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

Struggling with school enrollment can feel like navigating a maze of challenges and stress, leaving you wondering if there’s a clear path to attracting and retaining families.

Join Chanie Wilschanski as she cuts through the confusion and reveals actionable strategies to transform your enrollment process, turning it from a daunting task into a streamlined, effective approach. Chanie goes over three key tactics that can drive immediate results and set the stage for long-term success. These tactics are also tailored to help create meaningful connections and attract new families for enrollment. 

Key Discussion Points:

• The effectiveness of tailoring incentives to the unique preferences of each family to significantly enhance referral programs.
• How to leverage face-to-face interactions by visiting local establishments like gyms, spas, and apartment buildings.
• Observing and listening effectively to community conversations can help school leaders refine their marketing strategies to address real concerns and attract new families. 

Tune in to learn how practical strategies can enhance your school’s visibility and drive enrollment success!

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

More about the show:

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

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

In the demanding world of early education, balancing professional challenges and personal life can feel overwhelming.

So, how did Stacy Smith, founder of Big Timber Daycare, transform her childcare center into a thriving example of integrated leadership and personal fulfillment?

Join Chanie Wilschanski as she and Stacy delve into the transformative effects of values-based leadership on both professional and personal realms. Stacy opens up about her journey in reshaping her approach to leading a childcare center, balancing business demands with personal life, and integrating effective strategies for sustainable success. Listeners will gain actionable insights on leading with integrity, managing challenges, and aligning personal values with professional goals.

Key Discussion Points: 

• How leading with core values can shape both professional success and personal fulfillment.
• Strategies for integrating effective business practices with maintaining personal wellness.
• Insights into the specific hurdles faced in running a childcare center and how to address them.
• Practical advice for ensuring personal values and career objectives are in harmony.

Tune in to discover actionable strategies for aligning your leadership approach with core values, balancing business and personal well-being, and overcoming the unique challenges of early education.

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

More about the show:

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

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

When I lived in New York, I spent a lot of time inside during the winter because I didn’t want to freeze my face.

But here in Florida, it’s the exact opposite.

I find myself indoors all summer because I don’t want to melt.

My older kids are away at camp, and Mayer’s and my work schedules both have a little bit more flexibility.

We’ve started a family tradition of using the summer to assess our household.

Is there maintenance we need to do on the house?

Do we want to cancel some streaming subscriptions?

How will we give back to our community in the next 12 months?

It will always inconvenience someone for us to pause and go through our household assessments. 

Maybe we’ll be without a washer for a few days as a new one gets put in, or maybe we’ll take the morning off work to guide a handyman through the house.

But summer is the least inconvenient time to go through these upgrades and tweaks.

Schools follow a similar pattern.

Even if you run summer programs, there are usually fewer people in the building this time of year.

Families go on vacation. Teachers might take off time to travel. Kids are at Disney World or at their grandparents’ house out of state.

Plus, you’re in the perfect position to reflect on what went well last school year, and what didn’t.

That makes right now the ideal moment to enhance your school leadership through audits, assessments, and evaluations.

In this week's podcast episode, I discuss the types of school audits that might be right for you and why summer is the perfect time to take on this project.

Join me for a conversation about:

• Qualities of summertime that make it ideal for reflection and strategic planning
• Types of audits you may wish to consider for your school this summer
• Astute questions to ask yourself as you evaluate what’s working and what’s not
• A shortcut to prevent you from reinventing the wheel when it comes to school audits

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.

One of my clients is a school owner who hired a new director to lead a brand-new location.

In the beginning, the director was doing a great job.

But then she started to fall short… including on tasks that were not all that complicated.

The owner was concerned the director was acting helpless, especially when it came to her regular duties.

She said to me, “Chanie, I don’t know what to do. What do I tell her? How do I train her?”

If she wanted to invest in this director, I suggested she take her out to breakfast. Spend some time getting to know her, human to human.

So they went out to breakfast.

It wasn’t a one-on-one meeting. It wasn’t a performance review. It was not an interrogation.

It was a chance for them to build a relationship outside the context of work, over coffee and a relaxing meal.

It went so well, they decided to keep it up every month for the next six months.

As the owner got to know her director better, and the more she came to understand who she was as a person, the owner became more empathetic.

And that empathy caused something surprising to happen:

The more empathetic the owner became towards her director, the less afraid she was to hold her accountable.

Knowing what’s going on with someone can actually make it easier to hold them accountable because you’re better able to express both expectations and empathy. Candor and kindness.

Before they knew it, the director had extricated herself from her helplessness, and she was back to being a high-performing professional.

In this week's podcast episode, I’m discussing ways you, as an ECE leader, can guide your staff out of those sneaky feelings of helplessness, while boosting morale and creating a healthier school.

Join me for a conversation about:

• The six main reasons your teammates could fall into a state of helplessness
• Why certain factors lead to feelings of helplessness
• How you can take proactive steps to prevent your staff from feeling helpless
• Ways to coach your staff out of a state of helplessness while keeping morale high

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.

I remember when I got my first W2 job when I was 19.

I was so proud and excited.

I was working hard, showing up every day, and doing my best.

But when I got that first paycheck, my heart sank.

I thought, “There’s something wrong. This is not the amount that was in my contract.”

I went to my boss and gently let her know about the mistake.

Little did I know there was no mistake.

She showed me the other side of the paycheck, with taxes, benefits, and withholdings.

It was Greek to me. I had no idea how the working world operated.

When I look back at that memory, I cringe.

And I honestly hope you cringe at your past self, too.

Because if you’re cringing by looking back, that means you’ve grown a whole lot in the intervening years.

Just remember, some of your employees are new to the ECE field—or are new to working in general, just like I was at 19.

You’ve hired a teacher for whom you have high expectations.

And they want to meet those expectations. 

But before they can master classroom management and parent communication and curriculum planning…

They need to know the basics.

Where’s the bathroom? How do they clock in? Where are the supplies?

In this week's podcast episode, I invite you to temper your expectations while maintaining your high standards.

I want to encourage you to define and then tolerate “good enough” for long enough, so you can build a school of excellence.

Join me for a conversation about:

• Why setting realistic expectations fosters an environment of growth
• How to determine what “good enough” means for each employee 
• Ideas for supporting teachers in achieving good enough without sacrificing high standards
• Why growing through the learning curve cultivates better employee performance in the long run

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

If perfectionism is your middle name, and you’re open to a loving reality check that ultimately benefits your teachers, your center, and you, I encourage you to apply for our Owner's HQ and Director's Inner Circle membership programs. As a member, you'll gain access to tools, resources, coaching, and community that will help you as you work toward building a school of excellence. 

Are you adjusting how you onboard new staff at your school and you are craving support as you adjust your expectations? Allow me to help. During a Schools of Excellence Leadership Day Intensive, you'll get a full day of on-demand, in-school training with me, plus various accountability check-ins, to help you and your team work through obstacles and build a stronger, healthier center that values self-care. https://schoolsofexcellence.com/leadership/

More about the show:

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

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

Big decisions are tough.

I was speaking with one of my clients who was considering letting a director go.

There was a clear mismatch of values between the director and the school.

Everything the owner had tried to get the director on track had failed.

And yet if she fired the director, the owner would have to expand her workload. She would get stuck doing all the director’s tasks, even though she was already tired. Plus, she would have to go through the exhausting process of hiring a replacement.

It all sounded like too much.

While she knew there was a discrepancy in values, she was considering continuing to put up with it.

I invited her to journal about the situation.

On the left side of her page, I asked her to write “What do my fear and my ego say?”

On the right side of her page, I asked her to write, “What does my higher self say?”

She spent some time expressing her thoughts on paper.

It gave her the clarity she needed: it was vital that she let the director go.

After journaling, she had so much more clarity, assurance, poise, and ease around the decision and the challenging conversation to follow.

Journaling is one of the great strategies I use for managing the challenging—and often conflicting—emotions that come up when we have to make big decisions.

In this week's podcast episode, I discuss additional methods of navigating complex emotions while we’re in the decision-making process.

Join me for a conversation about:

• How mindfulness can impact your ability to make wise decisions
• A calendaring strategy that encourages decision breakthroughs
• Why speedy decision-making doesn’t correlate to intelligence or wisdom
• Ways to assess when you need to make the decision

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

Decision-making is a key leadership skill that isn’t as intuitive as it sounds. For continuous coaching and support, I encourage you to apply for our Owner's HQ and Director's Inner Circle membership programs. As a member, you'll gain access to tools, resources, coaching, and community that will help you as you work toward building a school of excellence.

Are you facing a big decision right now? Are you looking for support as you make a significant shift? During a Schools of Excellence Leadership Day Intensive, you'll get a full day of on-demand, in-school training with me, plus various accountability check-ins, to help you and your team build a stronger, healthier center. https://schoolsofexcellence.com/leadership/

More about the show:

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

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

During my second year of teaching, I was only 20 years old.

Our school had teachers do home visits before the school year started, so the child could get to know their teacher before entering the classroom.

I remember one home visit distinctly because the child’s mom came on so strong.

“How old are you? Do you have a college degree? Are you in a relationship? Have you ever provided childcare before?”

She interrogated me.

I remember thinking, “This woman’s going to eat me alive!”

The insecurity I felt is really common for new teachers. They don’t know how to be a leader yet, and they’re too green to conduct themselves with discretion and grace.

On the other hand, veteran teachers have a lot more self-assurance because of their years of experience.

In this week's podcast episode, I’m talking about the difference between new and veteran teachers when it comes to leadership and decision-making. 

Join me for a conversation about:

• The pros and cons of both types of teachers when it comes to curriculum planning
• Types of classroom management guidance you can offer veteran and new teachers
• Inherent advantages veteran teachers have when it comes to parent communication
• Guidance you can provide new teachers when it comes to crises and professional boundaries

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

Nurturing your staff is an ongoing endeavor, and there’s no one-size-fits-all solution. For continuous coaching and support, I encourage you to apply for our Owner's HQ and Director's Inner Circle membership programs. As a member, you'll gain access to tools, resources, coaching, and community that will help you as you work toward building a school of excellence.

As you discern how to best guide and show appreciation for both veteran and new staff, you may be looking for personalized ideas and guidance. During a Schools of Excellence Leadership Day Intensive, you'll get a full day of on-demand, in-school training with me, plus various accountability check-ins, to help you and your team build a stronger, healthier center. https://schoolsofexcellence.com/leadership/

More about the show:

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

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

I was recently texting with a one-on-one client.

She had a decision to make about professional development, and she asked me what she should do.

It would have been easier for me to say, “Do XYZ.”

But I didn’t.

Instead, I wrote back, “You hired me to coach, mentor, and uplevel you. I want you to trust your decision-making ability. What do you believe should happen?”

She clearly thought I was overcomplicating things (and I don’t blame her!). She wrote back, “Chanie, I just want answers.”

She had decision fatigue. She was spinning too many plates to have the bandwidth to think critically about one more thing.

But I’m a mentor, not an answer dispenser.

No one knows her school better than her.

No one has more institutional knowledge of her center than her.

No one knows her staff better than her.

No one knows the answer better than her.

I told her, “I’m here to teach you to dig deep. The hardest things in life are where you’ll meet yourself. Find a quiet place and listen to your inner wisdom.”

It clicked.

A little bit later, she let me know she’d made a decision. 

She said, “Thanks for not letting me get away with what’s easy, instead of trying to figure out the why.”

Cheers to that!

Because here’s the thing: Now that she can sit with the discomfort of silence to make decisions, she can train her team to do the same.

Imagine how much surface-level, unnecessary professional development you could do without if everyone on your team developed self-trust.

Your new teachers could pinpoint specific areas of foundational learning to explore, while your veteran teachers could focus on advanced training opportunities and become mentors to the rest of your team.

In this week's podcast episode, we’re discussing how to support both veteran and new staff in your school when it comes to professional development.

Join me for a conversation about:

• Whether specific professional development opportunities are meeting the core needs of your school
• Ways to empower your staff to evaluate their professional development gaps
• Strategies for becoming a strategic and compassionate mentor to your staff
• Secrets for unlocking your self-confidence when it comes to professional development decisions

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

Get access to the Classroom Management Blueprint here: https://discovered.thrivecart.com/the-classroom-management-blueprint/

More about the show:

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

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

Recently, I was reading an article in the Journal of Human Resources that highlighted a difference in the teaching practices between veteran teachers and new teachers. 

Veteran teachers demonstrate confidence and expertise in the classroom. They’re experienced, and they love to be recognized for what they’ve brought to your school.

New teachers are more likely to experiment and innovate, especially when it comes to integrating technology into the class. They’re searching for mentorship and validation.

Both are so valuable for any school. One is silver and the other gold.

This week, I’m kicking off a new three-part series in the podcast about the differences between veteran and new staff in ECE schools. 

Our focus in the first episode is how the two groups manage parent and child engagement.

Join me for a conversation about:

• Key indicators regarding whether someone is a veteran or a new staff member
• How you, as a leader, can support both veteran and new staff at your school as they interact with parents and children
• Pros and cons to both groups’ approaches and what they can learn from each other
• Why one-size-fits-all approaches aren’t going to work for your staff
• How you can break down your biases and create a supportive environment for all staff

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

Want to boost your leadership skills so you can be a better mentor for the veteran and new staff under your care? I encourage you to apply for our Owner's HQ and Director's Inner Circle membership programs. As a member, you'll gain access to tools, resources, coaching, and community that will help you build and grow a thriving school of excellence. 

If you’re seeking ways to better support all the staff at your center, regardless of how long they’ve worked with you, I’d love to help you. During a Schools of Excellence Leadership Day Intensive, you'll get a full day of on-demand, in-school training with me, plus various accountability check-ins, to help you and your team work through obstacles and build a stronger, healthier center. https://schoolsofexcellence.com/leadership/

More about the show:

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

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

In 2019, Kathy owned three ECE centers near Richmond, Virginia. 

She felt a lot of empathy for the dedicated women who worked in her school. 

They always were the kind of people who would always give, give, give without receiving in return. 

They were burning the midnight oil and without inner peace. That meant burnout was on the horizon.

Kathy knew she couldn’t guide them as a leader just yet, because she was exactly the same.

She was running herself ragged wearing all the hats in her school.

When she reached her breaking point, she realized that work can always come and go, but family and her own health can’t. 

She needed to prioritize her well-being.

This caused a culture shift at her school. “If I’m going to make time for my family and myself, I need to give my staff time for their family and themselves too,” she said.

Today, she owns five centers. Despite the expansion, she’s gained more balance, self-care, and boundaries than ever, allowing her, her colleagues, and her school to thrive.

In this week's podcast episode, I speak with Kathy about her leadership journey over the last three decades, and how she has completely transformed herself and her school.

Join us for a conversation about:

• What Kathy wishes she’d known thirty years ago when she entered the field
• How she improved time management and productivity with systems and technology
• Why compassion and community are integral to Kathy’s leadership growth
• How she’s thinking about the future as she and her husband build their legacy
• How she got the most out of her coaching experience with Schools of Excellence

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

If Kathy’s story resonates with you and you suspect you’d go farther with a like-minded community and laser-focused personal mentoring, I encourage you to apply for our Owner's HQ and Director's Inner Circle membership programs. As a member, you'll gain access to tools, resources, coaching, and community that will help you as you work toward building a school of excellence.

If you and your leadership team are wearing all the hats, and you know you need to shuffle your company culture, allow me to help. During a Schools of Excellence Leadership Day Intensive, you'll get a full day of on-demand, in-school training with me, plus various accountability check-ins, to help you and your team work through obstacles and build a stronger, healthier center that values self-care. https://schoolsofexcellence.com/leadership/

More about the show:

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

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