Shows
Schools of ExcellenceWhat You Tolerate in August Is What You’ll Be Cleaning Up in FebruaryIn this timely solo episode, Chanie Wilschanski shares a powerful leadership truth every school owner and director needs to hear as the new year begins: what you tolerate in August becomes the culture you’re stuck managing by February.This isn’t just a motivational pep talk—it’s a wake-up call. As classrooms buzz with fresh energy and bulletin boards get a glow-up, your old leadership reflexes start creeping back in. The skipped 1:1s, the ignored red flags, the well-meaning rescues? They’re not small moments. They’re culture-setting decisions that will quietly shape your entire year....
2025-07-0720 minSchools of ExcellenceFrom Burnout to Boundaries: Redefining Female Leadership in Private EducationFrom Burnout to Boundaries: Redefining Female Leadership in Private EducationIn this deeply honest and emotionally resonant episode, Chanie Wilschanski invites female school leaders into a transformative conversation about the “impossible standard” of leadership in education. She explores the emotional labor women carry, how over-functioning and people-pleasing lead to burnout, and why leading with warmth shouldn’t come at the cost of boundaries or energy. Chanie offers practical strategies—and powerful mindset shifts—to help leaders reclaim their authority and redefine what it means to lead well.What You’ll LearnThe impact of emotional ex...
2025-06-3031 minSchools of ExcellenceHow to Get Out of the Day To DayPicture 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 rev...
2024-10-0832 minSchools of ExcellenceHealing from Pregnancy Loss: The Power of SupportIn 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 emph...
2024-10-0142 minSchools of ExcellenceHow to Increase the Lifetime Value of Each Enrollment: Parent RetentionA 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 stron...
2024-09-1633 minSchools of ExcellenceRetention Intelligence Framework: Transforming Exit Feedback into Strategic SolutionsWhat 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: ...
2024-09-091h 16
Schools of ExcellenceRetention Intelligence Framework™: Transforming Exit Feedback into Strategic SolutionsWhat 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: ...
2024-09-0931 minSchools of ExcellenceThe REAL Cause of Your Profit and Enrollment ProblemsI 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 p...
2024-08-2635 minSchools of ExcellenceHow to Increase Enrollment THIS MonthStruggling 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...
2024-08-1934 minSchools of Excellence5 Layers to Building a Culture of Retention: AccountabilityA while back, I was working with a school that was having trouble with one of their new teachers. She was relatively new to her role, and although she was gentle and loving to the children, she was struggling with classroom management and transitions.The owner and director of the center knew they needed to discuss the issue with the teacher, but they were afraid of initiating such a difficult conversation. In particular, they feared that if they tried to provide feedback, the teacher would leave her job.If this situation sounds familiar, I'm not...
2023-05-0130 minSchools of Excellence5 Layers to Building a Culture of Retention: ContributionOne of our core needs as human beings is a sense of service which prompts us to help and support others. Put differently, we have an innate need to want to contribute in a meaningful way.Yet the pattern I see in a lot of centers is that their culture is built around obligation rather than contribution.In a culture of obligation, people see obstacles as burdens, changing demands as reasons to give up, and unclear directions as an excuse to wait to be told what to do. It's a type of...
2023-04-2439 minSchools of Excellence5 Layers to Building a Culture of Retention: Quality of LifeDo you remember when the only people on-call 24/7 were emergency workers?Back then, there was a much clearer divide between work and life. Once you left the "office," you could focus your attention on whatever was happening at home until you returned to work.These days, it's far less simple. We live in a world of instant gratification, where smart phones and watches and other devices ping and ding at all hours, programming us to always be on-call.This has blurred the separation between our personal and...
2023-04-1732 minSchools of Excellence5 Layers to Building a Culture of Retention: Gratitude & CommunityWhat does it feel like when you belong?It's not always easy to put into words, but when you know, you know.Think about what it's like to go to the mall. Each of its stores has a unique environment and style that appeal to different types of people—you won't find the same crowd in Abercrombie & Fitch as you would in Old Navy.The reason for that has to do with belonging.Even if you can't explain why, you feel drawn to...
2023-04-1033 minSchools of ExcellenceFinding Investors for your Childcare Center with KangarootimeWithin the early childhood education space, many owners have dreams of growing their centers but are hesitant about taking on investors. Oftentimes, their skepticism stems from the fear of their vision being compromised by a loss of control and misaligned values.And while this is a valid concern, it's also misplaced.Taking on an investor isn't like hiring a boss. It's not about handing over the power to the person with the most capital.Instead, working with an investor is like building a...
2023-04-0338 minSchools of ExcellenceDelegation Dip Part 3: FiringWe all have limits to what we can tolerate… and what we can't.Once, I was working with a director who went into a tailspin if the grapes at snack time weren't sliced. Whenever she saw that a staff member had forgotten to slice them, she would react with panic and anger. While un-sliced grapes may not bother everyone to such a degree, they pushed this director to her limits.Whether it's fruit that's not cut or showing up late to meetings, everyone has different limits and triggers, and it's important to be aware...
2023-03-2731 minSchools of ExcellenceDelegation Dip Part 2: NeglectWhat if I told you that training a new team member wasn't much different from coaching an Olympian?Bear with me for a second.When you coach your son's Little League baseball team, you're likely giving him and all his teammates one of their first introductions to the sport. That means you have to teach them every aspect of the game—from their batting technique to how to lose gracefully.That's going to be very different from the experience of a coach who's training an Olympian, someone who's already the best of the be...
2023-03-2033 minSchools of ExcellenceDelegation Dip Part 1: MicromanagingDiscernment is a topic I address here often, and for good reason: It's a key ingredient to many aspects of strong leadership.One of the areas in which discernment is especially important is delegation.Whether at home with your family or at school with your team, there are times to delegate and there are times to maintain ownership of tasks. Just as you wouldn't delegate the responsibility of driving your car to your 12-year-old son, you wouldn't delegate a high-level, mission-critical task to someone who's new to t...
2023-03-1342 minSchools of ExcellenceCreating Excellent Experiences with HiMamaWhen you go to a restaurant, the quality of the food is critical to whether or not you like the restaurant and want to go back. But food isn't the only thing that matters, is it? There are a lot of other aspects of the experience that are just as important, if not more so. The service, atmosphere, and cost are just a few things that come to mind.Well, the same can be said about early childhood education. Just like the food at a restaurant, the children are the highest priority at yo...
2023-03-0627 minSchools of ExcellenceFounding Member to Confident Leader with Courtney GrenierRaising tuition can be a touchy subject for owners. It's something you know you have to do—something you have the right to do—and yet you feel the need to justify it every time.This was also true for Courtney Greiner, owner of Mini Mos Child Care and Preschool.In the early years of running her school, Courtney struggled to find a balance between the desire to improve her center and the very real costs of running her business.After exhausting every other possibility, Courtney finally came to the conclusion that she had...
2023-02-2737 minSchools of ExcellenceDecoding Your Culture Part 4: Using Feedforward to Build SkillsYou already know that feedback is an important part of growth. All of us need to be given the chance to view our work critically so we can find the areas that need improvement.This is especially true of you as a leader. To build a school of excellence, you need to be able to receive honest feedback from trusted members of your team.But feedback—as its name suggests—is focused on the past. As a result, it often focuses too much on the mistakes that were made, and this understandably causes people to get...
2023-02-2036 minSchools of ExcellenceDecoding Your Culture Part 3: What is Emotionally Mature Leadership?Last week, I talked about drama and the toll it can take on the culture of your center. We started to identify the different symptoms of drama to look out for, including complaining about the small things, gossip, and playing the victim.Another sign that drama has infiltrated your school culture is inconsistent actions and behaviors among your team. In other words, when someone goes from one extreme behavior to another—extremely forgiving to hyper-critical or exceptionally kind to highly rude.These inconsistencies are difficult to spot because they require you to pay attention over a...
2023-02-1327 minSchools of ExcellenceDecoding Your Culture Part 2: Indicators there is Drama in your CenterGossip is a normal part of the human experience—I mean, who doesn't perk up their ears when they hear a juicy piece of information?We all engage in at least some of the time because it plays an important role in our ability to connect with others. But… some individuals gossip significantly more than others. (I'm sure we can all name people in our lives who jump on gossip like hungry wolves devouring their next meal.)And that craving for gossip is one of the telltale signs of drama, including within your cente...
2023-02-0630 minSchools of ExcellenceDecoding Your Culture Part 1: What is Culture?When I talk about school culture, I'm not talking about Secret Santa gift exchanges, karaoke night, or the pingpong table in the breakroom.Instead, culture is about the conversation that happens around the ping pong table. It's the set of shared core values and practices that define the day-to-day interactions and decisions in your center.A healthy culture is essential to building a school of excellence, so keeping a finger on the pulse of your center's culture is something you should prioritize.But how can you evaluate the state of your current culture...
2023-01-3030 minSchools of ExcellenceTripling Income for her Most Profitable Year with Aliyah Johnson-RobertsIf you had to be brutally honest with yourself right now, where are you focusing the majority of your attention? On yourself? On your family? Or are you primarily focusing on your center?If that's you, you're definitely not alone. Many of the owners and directors I work with have been in your shoes, including Aliyah Johnson-Roberts.Back in 2020, Aliyah found herself so focused on her center that she was obliging herself to stay at school, even when she wasn't needed. Day after day, she found herself sitting at her desk we...
2023-01-2353 minSchools of ExcellenceHow to Discern Which Events to Invest In & AttendIn the midst of the pandemic, there were days when I wondered whether we'd ever return to attending in-person events. As helpful as Zoom was during that time, there was a silent collective agreement that virtual events could never compare to the energy and connection we experience when interacting with others face-to-face.Fortunately, we've since gone back to in-person events, and it's been a welcome respite from the years of isolation.But I've also noticed that the return to these events has impacted the way we see them. Post-pandemic, we view our time a...
2023-01-1616 minSchools of ExcellenceThe Difference Between an Opportunity and a DistractionIt's the beginning of 2023, which means the promise of a whole new year of possibilities!As a visionary, you're likely especially anxious about getting started on tackling your new goals for your center.But as a visionary, you also need to ensure you stay grounded in reality—and that means recognizing that not every new opportunity is of real value to your center.Because you want the very best for your school, you can be particularly susceptible to what's called "shiny object syndrome."Shiny object syndrome is the continual state of di...
2023-01-0927 minSchools of ExcellenceManuals to Modules with Beth CannonOne struggle that seems to come up again and again for school leaders is onboarding. Year after year, I see owners and directors stressing over this consistent and necessary aspect of running a school—almost as if they didn't see it coming.If you fall into the same boat, I want you to pause and consider why that might be.If onboarding is such a repetitive process, why does it continue to be so difficult for you and your team?Chances are it's because you're stuck in the automatic mode of rea...
2023-01-0228 minSchools of ExcellenceHow to Raise Capital Funding with Scott Wayman from KangarootimeWhen you're caught up in the day-to-day responsibilities of running your school, planning for the future can become the last thing on your mind.But thinking about what comes next for your center is essential to setting goals that will help you build a school of excellence and a legacy you can be proud of.And oftentimes, those goals involve raising funds to make those big-picture projects a reality.If the mere mention of building an investment portfolio raises your heart rate, you're not alone. After all, most of us don't get into...
2022-12-1929 minSchools of ExcellenceHow to Simplify and Streamline with Samantha Phillips & Chris Myers from ComployWhether we like it or not, the unexpected is bound to happen.Injuries on the playground, accidents in the classroom, and even instances of verbal or physical abuse by your own staff members can and will disrupt your school.As much as we wish we could avoid these types of incidents, there's only so much that's within our control. All you can do is take the proper steps to plan for them.One of the most important actions you can take is ensuring that your center is properly insured by an a...
2022-12-1926 minSchools of ExcellenceThe Journey of Becoming a Leader with Summer Picha from Conscious ClassroomOne time, I had an owner ask me whether there's a universal set of values that all centers should have.My answer was no, actually, there's not.Confused? Let me explain.The truth is that while there are many common values we think we should prioritize, at the end of the day, the values we actually prioritize are the ones that drive our decision making.Here's an example: Oftentimes, I hear owners say that they value intention in their center. But when I ask whether...
2022-12-1934 min
Schools of Excellence2023 ECE Forecast: Experts Share Predictions and Trends Part 1As a leader, it’s your job to see the forest through the trees. While your staff are involved in the details of the day-to-day, you’re the one that keeps an eye on how everything fits into the bigger picture. And that means you’ve likely noticed some things: You’ve had to raise your tuition rates. Your occupancy has fallen due to staff shortages. You’ve felt pressured to increase your pay rate to try to attract quality staff. Supply costs are higher than ever. If any of this hits home for you, it’s becau...
2022-12-062h 03Schools of Excellence2023 ECE Forecast: Experts Share Predictions and Trends Part 1As a leader, it’s your job to see the forest through the trees. While your staff are involved in the details of the day-to-day, you’re the one that keeps an eye on how everything fits into the bigger picture.And that means you’ve likely noticed some things:You’ve had to raise your tuition rates.Your occupancy has fallen due to staff shortages.You’ve felt pressured to increase your pay rate to try to attract quality staff.Supply costs are higher than ever.If any of this hits home for you, it’s...
2022-12-062h 05Schools of Excellence6 Qualities of Being a Role ModelWe’ve all had role models throughout our lives, whether parents, teachers, friends, or the people we look up to from afar (like astronauts or Olympic athletes). These people serve as examples of who we want to become, and so we absorb their behaviors and values in an effort to replicate their actions and accomplishments. Whether they intend to or not, our role models have the power to influence us in profound ways. They can affect our mindset, our choices, and even the people we surround ourselves with. In...
2022-11-1428 min
Schools of ExcellenceTaking Back Control in your Center and Life with Sheila SmozynskiAs a leader, you’re well aware that being in your position can feel extremely isolating. At times, it can feel like you’re stranded in the middle of the ocean on an island—alone, left to your own devices, and with no one to talk to for support and guidance. That was Sheila Smozynski’s experience as the owner of two early childhood education centers when the COVID-19 pandemic hit. COVID turned operations at Sheila’s centers upside down and inside out. Staff morale began to slip, equipment...
2022-10-2535 min
Schools of Excellence[Guest Share] Setting Expectations for and Connecting with Your Child Care StaffThere’s a subtle but important difference between high standards and high expectations. Contrary to how it may feel, you can maintain high standards while still having developmentally appropriate expectations for the meeting of those standards. Let me give you an example to show you what I mean. When it comes to cleanliness standards in your center, you likely expect teachers to keep their classrooms relatively organized and sanitary for the health and safety of the children. But if you walk into a classroom of 2-year-olds and are surprised to see toilet paper on the fl...
2022-10-1852 min
Schools of ExcellenceThe 3 M's that Create Stability and Security for your TeamThis is a special live-recorded episode to celebrate our 100th episode! Being a leader is hard. It requires you to exercise new skills, make tough decisions, and have difficult conversations on a daily basis. Periods of transition can be especially difficult. Whether it’s starting a new school year, training new teachers, or implementing a new routine, some days can feel—quite literally—painful. And in these times of great discomfort, it’s not easy to remain consistent in working toward your goals. Exhaustion sets in, motivation wanes, and...
2022-10-061h 06
Schools of ExcellenceDiscernment: Balance Self-Reliance and Asking for HelpOne of the most important skills I help owners and directors develop is discernment. But…what exactly does that mean? Let me give you an example: Two different patients go to the doctor with a headache. One of the patients is suffering from a hangover, and the other has a brain aneurysm. How does the doctor properly diagnose and treat each patient? Discernment! Discernment is all about getting to the heart of the matter and understanding what lies below the surface so that you can come up with the ri...
2022-09-1324 min
Schools of ExcellenceThe First Staff Meeting of the School YearStarting 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 m...
2022-08-2532 min
Schools of ExcellenceBoundaries: Create Space and Time to Hit Your GoalsRecently, I was reflecting on my parenting style and how it’s evolved over time. As much as we think we’ll parent in our own unique way once we have little ones, we often do things just like our parents. Can you relate? There was a time, as a new mother, when I used blame and shame just as my parents had to set boundaries with me and my siblings. I used their approach on my own children because I had weak boundarie...
2022-08-2322 min
Schools of ExcellencePart 1: How to Prepare for the New School Year - Anchors vs. Enhancers This week I'm sharing a new 3-episode podcast series, How to Prepare for the New School Year, to give you strategies for navigating the first few weeks and months of the academic year. You'll learn how to take better care of yourself, your team, and your school community. We'll explore the importance of prioritizing your daily routines to stay grounded and finding greater peace during the chaos of the new school year. We'll also take a look at the special kinds of activities that require everyone's full attention this time of year. ...
2022-08-0913 min
Schools of ExcellenceHow to Prioritize Positive Mental WellbeingAre you prioritizing your mental wellbeing? If you’re anything like the many directors and owners I’ve worked with, your answer probably depends entirely on the season. Student enrollment? Staff hiring? “Forget about it, Chanie.” I know—I understand how it goes. When we’re caught up in a constant state of hypervigilance, we find it diffucult to slow down, rest, and take in life’s little pleasures. For me, I experience this struggle more than ever when I’m out in nature w...
2022-07-2633 min
Schools of ExcellenceHow to Become a Better Decision MakerAs a mom of four, it often feels like I’m supposed to have all the answers. Whether it’s a homework problem, an argument with a friend, or making the monster under the bed go away, my kids trust that I’ll know exactly what to do. When people look to you as a leader, it’s easy to put pressure on yourself to get it right every time. You may even fear that getting it wrong could have disastrous consequences. But in reality, decision-making is a skill tha...
2022-07-1214 min
Schools of ExcellenceYou Are Not The Only One: Guiding the ParentsHow do you respond to difficult situations with parents? I know many resourceful school leaders just like you who Google solutions. But this approach is limited by what you can find on your own, and there’s always some trial-and-error involved with going it alone. When I need new ideas and solutions, I prefer to lean into the power of community. Instead of going it alone, I ask, “Who can help me?” It’s not always easy to ask for help, but it’s worth it. Seeking community opens me up to broader...
2022-07-0519 min
Schools of ExcellenceCreating and Nurturing Confident StaffThere are few things more heartwarming than seeing a child beam with confidence after overcoming a challenge. You can see the shift happen almost instantly—their eyes light up, they smile widely, and they stand just a little bit taller. It’s as if they believe that from that moment forward, they can do anything they set their mind to. Whether a child in the classroom or a staff member on your team, the key to building a person’s confidence is showing them that they’re capable of...
2022-06-2809 min
Schools of ExcellenceYou're Not The Only One: Leading YourselfAs a leader, you need to learn how to separate yourself from your team. Because if you try to stay at the same level as your teachers or the other staff, your business will implode. In this special three-part series titled You Are Not the Only One, we open the closed doors to real stories of real people so we can start to normalize the struggle, the joy, the grief, and the milestones of what it takes to build a school of excellence. I hope that through this series, you'll be able to release some o...
2022-06-2149 min
Schools of ExcellencePlan the New School Year with Wise Decision Making FiltersToday’s episode will help enlighten you on planning the school year with discernment and wise decision-making filters. Because if we don't filter, everything becomes important, we then lack focus, and it's difficult to plan and be prepared. This invites chaos, uncertainty, and a lot of ambiguity into the day or year and doesn't allow us to follow through and be accountable. Understanding your business objectives, setting clear financial goals, investigating the impulse of projects and stress testing the calendar for this upcoming school year will certainly put you in good form throughout the school year. T...
2022-06-0724 min
Schools of Excellence85. The Paradox of Self Reliance and CommunityThis episode is from a live training where I share with you an interesting topic of the paradox of self-reliance and community. Full schedules are not full lives. As leaders, we have to recognize that no one is coming to check on us or manage our workload. When we are stuck in our stories, our minds are trying to protect us and the ego wants to make our story unique to us; nobody has this level of difficulty. We need to lean on a community and realize that we are not alone, but we also ne...
2022-05-3135 min
Schools of Excellence84: A Letter of Appreciation & Gratitude for YourselfIn today's episode, I share a compelling practice of self-love and self-recognition; writing a letter of gratitude to yourself. Writing this letter to yourself is a radical opportunity to pause and appreciate who you are and where you've been while providing inspiration for your next stage of growth. Gratitude is a huge part of the School of Excellence Framework and as a director or owner, it is important that you realize that it is very different from gratitude for others. When we show ourselves gratitude, we give ourselves permission to reflect on and accept everything that we've been through.
2022-05-2417 min
Schools of Excellence83. Strategies to Help your Staff Think Big PictureIn this episode, we dive into how you can help your staff to start thinking of the big picture by understanding the bigger context. Seeing the big picture, getting into the details, seeing the details, and connecting it all back to the bigger picture can be a beautiful dance. Helping teachers to start thinking about the big picture is essential because that is how you create a consistent alignment that is connected with your company’s mission and culture. Tune in to learn more about: Intentional time blocking within staff meeti...
2022-05-1728 min
Schools of Excellence82. Priorities Reset: Reflect, Restore, Recast Part 2This is part 2 of this exclusive inside look at a members-only call on Priorities Reset: Reflect, Restore and Recast. In today's episode, we're digging into the third phase of the priorities reset call, where we recast our commitments into a real calendar and decide what we want to invite back and what we can eliminate. We share insights into the habits that we need to stop doing, besides checking emails, but to stop the thoughts in our minds that are not serving us, that are being toxic for our life, our relationships, and the goals t...
2022-05-1032 min
Schools of Excellence81. Priorities Reset: Reflect, Restore and Recast Part 1This episode is an inside look at a members-only call on Priorities Reset. This session is divided into three core parts; reflect, restore and recast. In part 1, we are going to reflect on our last 90 days and then restore ourselves to what our current priorities are. Part 2 will look at the commitments we'll recast in our next 90 days. 20% of your time (and your budget), is your margin. And margins aren't created by default - you have to be honest, give yourself grace and create one. As a school director, it's all about setting the right p...
2022-05-0349 min
Schools of ExcellenceBuild to Last: How to Navigate and Deal with ConflictWelcome to the final part, part 4, of the Build to Last workshop series. From improving our mindsets and inviting calm to learning about theme days, time blocking, and calendar creation to our previous episode: building a culture of excellence, it has been a transformational experience. In today's episode, I share tips on inner team conflicts and understanding how to navigate these conflicts. As directors and owners, we spend an average of 4 hours a day fielding interruptions and navigating conflicts with teachers. How do we understand, show up and navigate conflict while discerning that different types o...
2022-04-2645 min
Schools of Excellence79. Build to Last: How to Build a Culture of ExcellenceWelcome to part 3 of the 4-part series, the Build to Last workshop series. During each episode in this series, we’re going to be digging into specific areas that will uplevel and give you the confidence, decision-making skills, and practical strategies and mindsets for your center from the field of play. In today's episode, I'm joined by Sara Schreiner and Susan Sholar, members of our inner circle who are from Sunshine Academy in Montana. They share with us their specific habits and routines of how they built a culture of excellence. As a school owner or...
2022-04-1949 min
Schools of Excellence78. Build to Last: How to Manage your Time with Theme Days and Time BlockingWelcome to part 2 of the 4-part series, the Build to Last workshop series. During each episode in this series, we’re going to be digging into specific areas that will uplevel and give you the confidence, decision-making skills, and practical strategies and mindsets for your center from the field of play. In today's episode, I'm joined by Jo David, a director who is a member of the Director’s Inner Circle and is a time blocking practitioner. Jo shares with us strategies of how to work on calendars that serve us. As leaders, understanding where our time goes...
2022-04-1245 min
Schools of Excellence77. Build to Last: How to Improve your Mindset with Vision Casting and Decision MakingWelcome to part 1 of the 4-part series, the Build to Last workshop. Every single week, over the next four weeks, we're going to be digging into specific areas that will uplevel and give you the confidence, the decision-making skills, and practical strategies for your center. In this episode, I am joined by Sharon Hopson. She is the owner of the Bella Vita Montessori in Omaha, Nebraska. We share tips on understanding what you tell yourself, the thoughts that you believe in, and how these create your reality. As a school director, equipping yourself with the pr...
2022-04-0553 min
Schools of Excellence76. How to Mentor Veteran StaffWe all need a sense of belonging. And when new teachers come in, they come with this innate human need to belong to a community. So how do you, as a school leader, facilitate this? In this episode, I share tips on how you can create a culture of belonging at your school. Remember, just because your new teachers are on the payroll, and they have a spot in the teacher's room, doesn't mean they belong. They are still trying to fit in. Connecting them with people who've walked this path before will create a c...
2022-03-2921 min
Schools of ExcellenceThe Importance of Celebrating Milestones and Reflecting on our 1 Year AnniversaryIt’s the 1 year anniversary of the Schools of Excellence podcast! What a perfect time to reflect on how far this show has come, because this is a huge milestone at the Schools of Excellence. We just wrapped and returned from the Summit of Excellence which was held at the beginning of March. As I unpack and process everything that happened over the 2-day in-person event, I find myself reflecting and am so grateful for so many of the things that happened at the event. This inspired me further to make this episode where I can officially celebrate the ac...
2022-03-2227 min
Schools of Excellence74. The Myth of The Open Door PolicyYou pride yourself on how freely your staff can come to talk to you, right? As a school leader, you always want to be seen as an approachable and available director or owner that makes your staff feel heard. 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 to talk to us at any time, for anything. In corporate, the open door policy means that all employees can bring their concerns, desires, or problems to company lead...
2022-03-1521 min
Schools of Excellence73. The 5 Signs of a Thriving Leader and SchoolThis is a re-air of one of the most downloaded episodes in my special summer series that originally aired last year. I wanted to bring this back for those who are newer listeners. This summer series was all about the different ways that you can prepare yourselves for an 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 sc...
2022-03-0821 min
Schools of Excellence72. Difficult Conversations: BlameThis is a re-air of one of our most downloaded episodes in the Schools of Excellence Podcast. As one of the first episodes I ever released, I wanted to bring this back for those who are newer listeners. I hope you enjoy and get value out of this episode. 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 b...
2022-03-0118 min
Schools of Excellence71. The Gratitude Matrix: Achieve Higher Retention & Collaborative Culture for Your SchoolIn this episode, I discuss how by implementing the Gratitude Matrix, you can achieve higher retention and a more collaborative culture for your school. After 30 days of implementing the Gratitude Matrix, one of the executive directors in our Membership Program, Kerstin, 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...
2022-02-2223 min
Schools of ExcellenceReair: Break the Cycle of Excuses with Personal AccountabilitThis episode is a re-air of an episode I did a few months back and I wanted to do a throwback to it for a couple of reasons. Because I've been getting so many questions from leaders around how to stop the cycle of excuses Because creating a culture where people really level up and take personal responsibility for their actions is the premise of everything that we're doing at the Summit of Excellence. In this episode, I discuss breaking the cycle of excuses. Everyone makes excuses. We've all made excuses, and we...
2022-02-1530 min
Schools of Excellence69: How to Coach Staff to Navigate Conflict: Part 2Training and coaching your staff to navigate conflict takes work. It requires attention and it’s not an overnight event. As the leader, you need to constantly be able to pour into yourself, uplevel, and recognize the skill gaps in your team. Only then can you lead from a place of bravery and courageousness, so that you can guide your team to level up in the same way. In this episode, I talk about how you can help your team look at conflict from a different perspective. I also share a few g...
2022-02-0824 min
Schools of Excellence59. Boundaries During the HolidaysThe holiday season can evoke feelings of sipping warm drinks by the fire, reuniting with loved ones, and opening gifts. But for school leaders who already juggle a lot of responsibilities throughout the year, the holiday season can also bring an added layer of anxiety and even stress. In the quest to “do ALL the things,” they may find their holidays not so merry and bright after all. In this episode, I share tips on how to set boundaries during the holiday season, so that you can be where your feet are without feeling guilty. If yo...
2021-12-1426 min
Schools of Excellence58. Break the Cycle of Excuses with Personal AccountabilityEveryone makes excuses. We've all made excuses, and we will continue to make excuses. But what does it take to break this cycle of excuses and encourage personal responsibility in our schools of excellence? It's not about eliminating, it's about learning how to break the cycle. Allowing the cycle of excuses to continue is normalizing behavior and work ethic that is completely against our values, morals and ethics. If you (or your staff) spend most of your time giving justifications rather than leaning in and learning, it’s time to break the cycle of excuses for...
2021-12-0732 min
Schools of Excellence57. Break the Cycle of Dependency with Effective DelegationAs a leader, you likely live, sleep and breathe your school. You want to remain comfortable making the same decisions you have always made. You probably believe you can do a better job yourself because you don’t want to risk losing control of the situation or outcome. While you may think you are staying on top of the game, you actually are fueling the cycle of dependency among your staff! In this episode, I share with you how you can use effective delegation to break the dependency cycle. In order to avoid burnout and dec...
2021-11-3034 min
Schools of Excellence56. Break the Cycle of Stress and BurnoutBurnout not only hurts our productivity, it also affects our mental and physical well being. In fact, there is evidence that links burnout to weakened immune systems and even cardiovascular disease. It’s interesting how people are afraid to ask for help, yet in my mind, it is a sign of strength, not weakness. In this podcast episode, I share strategies that will help you break the cycle of stress and burnout among your staff. This is the first of a 3 part series - Break the Cycle in Your Center - that is being sponsored by o...
2021-11-2333 min
Schools of Excellence55. 2 Mindset Shifts to Increase RetentionWhat does it mean to have a team that is accountable, hardworking, and responsible? Employees no longer feel compelled to serve companies that do not serve them. This makes understanding employee retention key to attracting and retaining those top performers. It’s time for school leaders to start to create an environment that fosters and builds a team of excellence. Today's podcast episode is a very unique conversation. I talk about the two mindset shifts to help you increase retention in your center, starting with understanding the problem that you're trying to s...
2021-11-1636 min
Schools of Excellence54. Work Ethic Redefined with Scott WaymanWhat does it mean to have a good work ethic? In today’s episode, I share a special conversation from my Owners Only membership program with Scott Wayman. Scott is the Founder and CEO of Kangarootime, and in this week’s episode, we talk about redefining work ethic and both of our personal definitions of it. We dive into cultural norms, how to shift the narrative and the conversation around work ethic, and ways to lean into conflict and really understand what building and sustaining schools of excellence entails. I hope you enj...
2021-11-0230 min
Schools of Excellence53. Changing the Narrative of School Leadership with Daniel BauerAs a school leader, you play a pivotal role in affecting the climate, attitude and reputation of your school. You are the cornerstone of how your school and community functions and grows. With successful school leadership, schools become effective incubators of learning, places where students are not only educated but challenged, nurtured and encouraged. Today, I’m excited to share with you my interview with Daniel Bauer. Daniel is an unorthodox Ruckus Maker who has mentored thousands of school leaders through his Better Leaders Better Schools blog, books, podcasts, and powerful coaching experiences.
2021-10-2638 min
Schools of Excellence52. Do You Feel More Satisfied When Your School Succeeds Because of You or Without You? With Lori BuxtonToday's episode is part of a special live streaming that we do once a month on our Facebook page. In today's conversation, we talk about a very thought-provoking question that Lori Buxton of AELL, had in mind. And her question was, "Do you feel more satisfied when your program or your business succeeds because of you, or without you?" By the end of the episode, you will get a better understanding of stories that we create for ourselves, the context around the type of story that we want, the leader that we want to be a...
2021-10-1931 min
Schools of Excellence51. Up Level Staff QUICKLY!As a school leader, you have a lot on your plate. You have a ton of responsibilities and your to-do list likely never ends. However, pausing and thinking about the training and up-leveling of your current staff is going to have a tremendous ripple effect on alleviating a lot of mental space and emotional labor that comes with starting a new school year. In this episode, I talk in detail about the three components of up-leveling your staff. Training, mentoring, and coaching never end. These 3-mile markers in up-leveling staff quickly will help you get the center u...
2021-10-1224 min
Schools of Excellence50. Do you know HOW to stop and pause?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...
2021-10-0521 min
Schools of Excellence49. The 3-Step Marketing Method To Attract The Right Families For Your School with Mike MichalowiczIf 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 abo...
2021-09-3033 min
Schools of Excellence48. You Can’t Plan Your Way Out of ChaosSometimes 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...
2021-09-2321 min
Schools of Excellence47. Are you living in time poverty or time abundance?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. Aft...
2021-09-1417 min
Schools of Excellence46. A 15 Minute Meeting with YourselfWelcome 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...
2021-09-0717 min
Schools of Excellence42. The first staff meeting of the school yearStarting 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 m...
2021-08-1033 min
Schools of Excellence41. How to Create a Personal Leadership PhilosophyGreat 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 yo...
2021-08-0319 min
Schools of Excellence40. The 5 Signs of a Thriving Leader and SchoolToday’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.
2021-07-2720 min
Schools of Excellence39. The 8 Guideposts to Prepare for an Amazing School YearSoon 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...
2021-07-2017 min
Schools of Excellence38. How to Plan for Summer Using the IRER MethodSummer 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 c...
2021-07-1318 min
Schools of Excellence37. Build Your Confidence & Resiliency ToolkitAre 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 th...
2021-07-0620 min
Schools of Excellence35. Overcoming the Perfectionist Mindset and Focusing on the ProcessAre 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 –...
2021-06-2216 min
Schools of Excellence34. Stories of Resilience with Sara SchreinerSara 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 ep...
2021-06-1835 min
Schools of Excellence33. Ideal Week for High Achieving School LeadersAs 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 sh...
2021-06-1523 min
Schools of Excellence32. Stories of Resilience with Jennifer BulmerJennifer 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...
2021-06-1127 min
Schools of Excellence14. Difficult Conversations: Blame - Part 1Like 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 dif...
2021-04-1318 min
Schools of Excellence12. The Daily HuddleAre 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 p...
2021-03-3020 min
Schools of ExcellenceWhy I Date My KidsHow 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 kno...
2021-03-2313 min
Schools of ExcellenceQ&A With Chanie - Build to Last Workshop, Day 5Listen 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...
2021-03-1756 min
Schools of ExcellenceWork/Life Integration: Build to Last Workshop, Day 4Listen 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...
2021-03-121h 02
Schools of ExcellenceTen Ways to Build School Culture: Build to Last Workshop, Day 3Listen 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...
2021-03-1157 min
Schools of ExcellenceTheme Days & Time Blocking: Build to Last Workshop, Day 2Listen 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...
2021-03-1058 min
Schools of ExcellenceVision Casting & Decision Making: Build to Last Workshop, Day 1Listen 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. Thi...
2021-03-091h 13
Schools of ExcellenceThe Primary Role of a School LeaderListen 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. Thi...
2021-03-0216 min
Schools of ExcellenceThe Myth of The Open Door PolicyThe “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 prof...
2021-02-2320 min
Growing Global With Chanie GluckIzzy Congratulates Chanie on 1 YearOn this special episode of Growing Global, Izzy Yetnikoff interviews Chanie on the first year anniversary of the Growing Global Podcast. Stay tuned as she shared why she started the podcast, some tips for aspiring podcasters, and a glipmse of the future for Growing Global's season 2 Show notes [01:41] Chanie's hesitation to do Growing Global Podcast [02:52] The primary motivation why Chanie started Growing Global Podcast [04:40] How the podcast has changed throughout the year [05:41] Who were the guests where she felt very nervous to interview [07:11] The most challenging interview as far as the content [08:38] How to become an e...
2020-09-0216 min
M54 PodcastReimagining a Chabad House; A Candid Conversation with Chanie and Peretz – Part 2Guest:
Chanie and Peretz Chein
Host:
Yael Asen ’08
Summary:
– Paying students to Torah is akin to the oldest profession.
– Making a critical pivot requires courage and humility.
– What is the objective behind our podcasts.
2018-12-0623 minM54 PodcastReimagining a Chabad House; A Candid Conversation with Chanie and PeretzGuest:
Chanie and Peretz Chein
Host:
Yael Asen ’08
Summary:
– What sets Chabad apart from all other Jewish organizations that can’t be mimicked?
– We no longer believe in some of the assumptions we began with in our early years.
– A new language needs to emerge and we are willing to engage with it.
2018-11-2229 min