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

The Playbook for enrolling new families in your school has changed.  The old rules of building a website, sending a postcard and holding an open house just don’t work like they used to. 

In part one of this series, Chanie will be sharing the 5 new power plays to attract, engage, and retain families. 

The first is: Know Your Families.

Key Ideas: 

1. We know you want to know your families and think that you do, but there are new family dynamics to understand and adapt to.
2. Traditional methods of surveys and parent-teacher conferences need an uplevel.
3. What keeps families around for long term retention is no longer - flexible schedules, fun events and general communication.  Learn what keeps your families happy now. 

This is first in a series to help you develop a NEW playbook for your school enrollment and retention strategies. 

Listen and get ready to take notes on these new tactics that work for today’s families.

Design your new enrollment playbook in only 1 hour with our live interactive workshop - November 14th  Register or learn more at:

Schoolsofexcellence.com/families

Ready to move faster? 

Directors:  Join  the Director’s Inner Circle

Owners:  Join the Owner’s HQ.

It starts with a free consult.  Schedule your session now.   

How can mentor relationships stabilize and strengthen the core of your organization and have an impact on your life?

In this episode Chanie talks with Todd Herman, renowned leadership coach and author of "The Alter Ego Effect," and her mentor of 9 years. He shares personal stories and strategies that have helped him successfully mentor high achievers, Olympians, and entrepreneurs, offering valuable lessons that can be applied in educational settings.

Key Topics:

1. The Power of Questions: Discover how asking the right questions can transform coaching and leadership, and learn Todd Herman’s categories of questions that can deepen understanding and communication.
2. Mentorship vs. Coaching: Understand the distinct roles of mentors and coaches, and why it's an important to know the difference.
3. Empathy and Adaptability: Learn how empathy and adaptability can enhance your leadership and create a supportive environment for both students and staff.

Learn more and apply for the Director’s Inner Circle & Owner’s HQ: https://schoolsofexcellence.com/membership/ 

Todd can be found here:

https://toddherman.me/

Linked In toddherman1

Facebook @toddherman1

Instagram @Todd_Herman

X todd_herman

His Books: The Alter Ego, My Super Me

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.

Picture this–you’re walking through your school, juggling urgent emails, staff questions, and never-ending paperwork. 

The days blur together as you tackle one crisis after another. But what if there was a way to break free from this chaos?

In this week’s episode, Chanie addresses a critical challenge faced by school leaders: being trapped in the day-to-day operations. Chanie explains how creating a “Work Smarter” calendar can revolutionize your leadership approach, allowing you to move from reactive management to proactive, strategic leadership. With practical insights into time blocking, delegation, and the importance of regular review sessions, Chanie guides early education leaders, school teachers, and administrators through the steps to regain control of their time and focus on what truly matters–leading their schools to success. 

Key Topics Discussed: 

• How being stuck in daily tasks prevents school leaders from focusing on strategic growth and long-term planning. 
• How to design a calendar that includes time for personal wellness, team development, and high-level tasks, creating boundaries to ensure work-life balance. 
• The key to delegating effectively and empowering your team to take ownership of tasks while freeing up your time for leadership activities. 
• The mindset shift required to treat your calendar like a muscle–consistently exercising strategic time management to build a thriving school. 

So, are you ready to unveil the secrets to escaping the day-to-day grind and becoming the visionary leader your school needs? 

Learn more and apply for the Director’s Inner Circle & Owner’s HQ: https://schoolsofexcellence.com/membership/ 

More about the show:

If you are an Early Childhood director or owner, prepare to transform your school and life with the Schools of Excellence podcast. Tune in each week to learn from Chanie Wilschanski, the founder and host of the Schools of Excellence Podcast and a mom of 4 little kids. Each episode will be packed with tools and strategies – equipping you to build schools with higher staff retention, teacher motivation, parent partnership, collaborative culture, and beautiful quality of life. 

Every week, Chanie shares the truth about the journey to excellence, the strategies that are working TODAY, and the mindset about the critical decisions and choices that you make every day which impact yourself, your teachers, parents, family, and children who you serve every day.

In the journey of life, we often encounter moments that challenge our resilience and redefine our understanding of joy. 

Join Chanie, as she courageously shares her deeply personal experience with pregnancy loss, revealing the unexpected lessons that emerged from her heartache and healing. 

In this week’s episode of Schools of Excellence, Chanie opens up about her emotional journey following a pregnancy loss. From the initial joy of discovering her pregnancy to the profound heartache that followed, she explores how this experience reshaped her perspective on healing, resilience, and the importance of community support. Chanie emphasizes the significance of self-care and acknowledges the full range of emotions that accompany grief, Through heartfelt reflections, she highlights the importance of embracing vulnerability and finding ways to honor losses while navigating the complexities of personal and professional life. 

Key Topics Discussed:

• The distinction between being okay and getting over a loss. 
• The importance of celebrating progress in the healing process. 
• Personal stories of community and mentorship provide essential support. 
• Ways couples can reconnect and support each other through shared experiences. 
• Strategies for integrating gratitude and relaxation into daily life. 

Chanie’s story serves as a powerful reminder that healing is a journey filled with ups and downs. By sharing our experiences, we can collectively navigate the complexities of grief and joy. 

Learn more and apply for the Director’s Inner Circle & Owner’s HQ: https://schoolsofexcellence.com/membership/ 

More about the show:

If you are an Early Childhood director or owner, prepare to transform your school and life with the Schools of Excellence podcast. Tune in each week to learn from Chanie Wilschanski, the founder and host of the Schools of Excellence Podcast and a mom of 4 little kids. Each episode will be packed with tools and strategies – equipping you to build schools with higher staff retention, teacher motivation, parent partnership, collaborative culture, and beautiful quality of life. 

Every week, Chanie shares the truth about the journey to excellence, the strategies that are working TODAY, and the mindset about the critical decisions and choices that you make every day which impact yourself, your teachers, parents, family, and children who you serve every day.

What does it take to move from survival mode to true leadership?

In this week’s episode, Chanie interviews Mel Elridge, a director at an early education lab school, who shares her powerful transformation since joining the Schools of Excellence program in 2020. Together, they explore how Mel built stronger connections within her team, shifted her mindset from chaos to growth, and implemented practical systems that foster a healthier work-life balance. 

Key Topics Discussed: 

• The vitality of cultivating social connection within school staff for creating a healthy, supportive environment. 
• How leadership development rooted in mindset shifts and strong foundational values is essential for sustainable growth. 
• Practical time management systems, like time-blocking, allow leaders to balance professional responsibilities and personal well-being. 
• The importance of trusting the value of your program and investing in its growth and its effects on effective advocacy for school resources. 
• Embracing difficult conversations as an opportunity for growth strengthens school leadership and relationships. 

Mel’s journey offers valuable lessons for any early education leader seeking sustainable growth and a thriving school culture. 

We support ECE leaders like you to grow their enrollment, retain their staff, and create freedom! 

To learn more about how to work with us, apply here for a call!

https://airtable.com/app35MKA8diZnD2WQ/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: 

• Identifying and supporting first-time parents, multicultural families, and grandparent guardians.
• Crafting marketing strategies that resonate with each parent archetype.
• Training staff to improve parent engagement and satisfaction.

This episode provides a wealth of knowledge for school leaders aiming to enhance their marketing and communication strategies by truly understanding the diverse needs of their school’s parent community.

Learn more and apply for the Director’s Inner Circle & Owner’s HQ: https://schoolsofexcellence.com/membership/ 

More about the show:

If you are an Early Childhood director or owner, prepare to transform your school and life with the Schools of Excellence podcast. Tune in each week to learn from Chanie Wilschanski, the founder and host of the Schools of Excellence Podcast and a mom of 4 little kids. Each episode will be packed with tools and strategies – equipping you to build schools with higher staff retention, teacher motivation, parent partnership, collaborative culture, and beautiful quality of life. 

Every week, Chanie shares the truth about the journey to excellence, the strategies that are working TODAY, and the mindset about the critical decisions and choices that you make every day which impact yourself, your teachers, parents, family, and children who you serve every day.

What do you do when two of your most trusted teachers have unexpectedly handed in their resignations? 

This is the reality of staff turnover faced by many school leaders.

In this episode of the Schools of Excellence podcast, Chanie delves into the multifaceted issue of staff retention within early education centers. Drawing on her extensive research and hands-on experience, Chanie introduces the "Retention Intelligence Framework" and guides school leaders on how to build a positive and sustainable culture that caters to the diverse needs of their staff, ultimately reducing turnover.

Key Topics Discussed: 

• The significance of using real data to drive retention decisions in schools, moving away from assumptions and gut feelings. 
• The seven key reasons why staff leave early education centers.
• How demographic mapping can inform more effective and personalized retention strategies.
• How to utilize the six channels of intelligence for gathering data on staff retention to discover meaningful insights and improve staff retention. 
• The five pillars necessary for creating a strong culture of retention, focusing on community, work-life harmony, accountability, contribution, and promotion. 

Ready to reduce staff turnover in your school? 

We support ECE leaders like you to grow their enrollment, retain their staff, and create freedom! 

To learn more about how to work with us, apply here for a call!

https://airtable.com/app35MKA8diZnD2WQ/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: 

• The significance of using real data to drive retention decisions in schools, moving away from assumptions and gut feelings. 
• The seven key reasons why staff leave early education centers.
• How demographic mapping can inform more effective and personalized retention strategies.
• How to utilize the six channels of intelligence for gathering data on staff retention to discover meaningful insights and improve staff retention. 
• The five pillars necessary for creating a strong culture of retention, focusing on community, work-life harmony, accountability, contribution, and promotion. 

Ready to reduce staff turnover in your school? 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: 

• How implementing strategies like increasing registration fees, accelerating accounts receivable, and renegotiating contracts boost cash flows. 
• Strategically planning your calendar to focus on profit-driven events and lead generation in order to sustain enrollment growth. 
• How to identify and repurpose underutilized areas in your school for additional revenue streams. 
• The importance of making informed decisions based on hard data from parent surveys and market trends, rather than just anecdotal evidence. 

Tune in to learn how to navigate economic uncertainties while maximizing your school’s profitability and strategic advance! 

Learn more and apply for the Director’s Inner Circle & Owner’s HQ: https://schoolsofexcellence.com/membership/ 

More about the show:

If you are an Early Childhood director or owner, prepare to transform your school and life with the Schools of Excellence podcast. Tune in each week to learn from Chanie Wilschanski, the founder and host of the Schools of Excellence Podcast and a mom of 4 little kids. Each episode will be packed with tools and strategies – equipping you to build schools with higher staff retention, teacher motivation, parent partnership, collaborative culture, and beautiful quality of life. 

Every week, Chanie shares the truth about the journey to excellence, the strategies that are working TODAY, and the mindset about the critical decisions and choices that you make every day which impact yourself, your teachers, parents, family, and children who you serve every day.

I know you know that feeling of immense overwhelm when you look at the endless tasks on your school calendar. 

A pit in your stomach starts to form just by looking at everything you need to accomplish with such little time. 

But it doesn’t always have to feel that way…

In this episode, Chanie reveals the secrets to mastering calendar audits and making strategic decisions that align with your school’s long-term goals. Through personal anecdotes and practical advice, Chanie illustrates how thoughtful decision-making can keep a school’s operations aligned with its core priorities. By conducting regular audits, school leaders can identify blind spots, optimize their schedules, and stay focused on what truly matters. 

Key Discussion Points: 

• The critical role of regular calendar audits in ensuring alignment with school goals and priorities. 
• How to differentiate between anxious, hasty decisions and calm, strategic choices that drive long-term success. 
• The impact of prioritization on your school’s profitability, retention, and enrollment outcomes. 
• Understanding and leveraging lead metrics to maintain accountability and focus within your school’s operations. 
• How the Schools of Excellence framework can help streamline your leadership practices, maximizing time and efficiency. 

Whether you’re an anxious decision-maker or someone looking to fine-tune your scheduling practices, this episode offers invaluable insights into optimizing your time and resources!

Learn more and apply for the Director’s Inner Circle & Owner’s HQ: https://schoolsofexcellence.com/membership/ 

More about the show:

If you are an Early Childhood director or owner, prepare to transform your school and life with the Schools of Excellence podcast. Tune in each week to learn from Chanie Wilschanski, the founder and host of the Schools of Excellence Podcast and a mom of 4 little kids. Each episode will be packed with tools and strategies – equipping you to build schools with higher staff retention, teacher motivation, parent partnership, collaborative culture, and beautiful quality of life. 

Every week, Chanie shares the truth about the journey to excellence, the strategies that are working TODAY, and the mindset about the critical decisions and choices that you make every day which impact yourself, your teachers, parents, family, and children who you serve every day.