Intentionality fuels strong teaching teams. Learn how trust, communication and shared responsibility create classrooms where everyone can thrive.

A strong teaching team sets the tone for the entire classroom.

In this episode, Rhonda Meyers welcomes longtime early childhood educator, coach and former Heartfelt team member Wendy Malkiewicz to talk about how to build strong teaching teams.

Start by making the classroom shared. Divide responsibilities around each teacher’s strengths, plan together and make sure every adult is engaged in the life of the classroom.

Wendy also recommends protecting 10 or 15 minutes every day for teachers to connect. Discuss what went well, what could be better and where children were most engaged that day. Collaboration creates opportunities to grow together.

[00:11:31] “There is something to be said about a sense of belonging, not just for the children, not just for the families, but you have to grow that together as adults.”

Strong teams also need room for honesty. Wendy remembers a time when her co-teacher recognized that something was wrong and created a safe space for a difficult conversation. Feeling heard changed the relationship.

[00:33:20] “When it comes to kiddos, we talk about behavior being communication. It is no different with adults.”

If a teammate’s behavior changes, Wendy urges teachers to pause, ask what is wrong and be willing to listen without filling in the story yourself.

Teaching teams grow stronger when people have time to communicate, permission to be vulnerable and confidence that the person beside them will have their back.

Heartfelt summer campers share what they learned about creativity, starting a business and problem-solving.

Sometimes adults need to give children the space to see what they’re capable of. 

In this episode, Rhonda Meyers hands the microphone to Heartfelt’s fourth- and fifth-grade summer campers. What started as a few friends making bracelets grew into a student-run business complete with marketing, a written proposal and plans to donate proceeds to a local charity.

The campers shared how they learned to work with people who have different ideas. They disagreed over decisions and learned to compromise rather than abandon the project.

One of the campers donated over 50 origami ninja stars to the business that he and his friend made the previous summer. His takeaway:

[00:23:16] Gabe: “You can’t do much alone.”

When bracelets sold faster than they could make them, the children learned how to pivot. They practiced speaking up, listening to one another and recovering when things did not go as planned — lessons that go beyond their summer business.

[00: 27:19] Charlotte: “I'm most proud that everyone was working really hard and that they didn't force people to buy stuff.”

Give children room to create and lead, and they will show you they are capable of more than we imagined.

AI can take some of the mental load off parents. Listen for ways to save time on meals, schedules and everyday decisions.

So many little things have to happen to keep a family moving. 

Meals need to be planned, appointments remembered and calendars coordinated. 

AI expert, author and entrepreneur Ethan King joins Rhonda Meyers to share ways that AI can lighten parents’ mental load. 

[00:09:54] “We lose so much time and we burn so many mental calories due to decision fatigue. AI can just help tremendously with lifting that load.”

His first step is to teach AI about yourself. Share your preferences, give it feedback and use voice mode. The more context it has, the more helpful it will be.

Ethan also shares three ways parents can use AI to reduce stress and decision fatigue:

[00:33:00] “Ask AI, ‘How else can you help me in my life? How can you help me achieve my goals? How can you help me have less stress? You tell me how to use you better.’”

Parenting is about making the best use of the support you have. Let AI take on some little things so you have more of yourself to give your family.

Resources

Ethan King’s website

“Done: Let A.I. Do Your Work So You Can Live Your Life” by Ethan King

Leadership isn’t about having every answer. Join Heartfelt’s Brittany Kay in the final episode of the Leadership Series on how to help leaders lead.

Brittany Kay, Heartfelt’s Executive Director of Program Quality, joins Rhonda Meyers in this final episode of the Leadership Series. They reflect on what it looks and feels like to develop leaders.

Brittany planned and ran Heartfelt’s leadership retreat this year. She learned from last year’s retreat that there needed to be more balance between fun and hard conversations — and enough time for both to unfold. 

[00:08:08] “People just want to be together, and people just want the positive outcomes that come from feeling safe with a group of individuals.”

Doing the best thing doesn’t necessarily mean doing the most elaborate thing. Brittany put this fact into action in the leadership retreat. Leadership development should help leaders know that they don’t have to have all the answers and it’s ok to slow down and be present and vulnerable with others.

[00:20:49] “Every moment had purpose. Every moment impacted others and . . . is the reason that we walked away from those days together a stronger team.”

As a leader, it can be hard to feel appreciated and to gauge your success. When you pour support and affirmation into your leadership team, you pour into staff, teachers, children and families too.

Taking time away prevents leading in survival mode. Listen to this final episode in the leadership series.

The Heartfelt Way’s leadership series concludes in this conversation with Denise Palmer and Brooke Lewandowski on how and why to lead. 

Denise never thought of herself as a leader. But over the last few years, she’s grown to love sharing her knowledge with other teachers and celebrating their successes.

Brooke agreed.

[00:16:14] Brooke: "Being a leader has helped me grow as an individual. That’s helped me become more confident in myself, but it also has helped me to build those relationships.”

One of Heartfelt Impressions’ core values is “others before self but not at the expense of self.” This is one of Brooke’s favorite things about Heartfelt, and the leadership retreat is born directly from that value.

[00:17:39] Brooke: “When we step away as leadership for retreats, . . . it’s us investing in ourselves . . . to better the experience for families, for children, for everyone.”

Survival mode crushes passion. Stepping away allows leaders to make a clear plan, get on the same page and work towards shared goals.

The leadership series continues with a conversation about core values, leading by listening and building respectful, reciprocal relationships.

This episode of The Heartfelt Way continues the leadership series with Elizabeth Hall and Penny White, leaders from Heartfelt’s Rochester campus. They spoke with Rhonda Meyers about the core values, investment in teachers and community involvement that sets Heartfelt apart. 

Elizabeth came to Heartfelt after owning and running her own in-home daycare. It was difficult for her to decide to no longer be her own boss, but it was a step toward achieving her personal and leadership goals.

When Elizabeth first read Heartfelt’s core value statement, she was sold. She intentionally started in an entry-level position to learn the company from the ground up.

[00:12:36] Elizabeth: “I want to embody those core values. And I want to work with people where those values are just as important to them as [they] are to me, and that’s what the leadership team is.”

Fresh from the Heartfelt leadership retreat, Elizabeth and Penny are excited to build stronger relationships with families and the community in the coming year.

[00:30:45] Penny: “I want the children, and the parents, in my classroom to know they are a part of my life, and I want to be a part of their lives.”

Leaders are the foundation of good schools. Pour connection, support and education into your leaders and watch your organization flourish.

Leadership grows from vulnerability and hard conversations. Join two of Heartfelt’s leaders as they speak about growing in confidence and skill.

There never is a right time to become a leader. Sometimes we think we’ll wait forever for the chance. Other times, we think we’ll never be ready.

In this episode, Rhonda Meyers speaks with Heartfelt leaders Mayra Castro and Kiara Barahona. They reflect on their leadership journeys following Heartfelt's annual leadership retreat.

Mayra and Kiara say that the opportunity to share openly with other leaders is a big part of what made the retreat impactful.

[00:14:17] Mayra: “Being vulnerable with each other . . . shows the type of team we have.”

They speak about how they learned to have hard conversations as part of their leadership, the kind you’re tempted to put off because you think someone might abandon you. They share that most times, the result of the hard conversation looks better than they thought it would.

Looking ahead, Kiara and Mayra are excited from the growth that comes from being challenged.

[00:27:39] Kiara: “Because I’m being pushed, I want to help push others, too, to their full potential.”

True leaders are committed to growth. If you’re responsible for supporting leaders, pause and ask them how they’re doing. Time spent connecting with each other without a strategic goal is essential.

Feeling unseen can take a quiet toll. Listen for five practices that help you reconnect with yourself.

What happens when you stop waiting for someone else to make you feel seen? 

In this solo episode, Rhonda shares five practices that changed the way she experienced her vacation and left her feeling more grounded as she returned to work.

Say what you want. Rhonda points out that amidst our roles as parents, leaders and friends we can forget that we have wants and preferences.

[00:02:43] “Sometimes it's hard to choose yourself, and it even sometimes feels selfish.” 

Even if it doesn’t come naturally, answer honestly when someone asks what you'd like to do. 

Keep things simple. Make a main dish and one side for dinner. Sit back and enjoy the people around you.

Read for pleasure. Rhonda admits that when she reads, it’s usually with a business or personal goal in mind. Ask your local bookstore for a recommendation and experience the emotional release of immersing yourself in a good story.

Act bravely and be fully present. Small choices like trying something difficult on your own or setting your phone aside create space to reconnect with yourself.

If you're feeling overlooked, this episode is for you. You might be the person who needs to see you.

Vacation can be exhausting with kids. Rhonda shares three ways to spark curiosity for kids and make vacation memories that reenergize the whole family.

Packing for vacation can leave parents feeling exhausted before they even leave the driveway. 

In this solo episode, Rhonda Meyers shares three ways to help children stay engaged on vacation without breaking the bank.

[00:12:01] “The possibilities are endless because when children create, their brains are doing incredible work.”

[00:15:13] “Children notice details adults miss. . . . And at the end of vacation, print a few. Make that simple book. And now your child hasn't just gone on vacation. They've become a storyteller.”

Rhonda’s ideas help families create meaningful memories long after the suitcase is unpacked.

Growth can begin with one honest conversation. Listen to Alissa’s story about confidence, resilience and choosing to believe in yourself.

If life does anything, it throws curveballs.

This episode is about the growth that comes from recognizing and honoring your needs, especially when life gets messy. Heartfelt director Alissa Russell joins Rhonda to speak about her hard-won success story. 

In her early 20’s Alissa was looking for a school for her daughter when she found Heartfelt. She started working there shortly after, and though she had command of the classroom, parents repeatedly expressed concern.

She realized that the belief that no one cared what she had to say kept her from connecting with parents.

Fast forward a few years, and life hit hard again. Alissa knew she couldn’t move forward alone. She needed support.

[00:31:36] “I knew what I needed, but I wasn't ready. I couldn't take the step myself. I needed somebody to help me take that step.”

Rhonda and Alissa share how coaching, therapy, mentorship and small daily commitments helped her confidence grow. She’s found exercise is essential to her physical and mental wellbeing.

[00:36:08] “You don't have to start off with a marathon. You can start off with a five-minute walk.”

Growth begins the moment you choose to believe a new story about yourself.

Mentioned in this Episode:

Ep. 27 More Than a Classroom: The Paths to Early Childhood