk about... The concept of self-protection and how it shows up in our day-to-day life. The 3 strategies for removing blame from your school’s culture. The questions to ask yourself when your staff start blaming each other Identifying the 4 shields that school leaders and teachers bring up in conversations when difficult conversations come up When there is blame, there is no learning. I checked one time, you create a friendly school environment for your staff to thrive and finger-pointing won’t become the name of the game. Click Here to Listen on Apple Podcasts Click Here to Listen on Non-Apple Devices Resources and links mentioned in this episode: --> Access the Four Shields of a Difficult Conversation HERE --> Sign up for the Ideal Week for High Achieving Owners Workshop HERE In this 90 Minute premium online masterclass, EC Leadership Coach, Chanie Wilschanski with the Schools of Excellence, will teach you the strategies on How to Set the Right Priorities to Build your School of Excellence This workshop features... 90 Minutes Workshop with Training and Done-With-You Implementation walk-thru Live Q&A with Chanie Access to Live Workshop & Lifetime Access to Recording Gain the input and advice from other High Achieving Owners on what's working and is driving their current success Practical plans and strategies to start putting into action in your school right away. The guidance from an industry expert, with over 15 years of experience in the field And much more... Join The Ideal Week for High Achieving Owners at chanie.me/idealweek --> Scripts Workbook https://discovered.thrivecart.com/script-workbook/ If you are ready to take your school to the next level of growth and are looking for support, community and accountability to make that happen - then would love for you to apply for our directors inner circle or owners HQ program. Apply for the Director’s Inner Circle & Owner's HQ Looking for a do-it-yourself option of learning? Schools in transition is a virtual series for directors and owners who want to focus on stability, security, and success. The world has been shaken by a pandemic. The effects are being felt in our lives every day. How do you lead your teachers during a season like this? How do you support children and parents? How do you make strategic decisions about your school in a season of unknowns? For these answers and much more: You can check out our chanie.me/schoolsintransition 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 a 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 everyday.

Ready to roll back emotional exhaustion and recharge your workplace? Employee morale doesn’t simply translate into how happy your people are; it’s a direct reflection of how healthy your school culture is, how well you and other leaders are communicating with teams, and how effective your managers are. High morale only occurs when employees feel taken care of by their school. And because this year has been filled with stressful distractions, ensuring your people are getting the support they need to bring their best selves to work each day is more important than ever. While meeting struggles, overwhelm and self-sabotage are part of life, how quickly you bounce back will determine how successful you (and your team) become. The confidence exuded by your team is a direct reflection of how confident you are as their leader. Whether your culture is doing incredible and the morale is super high, or if your school is struggling with morale and you really wish to turn things around, this episode is for you! In episode thirteen of the Schools of Excellence Podcast, I am sharing tips on: How to work around your mindset and develop mental toughness as the number one driver of performance. The strategies that raise and transform morale The characteristics of the people that always win and some of the skills you should learn from them Differentiating urgency from stress, and thinking big but celebrating small. When your employees feel supported and encouraged to do their best work, they can do so with confidence. Take these tips and take the right course of action to keep employee morale high - all year long. Click Here to Listen on Apple Podcasts Click Here to Listen on Non-Apple Devices Resources and links mentioned in this episode: ACCESS THE TEMPLATE FOR HOW TO LEAD DIFFICULT CONVERSATIONS HERE If you are ready to take your school to the next level of growth and are looking for support, community and accountability to make that happen - then would love for you to apply for our directors inner circle or owners HQ program. Apply for the Director’s Inner Circle & Owner's HQ Looking for a do it yourself option of learning? Schools in transition is a virtual series for directors and owners who want to focus on stability, security, and success. The world has been shaken by a pandemic. The effects are being felt in our lives every day. How do you lead your teachers during a season like this? How do you support children and parents? How do you make strategic decisions about your school in a season of unknowns? For these answers and much more : You can check out our chanie.me/schoolsintransition 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 a 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 addition to weekly solo episodes, she’ll also be inviting industry leaders and the changing makers of the landscape of education to give listeners the insides knowledge of what it takes to sustain excellence. Don’t miss an episode, subscribe today for everything you need for your leadership journey!

Are you wondering how to get everyone on your team operating from the same playbook? If you're a school owner, a very common scene we have is the admin team or the directors are confused about what they're supposed to be doing in their day. Many times I hear from owners that their directors are doing a whole bunch of different things. They're busy all day long, but they're not doing specific targeted activity that truly drives the school forward. In the end, no one ends their day feeling productive and none of the high priority tasks get completed. The Daily Huddle strategy allows you to briefly meet with your team and see what everyone is owning for the day and where their priorities need to be. This helps the team to be focused, motivated and clear on exactly what you need from them. Do you... Need your team to meet deadlines? Want to know how you can do this without micromanaging and chasing them down? Want to know what questions you should ask to ensure accountability? This episode is for you! In episode twelve of the Schools of Excellence Podcast, I am talking about another key strategy for the success of your school, the daily huddle. This technique is all about communicating clearly every single day, managing expectations and priorities within your team. Finger pointing, gossip and resentment decrease as everyone gets more and more in alignment and clear with what they are doing. We break down this method and how it can work for your school today. Click Here to Listen on Apple Podcasts Click Here to Listen on Non-Apple Devices Resources and links mentioned in this episode: If you are ready to take your school to the next level of growth and are looking for support, community and accountability to make that happen - then would love for you to apply for our directors inner circle or owners HQ program. Apply for the Director’s Inner Circle & Owner's HQ Looking for a do it yourself option of learning? Schools in transition is A virtual series for directors and owners who want to focus on stability, security, and success. The world has been shaken by a pandemic. The effects are being felt in our lives every day. How do you lead your teachers during a season like this? How do you support children and parents? How do you make strategic decisions about your school in a season of unknowns? For these answers and much more : You can check out our www.chanie.me/schoolsincrisis 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 a 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 everyday which impact yourself, your teachers, parents, family, and children who you serve everyday. In addition to weekly solo episodes, she’ll also be inviting industry leaders and the changing makers of the landscape of education to give listeners the insides knowledge of what it takes to sustain excellence. Don’t miss an episode, subscribe today for everything you need for your leadership journey!

How do we ensure that our children feel seen and heard and valued and respected through all of life's challenges and hurdles? I'm really blessed to be the mother of four children ages 3 to 10; and if you’re a parent, you know that children require a tremendous amount of time and attention. As parents, we want to be filling their buckets. We want to ensure that they feel that their home is a safe haven for them, that their parents are their rocks and they can always turn to them for support. They want to know that we will hear what they have to say and that we listen without interrupting or getting distracted. How do we do this? Dating our kids is one of the things that my husband and I do together to ensure our home is a place they will be embraced unconditionally. Whenever someone asks us who the most important people are in your life, you probably always say, my husband, my kids, my partner, my kids, right? Well, your calendar should reflect that. We’re covering: The 4 reasons of why I date my kids The questions I ask my kids to build “special moments” Why this builds their emotional bank account How this makes me a better parent In episode eleven of the Schools of Excellence Podcast, I talk about personal leadership and, more specifically, leadership in your home. As a mother of four, I know that your children are usually competing for your attention and your partner's attention at the exact same time. In order to create a safe haven for our children, I’m sharing my four reasons for why I choose to date my kids. Click Here to Listen on Apple Podcasts Click Here to Listen on Non-Apple Devices Resources and links mentioned in this episode: If you are ready to take your school to the next level of growth and are looking for support, community and accountability to make that happen - then would love for you to apply for our directors inner circle or owners HQ program. Apply for the Director’s Inner Circle & Owner's HQ Looking for a do it yourself option of learning? Schools in transition is A virtual series for directors and owners who want to focus on stability, security, and success. The world has been shaken by a pandemic. The effects are being felt in our lives every day. How do you lead your teachers during a season like this? How do you support children and parents? How do you make strategic decisions about your school in a season of unknowns? For these answers and much more : You can check out our www.chanie.me/schoolsincrisis 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 a 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 everyday which impact yourself, your teachers, parents, family, and children who you serve everyday. In addition to weekly solo episodes, she’ll also be inviting industry leaders and the changing makers of the landscape of education to give listeners the insides knowledge of what it takes to sustain excellence. Don’t miss an episode, subscribe today for everything you need for your leadership journey!

Listen to Session 5 of the Build to Last Workshop in today’s episode on The Schools of Excellence Podcast where Chanie is answering the questions you have been asking this week during live sessions about school leadership, culture, creating a sustainable schedule, and increasing retention. In this session, I answer these questions: How can I help my teachers to be problem solvers, and bring me solutions instead of their problems? How do I connect more with parents? How can I create an accountability culture in my school? … and so many more. Have you ever bet on yourself? Have you ever told yourself, I’m gonna make a move and take the leap and gonna work hard to make things happen for me? Well that is what it’s like to join the membership, you have to take a leap. You need to believe that you are worth it! You have to believe that when you make a leap and an investment of time, money, and energy. This is the ONLY way to ensure that you actually get a result is by taking consistent IMPERFECT action. Right now you are waiting for everything to be perfect, to have all your ducks in a row, but it’s never gonna happen. Leap! Trust that you'll do that work. And then you'll have the school of excellence that you only dreamed of! So what do you get when you join the program? Pyramid of Excellence Roadmap & hundreds of Video Training, done for you Systems, grab and go resources, available to you in each stage of growth Curated Community with other Directors who are ready to support and elevate you Weekly Strategic Advisory with Chanie Monthly Training with Mentor Coach ————— Time Mastery Training - Bring your calendars as we’ll be time-blocking & setting our days up for success Standards Creation Training - How to plan, create, and execute standards and how to hold the team accountable Conflict Training: How to help your team resolve conflict and lead difficult conversations Effective Meetings Training: How plan, lead and succeed in every meeting Collaboration & Connection Calls with the Community on timely issues Gratitude - Co-work and define what your gratitude objectives and plan is for the upcoming month Insider Shares: Training session led by members on a system or process that they have implemented in their school Networking: Book Club, Handbook Creation, teacher roles & responsibilities, connection challenges Support Call with Chanie - Submit your question and receive real-time feedback Guest Experts Sessions on Topics like: Financials Mental Health Hiring/Operations and Mindset Accountability Coach to help you move through the journey of our Pyramid of ExcellenceTM Roadmap by guiding you to your next action steps so you get results in every stage of growth in your school. She’ll be your personal cheerleader every step of the way, If you feel that you may be a good fit for the program then I encourage you to apply. Sometimes we feel that we may be ready or maybe we should wait for a quieter time? It’s ALWAYS a busy time - things don’t get quiet down So if you are ready to say no more excuses and show up for yourself - then check it out. Apply HERE for the Directors Inner Circle or Owners HQ. Once you submit your application we will jump on a right fit call to determine if you are a good fit for the program. Click here to download the workbook for the Build to Last Workshop that walks you through today’s session.

Listen to Session 4 of the Build to Last Workshop in today’s episode on The Schools of Excellence Podcast where Chanie walks you through work life integration as a school leader, and why you don’t have to sacrifice your time with your kids, spouse, or family to build the school of your dreams. And today I’m teaching on a topic that is near to my heart and from the biggest pain points of leaders all around the world. The quest to integrate our home life and our work life. In today’s session I prompted you to ask yourself:- How do my 2 worlds integrate so I can show up as my best self in both areas?- Who am I committed to being when I show up everyday at school?- How do I want to FEEL when I show up in my home at the end of the day? If you are ready to stop sacrificing time with your family and yourself so that you can show up how you want to in both areas, I walk you through exactly how to do this inside of the DIrector’s Inner Circle and Owners Only HQ memberships. So what do you get when you join the program? Pyramid of Excellence Roadmap & hundreds of Video Training, done for you Systems, grab and go resources, available to you in each stage of growth Curated Community with other Directors who are ready to support and elevate you Weekly Strategic Advisory with Chanie Monthly Training with Mentor Coach ————— Time Mastery Training - Bring your calendars as we’ll be time-blocking & setting our days up for success Standards Creation Training - How to plan, create, and execute standards and how to hold the team accountable Conflict Training: How to help your team resolve conflict and lead difficult conversations Effective Meetings Training: How plan, lead and succeed in every meeting Collaboration & Connection Calls with the Community on timely issues Gratitude - Co-work and define what your gratitude objectives and plan is for the upcoming month Insider Shares: Training session led by members on a system or process that they have implemented in their school Networking: Book Club, Handbook Creation, teacher roles & responsibilities, connection challenges Support Call with Chanie - Submit your question and receive real-time feedback Guest Experts Sessions on Topics like: Financials Mental Health Hiring/Operations and Mindset Accountability Coach to help you move through the journey of our Pyramid of ExcellenceTM Roadmap by guiding you to your next action steps so you get results in every stage of growth in your school. She’ll be your personal cheerleader every step of the way, If you feel that you may be a good fit for the program then I encourage you to apply. Sometimes we feel that we may be ready or maybe we should wait for a quieter time? It’s ALWAYS a busy time - things don’t get quiet down So if you are ready to say no more excuses and show up for yourself - then check it out. Apply HERE for the Directors Inner Circle or Owners HQ. Once you submit your application we will jump on a right fit call to determine if you are a good fit for the program. Click here to download the workbook for the Build to Last Workshop that walks you through today’s session.

Listen to Session 3 of the Build to Last Workshop in today’s episode on The Schools of Excellence Podcast where Chanie walks you through 10 ways to build school culture as a school leader. You see, I know you want a culture where: Your staff feel valued and appreciated They show up committed and fully ready to be there They have buy-in to your visions And they follow through with accountability even when you aren't looking The good news these aren’t dreams These are things that are happening in schools across the world and in today’s training, I’m going to walk you through exactly how to have this transformation in your school. I share 10 SPECIFIC ways to build culture and that is available for you in the workbook I also share the teachers language of appreciation I share the foundations of building a great culture We walk school leaders through creating these transformative cultures in their schools every single day inside of the DIrector’s Inner Circle and Owners HQ memberships. So what do you get when you join the program? Pyramid of Excellence Roadmap & hundreds of Video Training, done for you Systems, grab and go resources, available to you in each stage of growth Curated Community with other Directors who are ready to support and elevate you Weekly Strategic Advisory with Chanie Monthly Training with Mentor Coach ————— Time Mastery Training - Bring your calendars as we’ll be time-blocking & setting our days up for success Standards Creation Training - How to plan, create, and execute standards and how to hold the team accountable Conflict Training: How to help your team resolve conflict and lead difficult conversations Effective Meetings Training: How plan, lead and succeed in every meeting Collaboration & Connection Calls with the Community on timely issues Gratitude - Co-work and define what your gratitude objectives and plan is for the upcoming month Insider Shares: Training session led by members on a system or process that they have implemented in their school Networking: Book Club, Handbook Creation, teacher roles & responsibilities, connection challenges Support Call with Chanie - Submit your question and receive real-time feedback Guest Experts Sessions on Topics like: Financials Mental Health Hiring/Operations and Mindset Accountability Coach to help you move through the journey of our Pyramid of ExcellenceTM Roadmap by guiding you to your next action steps so you get results in every stage of growth in your school. She’ll be your personal cheerleader every step of the way, If you feel that you may be a good fit for the program then I encourage you to apply. Sometimes we feel that we may be ready or maybe we should wait for a quieter time? It’s ALWAYS a busy time - things don’t get quiet down So if you are ready to say no more excuses and show up for yourself - then check it out. Apply HERE for the Directors Inner Circle or Owners HQ. Once you submit your application we will jump on a right fit call to determine if you are a good fit for the program. Click here to download the workbook for the Build to Last Workshop that walks you through today’s session.

Listen to Session 2 of the Build to Last Workshop in today’s episode on The Schools of Excellence Podcast where Chanie walks you through theme days and time blocking to create a sustainable calendar as a school leader. How would you like to get an extra 90 minutes in your day, every single day? Many of the directors that I work with have created a warm and inviting culture, and think that closing their door to get things done goes against everything they've worked to build. On the other side of the spectrum, there are some directors that are slaves to their calendars - everything is penciled in so tight, there is barely any room to each lunch or even walk from one meeting to the next. They believe that without a tight structure and a solid plan, they won't be able to get everything done. Today’s training: I’m going to show you how to stay true to your core values while also creating a calendar that serves you. I talk about TIME BLOCKING How to create specific time in your day to focus on the activity that will actually move your school forward I talk about THEME DAYS - How to create an organized principle for how your day operates If you want to build an inviting culture that allows you to actually come home for dinner on time, get into your classrooms, and take time off without checking in on school, this is exactly what I teach directors and owners to do inside of the Director’s Inner Circle and Owners HQ memberships. So what do you get when you join the program? Pyramid of Excellence Roadmap & hundreds of Video Training, done for you Systems, grab and go resources, available to you in each stage of growth Curated Community with other Directors who are ready to support and elevate you Weekly Strategic Advisory with Chanie Monthly Training with Mentor Coach ————— Time Mastery Training - Bring your calendars as we’ll be time-blocking & setting our days up for success Standards Creation Training - How to plan, create, and execute standards and how to hold the team accountable Conflict Training: How to help your team resolve conflict and lead difficult conversations Effective Meetings Training: How plan, lead and succeed in every meeting Collaboration & Connection Calls with the Community on timely issues Gratitude - Co-work and define what your gratitude objectives and plan is for the upcoming month Insider Shares: Training session led by members on a system or process that they have implemented in their school Networking: Book Club, Handbook Creation, teacher roles & responsibilities, connection challenges Support Call with Chanie - Submit your question and receive real-time feedback Guest Experts Sessions on Topics like: Financials Mental Health Hiring/Operations and Mindset Accountability Coach to help you move through the journey of our Pyramid of ExcellenceTM Roadmap by guiding you to your next action steps so you get results in every stage of growth in your school. She’ll be your personal cheerleader every step of the way, If you feel that you may be a good fit for the program then I encourage you to apply. Sometimes we feel that we may be ready or maybe we should wait for a quieter time? It’s ALWAYS a busy time - things don’t get quiet down So if you are ready to say no more excuses and show up for yourself - then check it out. Apply HERE for the Directors Inner Circle or Owners HQ. Once you submit your application we will jump on a right fit call to determine if you are a good fit for the program. Click here to download the workbook for the Build to Last Workshop that walks you through today’s session.

Listen to Session 1 of the Build to Last Workshop in today’s episode on The Schools of Excellence Podcast where Chanie walks you through vision casting and decision making as a school leader. The truth is, there is an endless list of things you can buy for your school and do for your staff. But the reality is, every single director has limited time, money, resources and people. And if you're unsure about where your focus should be at any given time, you're likely just making decisions flying by the seat of your pants. This is why you're overcommitted. This is why your budget is hurting. This is why your resources are tapped. This is why your staff is stressed out. That is why today we're talking about the 3 pillars of a sustainable school: Mindset, Time and Culture How to assess the strengths (and weaknesses) in the pillars of your school, And why they have such an impact on not only your focus as a director, but the overall success of your school (and the legacy you will leave behind). If you want to create a sustainable school with systems that constantly move you and your staff forwards, this is exactly what I teach school leaders how to do inside of the Director’s Inner Circle and Owners HQ memberships. So what do you get when you join the program? Pyramid of Excellence Roadmap & hundreds of Video Training, done for you Systems, grab and go resources, available to you in each stage of growth Curated Community with other Directors who are ready to support and elevate you Weekly Strategic Advisory with Chanie Monthly Training with Mentor Coach ————— Time Mastery Training - Bring your calendars as we’ll be time-blocking & setting our days up for success Standards Creation Training - How to plan, create, and execute standards and how to hold the team accountable Conflict Training: How to help your team resolve conflict and lead difficult conversations Effective Meetings Training: How plan, lead and succeed in every meeting Collaboration & Connection Calls with the Community on timely issues Gratitude - Co-work and define what your gratitude objectives and plan is for the upcoming month Insider Shares: Training session led by members on a system or process that they have implemented in their school Networking: Book Club, Handbook Creation, teacher roles & responsibilities, connection challenges Support Call with Chanie - Submit your question and receive real-time feedback Guest Experts Sessions on Topics like: Financials, Mental Health, Hiring/Operations, and Mindset Accountability Coach to help you move through the journey of our Pyramid of ExcellenceTM Roadmap by guiding you to your next action steps so you get results in every stage of growth in your school. She’ll be your personal cheerleader every step of the way, If you feel that you may be a good fit for the program then I encourage you to apply. Sometimes we feel that we may be ready or maybe we should wait for a quieter time? It’s ALWAYS a busy time - things don’t get quiet down So if you are ready to say no more excuses and show up for yourself - then check it out. Apply HERE for the Directors Inner Circle or Owners HQ. Once you submit your application we will jump on a right fit call to determine if you are a good fit for the program. Click here to download the workbook for the Build to Last Workshop that walks you through today’s session.

Listen to Session 1 of the Build to Last Workshop in today’s episode on The Schools of Excellence Podcast where Chanie walks you through vision casting and decision making as a school leader. The truth is, there is an endless list of things you can buy for your school and do for your staff. But the reality is, every single director has limited time, money, resources and people. And if you're unsure about where your focus should be at any given time, you're likely just making decisions flying by the seat of your pants. This is why you're overcommitted. This is why your budget is hurting. This is why your resources are tapped. This is why your staff is stressed out. That is why today we're talking about the 3 pillars of a sustainable school: Mindset, Time and Culture How to assess the strengths (and weaknesses) in the pillars of your school, And why they have such an impact on not only your focus as a director, but the overall success of your school (and the legacy you will leave behind). If you want to create a sustainable school with systems that constantly move you and your staff forwards, this is exactly what I teach school leaders how to do inside of the Director’s Inner Circle and Owners HQ memberships. So what do you get when you join the program? Pyramid of Excellence Roadmap & hundreds of Video Training, done for you Systems, grab and go resources, available to you in each stage of growth Curated Community with other Directors who are ready to support and elevate you Weekly Strategic Advisory with Chanie Monthly Training with Mentor Coach Time Mastery Training - Bring your calendars as we’ll be time-blocking & setting our days up for success Standards Creation Training - How to plan, create, and execute standards and how to hold the team accountable Conflict Training: How to help your team resolve conflict and lead difficult conversations Effective Meetings Training: How plan, lead and succeed in every meeting Collaboration & Connection Calls with the Community on timely issues Gratitude - Co -work and define what your gratitude objectives and plan is for the upcoming month Insider Shares: Training session led by members on a system or process that they have implemented in their school Networking: Book Club, Handbook Creation, teacher roles & responsibilities, connection challenges Support Call with Chanie - Submit your question and receive real-time feedback Guest Experts Sessions on Topics: Financials, Mental Health, Hiring & Operations, Mindset, and more Accountability Coach to help you move through the journey of our Pyramid of ExcellenceTM Roadmap by guiding you to your next action steps so you get results in every stage of growth in your school. She’ll be your personal cheerleader every step of the way, If you feel that you may be a good fit for the program then I encourage you to apply. Sometimes we feel that we may be ready or maybe we should wait for a quieter time? It’s ALWAYS a busy time - things don’t get quiet down So if you are ready to say no more excuses and show up for yourself - then check it out. Apply HERE for the Directors Inner Circle or Owners HQ. Once you submit your application we will jump on a right fit call to determine if you are a good fit for the program. Click here to download the workbook for the Build to Last Workshop that walks you through today’s session.

The “open door policy” has trickled into our school culture, because we think that it makes our staff feel valued and appreciated, since they know they can come talk to us at any time, for anything. Today Chanie breaks down this myth of the open door policy, and shows you how the application of this myth is likely negatively impacting your school, and what you should be doing instead. Chanie is hosting a 5-day workshop called the Build to Last Workshop, to help you remove overwhelm and interruptions to build a calendar and life that serves your personal and professional leadership goals. Click here to register now! P.S. in this episode Chanie mentions the Schools of Excellence scripts and open door sign, download the scripts here, and the door sign here.

After 30 days of implementing the Gratitude Matrix, our executive director Kristen went from 17 callouts in September to 4 callouts in August. What did she do? She implemented the Gratitude Matrix in her school, and saw an almost immediate shift because her staff felt valued and appreciated. This is why I am so excited to share the Gratitude Matrix with you; a very powerful, yet very simple system, that I teach to all of the owners and directors that I work with. If you loved this episode, come join me in our private Facebook lounge where we offer accountability, support, and massive amounts of value. Click the link below and request to join for free: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1320019694692592 Be sure to download the Teacher's Language of Appreciation framework here: Chanie.me/gratitudematrix

Are you ready to elevate to the next level more quickly, and with less stress? I have had thousands of conversations with school leaders all across the world, helping me to create five clearly definable stages in the Pyramid of Excellence. Identifying what stage your school is at will allow you to build the right infrastructure and execution system to go along with it, so you can lead confidently and clearly. If you loved this episode, come take our free quiz at Chanie.me/pyramid to find out what stage of the Pyramid of Excellence you are in right now, and what next steps you should take.