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

Chanie Wilschanski

If you are an Early Childhood director or childcare 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 kids. Each episode will be packed with tools and strategies - equipping school leaders to improve staff retention, increase teacher motivation, grow parent partnerships, create a collaborative culture, and enjoy a beautiful quality of life. Every week, Chanie shares the truth about childcare and early childhood school leadership for those striving towards excellence. If you are an early childhood or childcare school leader looking for strategies to grow your school, that are working TODAY, The Schools of Excellence Podcast is for you. In addition to weekly solo episodes, she'll also be inviting childcare and early childhood industry leaders to discuss the most pressing issues facing school leaders today. Don't miss an episode; subscribe today for everything you need for your school leadership journey!

  1. 4h ago

    How Kathy Built Five Centers (And Counting) Without Burning Out

    What happens when you've done everything right, built the SOPs, color-coded the calendars, created the checklists, and your business still finds a way to make you sick? That's exactly where this week's guest, Kathy Gray, found herself. Kathy is the owner of Creative Critters, a growing early childhood education company based in Virginia with five centers (and counting). She's been part of the Schools of Excellence community for years, and in this conversation, she gets real about what it actually looked like to lead “with empathy first” and what it cost her. If you've ever felt like being a good leader means being endlessly available, endlessly understanding, and endlessly willing to make an exception for one more person, this episode is going to hit close to home. Kathy and Chanie unpack the difference between leading by example and leading by self-sacrifice. They talk about what happens when a director is too afraid to protect the standards because she's afraid of losing staff (spoiler: you lose the right staff anyway). And they get into one of the most important distinctions in leadership: care is not the same thing as capacity. This episode also digs into how Kathy started using data, specifically staff time-off data, to finally see what her culture was actually telling her. One number she found: at one center, they had a full staff only 35% of the time. That's not a staffing problem. That's a standards problem. By the end of this conversation, you'll understand why the phrase “protecting the standards” matters so much more than “being consistent,” and why the goal isn't to stop caring. It's to stop absorbing everyone else's outcomes as your own. What You'll Learn:Why leading “by example” can quietly turn into leading by self-sacrificeThe critical difference between care and capacity, and why confusing them costs you your best staffHow Kathy used time-off data to uncover what her culture was really telling her (and what she found)Why protecting the standards is different from being “a stickler” or being harshWhat it means to let the company, not the leader, carry the weight of the standardWhy healthy dependence on your team is not weakness, and what's lost when leaders try to do it all aloneKathy's honest reflection on what still isn't where she wants it to be, even after years of growth Resources Mentioned: This Can't Be Normal by Chanie Wilschanski: https://thiscantbenormal.com Access Chapter One of This Can’t Be Normal for Free: https://thiscantbenormal.com/chapter-one Connect With Us: Let's Chat on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chaniewilschanski/Join us on Substack: https://chaniewilschanski.substack.com/ Mentioned in this episode: Sign up for the free Delegation Workshop: https://schoolsofexcellence.com/delegation

  2. 2d ago

    You're Not Weak, You're Drowning in Invisible Labor

    A few weeks ago, I sat down with Jessica Hampton and Katie Dank on Child Care Confidential, and about ten minutes in, Jessica said, "You just described my life." That's usually how these conversations go. We talked about what's in This Can't Be Normal, and specifically about why a bigger team can still leave a leader feeling completely alone. We got into the difference between systems, standards, and rhythms, why "getting buy-in" is often a leader avoiding a hard conversation instead of building real alignment, and why waking up at 2 am with your brain looping isn't a personality flaw. It's a drift, and it's a signal worth listening to. If you've ever felt like the only one actually working while everyone else gets to play pretend until things get hard, this conversation is for you. Why "protecting your energy" is the wrong goal, and what to do insteadThe real difference between systems, standards, and rhythms, and why only rhythms create safetyWhat "performing confusion" looks like when a director avoids holding a standardWhy proximity isn't accountability, and how leaders end up being the business instead of building oneWhy resistance to a new standard is often a sign the standard is a good oneThe three-part definition of a rhythm: pre-decided, mood-proof, and identity-giving Resources Mentioned: Download Chapter One of This Can’t Be Normal: https://thiscantbenormal.com/chapter-oneGrab a copy of This Can’t Be Normal: https://thiscantbenormal.com/ Connect With Us: Let's Chat on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chaniewilschanski/Join us on Substack: https://chaniewilschanski.substack.com/ Mentioned in this episode: Sign up for the free Delegation Workshop: https://schoolsofexcellence.com/delegation

  3. Jul 16

    Are You Neglecting Your Team Without Realizing It?

    Earlier in the week, we talked about micromanaging, the first thing that shows up in what I call the delegation dip. Today we're moving into the second thing: neglect. Neglect doesn't look like yelling or control. It looks like handing someone the reins and walking away, especially when they seem competent enough that you assume they don't need guidance. I want to share a story that plays out in schools constantly, where a leader hires someone highly capable, assumes competence means they don't need training, and unintentionally leaves them to fend for themselves. We'll talk about what neglect actually looks like day to day, why it's just as damaging as micromanaging even though it feels like the opposite, and how to give your team the guidance they need without hovering over them. - Why hiring someone capable can accidentally lead to less training, not more - The difference between coaching a beginner and coaching someone already skilled - Why teachers and directors need different mindsets - How unclear direction leads people to fill gaps with self-doubt - Practical ways to guide your team without micromanaging or disappearing Tune in for part two of this series, and get ready to look at delegation a little differently. Resources Mentioned: Free Delegation Workshop: https://schoolsofexcellence.com/delegation Connect With Us: Let's Chat on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chaniewilschanski/Join us on Substack: https://chaniewilschanski.substack.com/ Mentioned in this episode: Sign up for the free Delegation Workshop: https://schoolsofexcellence.com/delegation

  4. Jul 14

    The Delegation Dip Nobody Warns You About

    You've probably been told you can't delegate because you're a control freak or a perfectionist. This episode kicks off a new series called the Delegation Dip, and Chanie makes the case that sometimes holding onto a task is wisdom, not fear. - Why delegating a task and delegating an outcome goal are different skills - The difference between a taskmaster and a profit warrior on your team - What the delegation dip is and why efficiency drops after you hand something off - The real, fear based root of micromanagement - Three signs you're micromanaging, and what to do instead Tune in for part one of this series, and get ready to rethink what delegation actually requires. Resources Mentioned: Free Delegation Workshop: https://schoolsofexcellence.com/delegation Connect With Us: Let's Chat on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chaniewilschanski/Join us on Substack: https://chaniewilschanski.substack.com/ Mentioned in this episode: Sign up for the free Delegation Workshop: https://schoolsofexcellence.com/delegation

  5. Jul 9

    Feed Forward: The Culture Tool You're Missing

    Ever given a teacher feedback and watched her shut down right in front of you? This week, Chanie breaks down the real difference between feedback and feed forward, and why one keeps your team stuck while the other actually helps them grow. - Why feedback can trigger fight, flight, or freeze in your team - A real coaching story about a curriculum specialist who was hypercritical with one age group - The exact questions that help a teacher see her own blind spots - How often you should be running formal check-ins with your staff - Who you should actually be asking for feedback, and who you shouldn't Tune in for a practical shift you can use in your very next coaching conversation. Resources Mentioned: This Can't Be Normal by Chanie Wilschanski: https://thiscantbenormal.comAccess Chapter One of This Can’t Be Normal for Free: https://thiscantbenormal.com/chapter-one Connect With Us: Let's Chat on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chaniewilschanski/Join us on Substack: https://chaniewilschanski.substack.com/ Mentioned in this episode: Sign up for the free Delegation Workshop: https://schoolsofexcellence.com/delegation

  6. Jul 7

    You Built the System. Then You Broke It.

    Why do your school's systems keep breaking, even after you've built the SOPs and invested in outside help? Chanie explains the real pattern behind it, and it isn't a discipline problem. In this episode: - Why even a $2.1 million consulting investment couldn't fix one leader's system - The real reason caretakers break their own rules under pressure - The four-part framework every system needs to actually hold: standard, ownership, rhythm, response - How to start noticing the invisible ways you rescue your team from consequences Tune in for why the fix isn't another template. Resources Mentioned: This Can't Be Normal by Chanie Wilschanski: https://thiscantbenormal.comAccess Chapter One of This Can’t Be Normal for Free: https://thiscantbenormal.com/chapter-one Connect With Us: Let's Chat on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chaniewilschanski/Join us on Substack: https://chaniewilschanski.substack.com/ Mentioned in this episode: Sign up for the free Delegation Workshop: https://schoolsofexcellence.com/delegation

  7. Jul 2

    The Two Drama Symptoms That Kill School Success

    Two of the trickiest drama symptoms to spot -- and the eight traits of leadership that replace them. In this episode, Chanie finishes the drama symptoms series with a look at manipulation and inconsistent actions and behaviors. Key topics include: The cost framework for deciding when it is time to let a toxic employee goWhy grief is a natural and valid part of removing drama from your cultureHow inconsistency creates hypervigilance on your teamThe difference between inconsistency and intentional discernmentThe 8 characteristics of a drama-free leader -- and how to apply them when hiring and coaching If you have been holding onto someone you know you should let go, or leading a team that cannot predict what is coming next, this episode is your next step. Resources Mentioned: This Can't Be Normal by Chanie Wilschanski: https://thiscantbenormal.comAccess Chapter One of This Can’t Be Normal for Free: https://thiscantbenormal.com/chapter-one Connect With Us: Let's Chat on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chaniewilschanski/Join us on Substack: https://chaniewilschanski.substack.com/ Mentioned in this episode: Sign up for the free Delegation Workshop: https://schoolsofexcellence.com/delegation

  8. Jun 30

    From Survival Mode to Sustainable Excellence: A School Owner's Real Story

    Sharon Jayakumar owns a Reggio-inspired school of nearly 200 children in Philadelphia and a few years ago, she almost walked away from all of it. Not because her school was failing. Because growing without infrastructure was taking everything she had. In this episode, Sharon and Chanie talk about what changed when she stopped going it alone. Key topics include: Building infrastructure that holds as your school growsWhat standards actually are -- and how to return to them after driftHow one month of one-on-ones eliminated call-outs at her schoolWhy buy-in comes after deployment, not beforeWhat it looks like to hire from a place of partnership instead of rescue If you have been asking whether your school can ever really run without you, this one is for you. Resources Mentioned: This Can't Be Normal by Chanie Wilschanski: https://thiscantbenormal.comAccess Chapter One of This Can’t Be Normal for Free: https://thiscantbenormal.com/chapter-one Connect With Us: Let's Chat on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chaniewilschanski/Join us on Substack: https://chaniewilschanski.substack.com/ Mentioned in this episode: Sign up for the free Delegation Workshop: https://schoolsofexcellence.com/delegation

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4.9
out of 5
88 Ratings

About

If you are an Early Childhood director or childcare 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 kids. Each episode will be packed with tools and strategies - equipping school leaders to improve staff retention, increase teacher motivation, grow parent partnerships, create a collaborative culture, and enjoy a beautiful quality of life. Every week, Chanie shares the truth about childcare and early childhood school leadership for those striving towards excellence. If you are an early childhood or childcare school leader looking for strategies to grow your school, that are working TODAY, The Schools of Excellence Podcast is for you. In addition to weekly solo episodes, she'll also be inviting childcare and early childhood industry leaders to discuss the most pressing issues facing school leaders today. Don't miss an episode; subscribe today for everything you need for your school leadership journey!

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