By Chanie Wilschanski
4.9
8686 ratings
The podcast currently has 213 episodes available.
What does it take to move from survival mode to true leadership?
In this week’s episode, Chanie interviews Mel Elridge, a director at an early education lab school, who shares her powerful transformation since joining the Schools of Excellence program in 2020. Together, they explore how Mel built stronger connections within her team, shifted her mindset from chaos to growth, and implemented practical systems that foster a healthier work-life balance.
Key Topics Discussed:
Mel’s journey offers valuable lessons for any early education leader seeking sustainable growth and a thriving school culture.
We support ECE leaders like you to grow their enrollment, retain their staff, and create freedom!
To learn more about how to work with us, apply here for a call!
https://airtable.com/app35MKA8diZnD2WQ/shrse1exQfLyrXszS
Learn more and apply for the Director’s Inner Circle & Owner’s HQ: https://schoolsofexcellence.com/membership/
More about the show:
If you are an Early Childhood director or owner, prepare to transform your school and life with the Schools of Excellence podcast. Tune in each week to learn from Chanie Wilschanski, the founder and host of the Schools of Excellence Podcast and a mom of 4 little kids. Each episode will be packed with tools and strategies – equipping you to build schools with higher staff retention, teacher motivation, parent partnership, collaborative culture, and beautiful quality of life.
Every week, Chanie shares the truth about the journey to excellence, the strategies that are working TODAY, and the mindset about the critical decisions and choices that you make every day which impact yourself, your teachers, parents, family, and children who you serve every day.
A parent is standing at your school's front desk, full of questions about how your program will fit their family’s unique needs.
Now, multiply that by dozens of families, each with different backgrounds, expectations, and concerns.
How do you speak to all of them with each of their individual needs?
In this episode, Chanie introduces her Parent Archetypes Framework, helping schools decode the unique needs of families—from first-time parents to multicultural families and grandparent guardians. By tailoring communication and marketing strategies to each family type, schools can boost enrollment and foster stronger, lasting relationships with parents. Chanie also shares actionable steps for training staff to interact more effectively with each parent archetype, ensuring smooth operations and engaged communities.
Key Topics Discussed:
This episode provides a wealth of knowledge for school leaders aiming to enhance their marketing and communication strategies by truly understanding the diverse needs of their school’s parent community.
Learn more and apply for the Director’s Inner Circle & Owner’s HQ: https://schoolsofexcellence.com/membership/
More about the show:
If you are an Early Childhood director or owner, prepare to transform your school and life with the Schools of Excellence podcast. Tune in each week to learn from Chanie Wilschanski, the founder and host of the Schools of Excellence Podcast and a mom of 4 little kids. Each episode will be packed with tools and strategies – equipping you to build schools with higher staff retention, teacher motivation, parent partnership, collaborative culture, and beautiful quality of life.
Every week, Chanie shares the truth about the journey to excellence, the strategies that are working TODAY, and the mindset about the critical decisions and choices that you make every day which impact yourself, your teachers, parents, family, and children who you serve every day.
What do you do when two of your most trusted teachers have unexpectedly handed in their resignations?
This is the reality of staff turnover faced by many school leaders.
In this episode of the Schools of Excellence podcast, Chanie delves into the multifaceted issue of staff retention within early education centers. Drawing on her extensive research and hands-on experience, Chanie introduces the "Retention Intelligence Framework" and guides school leaders on how to build a positive and sustainable culture that caters to the diverse needs of their staff, ultimately reducing turnover.
Key Topics Discussed:
Ready to reduce staff turnover in your school?
We support ECE leaders like you to grow their enrollment, retain their staff, and create freedom!
To learn more about how to work with us, apply here for a call!
https://airtable.com/app35MKA8diZnD2WQ/shrse1exQfLyrXszS
Learn more and apply for the Director’s Inner Circle & Owner’s HQ: https://schoolsofexcellence.com/membership/
More about the show:
If you are an Early Childhood director or owner, prepare to transform your school and life with the Schools of Excellence podcast. Tune in each week to learn from Chanie Wilschanski, the founder and host of the Schools of Excellence Podcast and a mom of 4 little kids. Each episode will be packed with tools and strategies – equipping you to build schools with higher staff retention, teacher motivation, parent partnership, collaborative culture, and beautiful quality of life.
Every week, Chanie shares the truth about the journey to excellence, the strategies that are working TODAY, and the mindset about the critical decisions and choices that you make every day which impact yourself, your teachers, parents, family, and children who you serve every day.
What do you do when two of your most trusted teachers have unexpectedly handed in their resignations?
This is the reality of staff turnover faced by many school leaders.
In this episode of the Schools of Excellence podcast, Chanie delves into the multifaceted issue of staff retention within early education centers. Drawing on her extensive research and hands-on experience, Chanie introduces the "Retention Intelligence Framework" and guides school leaders on how to build a positive and sustainable culture that caters to the diverse needs of their staff, ultimately reducing turnover.
Key Topics Discussed:
Ready to reduce staff turnover in your school? Tune into this week’s episode to learn how to foster a sense of belonging and reduce turnover.
Learn more and apply for the Director’s Inner Circle & Owner’s HQ: https://schoolsofexcellence.com/membership/
More about the show:
If you are an Early Childhood director or owner, prepare to transform your school and life with the Schools of Excellence podcast. Tune in each week to learn from Chanie Wilschanski, the founder and host of the Schools of Excellence Podcast and a mom of 4 little kids. Each episode will be packed with tools and strategies – equipping you to build schools with higher staff retention, teacher motivation, parent partnership, collaborative culture, and beautiful quality of life.
Every week, Chanie shares the truth about the journey to excellence, the strategies that are working TODAY, and the mindset about the critical decisions and choices that you make every day which impact yourself, your teachers, parents, family, and children who you serve every day.
Making decisions when leading in the school system can feel like a storm, and with the economic state of things, it can feel like the storm is only getting stronger.
But… as you navigate the turbulent waters of school management, you may be surprised to find out that the right strategies can turn challenges into opportunities.
In this episode of Schools of Excellence, Chanie breaks down critical strategies for early education leaders to optimize cash flow, manage enrollment challenges, and stand out in a competitive market. She shares actionable tips on aligning your calendar with profit-driven activities, leveraging underutilized spaces, and understanding your school’s unique value proposition.
Key Topics Discussed:
Tune in to learn how to navigate economic uncertainties while maximizing your school’s profitability and strategic advance!
Learn more and apply for the Director’s Inner Circle & Owner’s HQ: https://schoolsofexcellence.com/membership/
More about the show:
If you are an Early Childhood director or owner, prepare to transform your school and life with the Schools of Excellence podcast. Tune in each week to learn from Chanie Wilschanski, the founder and host of the Schools of Excellence Podcast and a mom of 4 little kids. Each episode will be packed with tools and strategies – equipping you to build schools with higher staff retention, teacher motivation, parent partnership, collaborative culture, and beautiful quality of life.
Every week, Chanie shares the truth about the journey to excellence, the strategies that are working TODAY, and the mindset about the critical decisions and choices that you make every day which impact yourself, your teachers, parents, family, and children who you serve every day.
I know you know that feeling of immense overwhelm when you look at the endless tasks on your school calendar.
A pit in your stomach starts to form just by looking at everything you need to accomplish with such little time.
But it doesn’t always have to feel that way…
In this episode, Chanie reveals the secrets to mastering calendar audits and making strategic decisions that align with your school’s long-term goals. Through personal anecdotes and practical advice, Chanie illustrates how thoughtful decision-making can keep a school’s operations aligned with its core priorities. By conducting regular audits, school leaders can identify blind spots, optimize their schedules, and stay focused on what truly matters.
Key Discussion Points:
Whether you’re an anxious decision-maker or someone looking to fine-tune your scheduling practices, this episode offers invaluable insights into optimizing your time and resources!
Learn more and apply for the Director’s Inner Circle & Owner’s HQ: https://schoolsofexcellence.com/membership/
More about the show:
If you are an Early Childhood director or owner, prepare to transform your school and life with the Schools of Excellence podcast. Tune in each week to learn from Chanie Wilschanski, the founder and host of the Schools of Excellence Podcast and a mom of 4 little kids. Each episode will be packed with tools and strategies – equipping you to build schools with higher staff retention, teacher motivation, parent partnership, collaborative culture, and beautiful quality of life.
Every week, Chanie shares the truth about the journey to excellence, the strategies that are working TODAY, and the mindset about the critical decisions and choices that you make every day which impact yourself, your teachers, parents, family, and children who you serve every day.
Struggling with school enrollment can feel like navigating a maze of challenges and stress, leaving you wondering if there’s a clear path to attracting and retaining families.
Join Chanie Wilschanski as she cuts through the confusion and reveals actionable strategies to transform your enrollment process, turning it from a daunting task into a streamlined, effective approach. Chanie goes over three key tactics that can drive immediate results and set the stage for long-term success. These tactics are also tailored to help create meaningful connections and attract new families for enrollment.
Key Discussion Points:
Tune in to learn how practical strategies can enhance your school’s visibility and drive enrollment success!
Learn more and apply for the Director’s Inner Circle & Owner’s HQ: https://schoolsofexcellence.com/membership/
More about the show:
If you are an Early Childhood director or owner, prepare to transform your school and life with the Schools of Excellence podcast. Tune in each week to learn from Chanie Wilschanski, the founder and host of the Schools of Excellence Podcast and a mom of 4 little kids. Each episode will be packed with tools and strategies – equipping you to build schools with higher staff retention, teacher motivation, parent partnership, collaborative culture, and beautiful quality of life.
Every week, Chanie shares the truth about the journey to excellence, the strategies that are working TODAY, and the mindset about the critical decisions and choices that you make every day which impact yourself, your teachers, parents, family, and children who you serve every day.
In the demanding world of early education, balancing professional challenges and personal life can feel overwhelming.
So, how did Stacy Smith, founder of Big Timber Daycare, transform her childcare center into a thriving example of integrated leadership and personal fulfillment?
Join Chanie Wilschanski as she and Stacy delve into the transformative effects of values-based leadership on both professional and personal realms. Stacy opens up about her journey in reshaping her approach to leading a childcare center, balancing business demands with personal life, and integrating effective strategies for sustainable success. Listeners will gain actionable insights on leading with integrity, managing challenges, and aligning personal values with professional goals.
Key Discussion Points:
Tune in to discover actionable strategies for aligning your leadership approach with core values, balancing business and personal well-being, and overcoming the unique challenges of early education.
Learn more and apply for the Director’s Inner Circle & Owner’s HQ: https://schoolsofexcellence.com/membership/
More about the show:
If you are an Early Childhood director or owner, prepare to transform your school and life with the Schools of Excellence podcast. Tune in each week to learn from Chanie Wilschanski, the founder and host of the Schools of Excellence Podcast and a mom of 4 little kids. Each episode will be packed with tools and strategies – equipping you to build schools with higher staff retention, teacher motivation, parent partnership, collaborative culture, and beautiful quality of life.
Every week, Chanie shares the truth about the journey to excellence, the strategies that are working TODAY, and the mindset about the critical decisions and choices that you make every day which impact yourself, your teachers, parents, family, and children who you serve every day.
When I lived in New York, I spent a lot of time inside during the winter because I didn’t want to freeze my face.
But here in Florida, it’s the exact opposite.
I find myself indoors all summer because I don’t want to melt.
My older kids are away at camp, and Mayer’s and my work schedules both have a little bit more flexibility.
We’ve started a family tradition of using the summer to assess our household.
Is there maintenance we need to do on the house?
Do we want to cancel some streaming subscriptions?
How will we give back to our community in the next 12 months?
It will always inconvenience someone for us to pause and go through our household assessments.
Maybe we’ll be without a washer for a few days as a new one gets put in, or maybe we’ll take the morning off work to guide a handyman through the house.
But summer is the least inconvenient time to go through these upgrades and tweaks.
Schools follow a similar pattern.
Even if you run summer programs, there are usually fewer people in the building this time of year.
Families go on vacation. Teachers might take off time to travel. Kids are at Disney World or at their grandparents’ house out of state.
Plus, you’re in the perfect position to reflect on what went well last school year, and what didn’t.
That makes right now the ideal moment to enhance your school leadership through audits, assessments, and evaluations.
In this week's podcast episode, I discuss the types of school audits that might be right for you and why summer is the perfect time to take on this project.
Join me for a conversation about:
Learn more and apply for the Director’s Inner Circle & Owner’s HQ: https://schoolsofexcellence.com/membership/
Going through school audits can feel super overwhelming. If you apply for our Owner's HQ and Director's Inner Circle membership programs, you’ll learn the next best steps to keep you strategic and calm. As a member, you'll gain access to tools, resources, coaching, and community to help you build a school of excellence.
If your audit finds a big hole in your processes or a massive opportunity to shift your systems, I’d love to support your next steps. During a Schools of Excellence Leadership Day Intensive, you'll get a full day of on-demand, in-school training with me, plus various accountability check-ins, to help you and your team work through obstacles and build a stronger, healthier center that values self-care. https://schoolsofexcellence.com/leadership/
More about the show:
If you are an Early Childhood director or owner, prepare to transform your school and life with the Schools of Excellence podcast. Tune in each week to learn from Chanie Wilschanski, the founder and host of the Schools of Excellence Podcast and a mom of 4 little kids. Each episode will be packed with tools and strategies – equipping you to build schools with higher staff retention, teacher motivation, parent partnership, collaborative culture, and beautiful quality of life.
Every week, Chanie shares the truth about the journey to excellence, the strategies that are working TODAY, and the mindset about the critical decisions and choices that you make every day which impact yourself, your teachers, parents, family, and children who you serve every day.
Mentioned in this episode:
School Leadership Toolkit
School Leadership Toolkit: https://schoolsofexcellence.com/toolkit/
School Leadership Toolkit
School Leadership Toolkit: https://schoolsofexcellence.com/toolkit/
School Leadership Toolkit
One of my clients is a school owner who hired a new director to lead a brand-new location.
In the beginning, the director was doing a great job.
But then she started to fall short… including on tasks that were not all that complicated.
The owner was concerned the director was acting helpless, especially when it came to her regular duties.
She said to me, “Chanie, I don’t know what to do. What do I tell her? How do I train her?”
If she wanted to invest in this director, I suggested she take her out to breakfast. Spend some time getting to know her, human to human.
So they went out to breakfast.
It wasn’t a one-on-one meeting. It wasn’t a performance review. It was not an interrogation.
It was a chance for them to build a relationship outside the context of work, over coffee and a relaxing meal.
It went so well, they decided to keep it up every month for the next six months.
As the owner got to know her director better, and the more she came to understand who she was as a person, the owner became more empathetic.
And that empathy caused something surprising to happen:
The more empathetic the owner became towards her director, the less afraid she was to hold her accountable.
Knowing what’s going on with someone can actually make it easier to hold them accountable because you’re better able to express both expectations and empathy. Candor and kindness.
Before they knew it, the director had extricated herself from her helplessness, and she was back to being a high-performing professional.
In this week's podcast episode, I’m discussing ways you, as an ECE leader, can guide your staff out of those sneaky feelings of helplessness, while boosting morale and creating a healthier school.
Join me for a conversation about:
Learn more and apply for the Director’s Inner Circle & Owner’s HQ: https://schoolsofexcellence.com/membership/
If you are feeling overwhelmed and helpless as a school leader, I encourage you to apply for our Owner's HQ and Director's Inner Circle membership programs. Inside, you'll gain access to tools, resources, coaching, and community that will help you build a school of excellence.
Is there a helplessness epidemic at your school? It’s time to shift the culture. During a Schools of Excellence Leadership Day Intensive, you'll get a full day of on-demand, in-school training with me, plus various accountability check-ins, to help you and your team work through obstacles and build a stronger, healthier center that values self-care. https://schoolsofexcellence.com/leadership/
More about the show:
If you are an Early Childhood director or owner, prepare to transform your school and life with the Schools of Excellence podcast. Tune in each week to learn from Chanie Wilschanski, the founder and host of the Schools of Excellence Podcast and a mom of 4 little kids. Each episode will be packed with tools and strategies – equipping you to build schools with higher staff retention, teacher motivation, parent partnership, collaborative culture, and beautiful quality of life.
Every week, Chanie shares the truth about the journey to excellence, the strategies that are working TODAY, and the mindset about the critical decisions and choices that you make every day which impact yourself, your teachers, parents, family, and children who you serve every day.
Mentioned in this episode:
School Leadership Toolkit
School Leadership Toolkit: https://schoolsofexcellence.com/toolkit/
School Leadership Toolkit
School Leadership Toolkit: https://schoolsofexcellence.com/toolkit/
School Leadership Toolkit
The podcast currently has 213 episodes available.
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