Schools Of Excellence Podcast Chanie Wilschanski

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 schoolWays to empower your staff to evaluate their professional development gapsStrategies for becoming a strategic and compassionate mentor to your staffSecrets 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.
Mentioned in this episode:
School Leadership Toolkit
School Leadership Toolkit: https://schoolsofexcellence.com/toolkit/
a...

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 memberHow you, as a leader, can support both veteran and new staff at your school as they interact with parents and childrenPros and cons to both groups’ approaches and what they can learn from each otherWhy one-size-fits-all approaches aren’t going to work for your staffHow 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.
Mentioned in this episode:
School Leadership Toolkit
School Leadership Toolkit: https://schoolsofexcellence.com/toolkit/
School Leadership Toolkit
School Leadership Toolkit: https://schoolsofexcellence.com/toolkit/
School Leadership Toolkit

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 fieldHow she improved time management and productivity with systems and technologyWhy compassion and community are integral to Kathy’s leadership growthHow she’s thinking about the future as she and her husband build their legacyHow 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.
Mentioned in this episode:
School...

Recently, I was speaking with an owner who was opening a second location.
Despite this being an exciting time for her school, she was drowning in shame.
“Chanie, I keep starting and stopping, starting and stopping,” she told me.
I asked her what she meant.
She told me she felt ashamed that she couldn’t be consistent with her decisions. “I keep creating policies, implementing them, then getting pushback, and changing the policy again. I feel like I’m always backing out of my commitments.”
First of all, there’s wisdom in flexibility, and sometimes updating a policy is the right step.
But in this owner’s case, she needed to build her self-trust so she could banish the shame.
And she was taking the perfect next step by exposing her difficult emotions in a conversation with me.
Shame thrives in the dark, but it withers in the light.
When you share your shame with a trusted mentor or community, it doesn’t seem so insurmountable anymore. This is what it means to win in the dark when it comes to shame.
Join me in the podcast this week for a conversation about:
Why shame and anger are common emotions for school leadersWhat promotes the growth of shame and anger, and conversely, what loosens their gripWhat your anger is telling you and to what extent you should listenHow to win in the dark by finding constructive ways to proceed around your angerReal-life examples of how school leaders have overcome shame and anger, and managed to cultivate community and collaboration
Learn more and apply for the Director’s Inner Circle & Owner’s HQ: https://schoolsofexcellence.com/membership/ 
Don’t let shame thrive in the dark. Shine a light on it by joining a genuinely supportive community. You’ll loosen shame’s grip on your heart as you learning it’s safe to be vulnerable with like-minded school leaders who truly get it. Please apply for our Owner's HQ and Director's Inner Circle membership programs, where 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 want the guidance of a caring, experienced mentor as you navigate challenging emotions, I welcome you to work with Schools of Excellence through a Leadership Day Intensive. You'll get a full day of on-demand, in-school training and discussions 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.
Mentioned in this episode:
School Leadership Toolkit
School Leadership Toolkit:...

Comparisonitis is so common for school leaders.
I used to compare myself to others constantly.
It’s only natural in the face of successful-looking influencers and mountains of social media content.
But two and a half years ago, I got super honest with myself. 
What was actually important to me? Was it accolades and endless business growth?
No. What truly mattered was these two things: my faith and my family.
So I committed to maintaining my business programs, revenue, and profit margins for 24 months, giving me the chance to focus on my deeply-held values.
This is when I began recording The Schools of Excellence Podcast.
Every week, I’d go into my windowless office, record a high-quality episode, and put it out into the world.
No one thanked me for the content. There was no overnight explosion of growth. 
But I stuck with it because it would allow me to attract the right-fit clients while being home with my family.
My podcast is an example of winning in the dark. I’m working in private, with no accolades waiting for me, so that I can eventually achieve my desired outcome.
In a world where everyone wants instant gratification, I encourage you to win in the dark.
Not only will winning in the dark help you create a true school of excellence… it will help you dispel comparisonitis.
That’s because comparison requires looking outward, but you build confidence and self-trust when you keep the promises you make to yourself in private.
Join me in the podcast this week for a conversation about:
Where comparison comes fromHow to know if you’re experiencing comparisonitis, with symptoms like second-guessing yourselfLong-term, damaging consequences of falling into the comparison trapHow school leaders can adopt a self-assured approach to their work insteadIncentives to winning in the dark, when you can’t rely on public accolades
Learn more and apply for the Director’s Inner Circle & Owner’s HQ: https://schoolsofexcellence.com/membership/ 
Spoiler alert: One of the key strategies for building self-trust and worthiness is to join a supportive community. By sharing your wins with like-minded school leaders who truly get it, you’ll find the quiet recognition you crave. 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.

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.
Mentioned in this episode:
School Leadership Toolkit
School Leadership Toolkit: https://schoolsofexcellence.com/toolkit/
School Leadership Toolkit
School Leadership Toolkit:...

My client, Jaycee, was doing something truly amazing. She’d worked hard and put in extra hours to build a culture of teacher collaboration.
As a result, there was unity within the staff, and children’s learning and engagement soared.
She was really pleased with the outcome.
…But no one else seemed to notice.
She brought the question to the Schools of Excellence community for owners and directors. 
She kept reassuring us, “I am happy! This is exactly what I wanted.” 
And then she’d add, “I just wish other people knew.”
However, the experience of sharing her unseen efforts and the endurance it required to lead with impact (but without acknowledgment), was enough.
She discovered she didn’t need accolades from teachers or parents because she had a safe community and because the end result was intrinsically rewarding.
I want to go deeper into the topic of winning in the dark—the phenomenon of discreetly or invisibly achieving success and overcoming challenges.
This week, I’m unveiling the first episode of a three-part series on the Schools of Excellence Podcast about winning in the dark.
In this week's podcast episode, I’m beginning the discussion with an exploration of the concepts of enoughness and worthiness.
It’s common to hinge your self-worth on what praise and acknowledgment you receive. 
If you achieve your goal, but no one notices, are you still satisfied? Do you try to fill the void by going on to the next project before you take a few weeks or months to appreciate what you’ve accomplished?
If this sounds like you, you may have an opportunity to build up your sense of enoughness and worthiness.
Join me in the podcast this week for a conversation about:
How to discern whether you are struggling with enoughnessCommon external pressures that can impact how worthy you feelWhy winning in the dark is especially challenging in the age of social mediaThe gap between intellectually and emotionally knowing you’re enoughStrategies for how to become unshakeable in your self-trust
Learn more and apply for the Director’s Inner Circle & Owner’s HQ: https://schoolsofexcellence.com/membership/ 
Spoiler alert: One of the key strategies for building self-trust and worthiness is to join a supportive community. By sharing your wins with like-minded school leaders who truly get it, you’ll find the quiet recognition you crave. 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.
Having an engaged and insightful mentor is a great way to guide you through the quiet obstacles that eventually lead to winning in the darkness. Work through your current biggest challenge with 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