Schools of Excellence: The No. 1 ECE & Private School Leadership Podcast
Chanie Wilschanski
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Chanie Wilschanski
▶ WebplayerIf 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...
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Sep 29, 2026 · 38:32
You can have a leadership team, directors, job descriptions, titles, and processes. And somehow the school still works because you're the one underneath it all, noticing,…
Sep 22, 2026 · 25:39
I don't bring guests onto this show very often. Most weeks it's just you and me, working through leadership, one honest conversation at a time. But every so often I want to hand…
Sep 15, 2026 · 16:29
You coach her. You remind her. You give her grace, adjust the deadline, understand her season, and hope this is finally the time it sticks. Then you're back on the ride again. I…
Sep 8, 2026 · 16:10
How many things in your life look functional only because you've become exceptionally good at compensating for what isn't? That's the question I can't stop asking, and it's the…
Sep 3, 2026 · 21:27
Your staff is the biggest line item in your budget. Which also means your schedule can be the biggest leak in your school, and most leaders don't even know it's happening. In…
Sep 1, 2026 · 21:53
What if the thing that finally moves the needle in your school isn't a new system, but a phone call? This is the final episode in our three-part series on the power of community,…
Aug 27, 2026 · 19:52
Have you ever sat in a staff meeting and realized it's the same three people talking every single time? That's not community. That's a room full of people who've learned it's…
Aug 25, 2026 · 24:11
You've got hundreds of kids in the building, dozens of teachers on your team, and parents lined up at pickup every single day. So why do you still feel completely alone? This…
Aug 20, 2026 · 39:52
LaShawn Bridges has run Blessed Beginnings Learning Center in Detroit for 27 years. She's been through a recession. She's been through COVID. And she'll tell you the hardest…
Aug 18, 2026 · 17:22
You gave the perfect tour. The parent loved everything. And then they enrolled somewhere else. If that scenario makes you want to scream into a pillow, this episode is for you.…
Aug 13, 2026 · 13:03
I want you to think about the last stack of unanswered inquiries sitting in your inbox. The missed calls. The tour you meant to follow up on three days ago. If you're a school…
Aug 11, 2026 · 28:28
You don't have one type of parent in your school. You have three, four, maybe five. And if your marketing, your website, and your enrollment tours are all speaking to the same…
Aug 6, 2026 · 30:11
You don't need a bigger ad budget to fill your classrooms this month. You need a plan you can actually execute in the next 30 days, and that is exactly what I'm walking you…
Aug 4, 2026 · 15:04
What if I told you one of our clients added 80 new families to her enrollment for the upcoming school year, and five more who enrolled on the spot, in under 30 days? Not through…
Jul 30, 2026 · 29:07
You already know your enrollment is down. You already know payroll is eating you alive. You already know two of your best teachers just gave notice. But have you actually looked…
Jul 28, 2026 · 26:16
Ever notice how the first staff meeting of the year gets the ironed tablecloths, the good snacks, and the outfit you actually planned in advance... and then somehow still leaves…
Jul 23, 2026 · 40:03
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…
Jul 21, 2026 · 1:09:26
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…
Jul 16, 2026 · 28:56
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…
Jul 14, 2026 · 35:37
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…
Jul 9, 2026 · 29:03
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…
Jul 7, 2026 · 10:06
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…
Jul 2, 2026 · 22:37
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…
Jun 30, 2026 · 39:28
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…
Jun 25, 2026 · 26:38
Is drama quietly draining your school culture? In Part 2 of the Decoding Your Culture series, Chanie breaks down three signs that drama has taken root in your center, using real…
Jun 23, 2026 · 13:00
You hired a team so you wouldn't have to carry it all — so why does it feel like you're carrying more than ever? In this episode, Chanie Wilschanski breaks down the ownership gap…
Jun 18, 2026 · 25:44
Your school has a culture right now. The question is whether you actually know what it's saying. In Part 1 of the Culture Decoder series, Chanie Wilschanski breaks down what…
Jun 16, 2026 · 11:45
Accountability conversations going sideways in your school? The problem might not be your staff — it might be where you're starting the conversation. In this episode, Chanie…
Jun 9, 2026 · 12:33
You survived the school year. So why doesn't summer feel like relief? In this episode, Chanie pulls from her book This Can't Be Normal to talk about why rest alone can't fix…
Jun 2, 2026 · 14:58
Summer hits every school. The leaders who make it through without spiraling are the ones who built something before the season arrived. In this episode, Chanie breaks down why…
May 26, 2026 · 28:37
If you've ever rebuilt the same staff training from scratch, paid for a speaker who inspired everyone for two weeks and then disappeared, or stayed up late wondering what to…
May 21, 2026 · 17:29
If you've ever hesitated to invest in your team, this episode is for you. It's not that you don't believe in professional development. It's that you've invested before, hoped…
May 19, 2026 · 34:32
You've told them so many times. And nothing has changed. So what's actually going wrong? In this episode, Chanie Wilschanski digs into the part of leadership that most school…
May 12, 2026 · 20:30
What happens when the success you worked so hard to build starts to feel like survival? In this episode, Chanie Wilschanski joins radio host Nachum Segal on JM in the AM to talk…
May 5, 2026 · 54:26
What does it actually look like to triple your income, have your most profitable year ever, and still be home for dinner? In this member spotlight, Chanie sits down with Aliyah…
May 4, 2026 · 23:11
If a teacher called out tomorrow, do you know what it's actually costing your school? Not just money, your time, too. In this bonus episode, Chanie breaks down why most call out…
Apr 27, 2026 · 19:44
Your school isn't losing money because of bad teachers or wrong pricing. It's losing it in the patterns you've started to normalize. Chanie Wilschanski breaks down four profit…
Apr 20, 2026 · 24:57
School owner Charlie Marcotty spent nearly 29 years building something remarkable and then watched it fracture under the weight of rapid growth. Eight allegations, four directors…
Apr 13, 2026 · 13:44
Summer enrollment feeling unpredictable? It's not about effort, it's about infrastructure. In this episode, Chanie Wilschanski breaks down why school leaders keep losing leads…
Apr 6, 2026 · 14:44
Every year, school owners sit down with their accountants and ask the same dangerous question. In this episode, Chanie explains why "what should I cut?" is a shrinking strategy,…
Mar 30, 2026 · 19:52
Consistency sounds so simple. Show up. Do the thing. Repeat. So why does it feel like standing at the edge of a cliff? Consistency isn't boring. It's vulnerable. In this episode,…
Mar 23, 2026 · 16:02
What if the warmth you've been leading with is quietly stalling your school's growth? In this episode, Chanie Wilschanski challenges the belief that empathy alone creates change…
Mar 16, 2026 · 24:55
Every September feels like a fresh start. By March, it feels like everything is falling apart. If that cycle sounds familiar, this episode is going to reframe everything for you.…
Mar 9, 2026 · 29:05
March is the mid-year mirror for school leaders, and it's showing you exactly what needs to change before May amplifies everything. In this episode, Chanie Wilschanski breaks…
Mar 2, 2026 · 19:54
You finally exhaled. Things at school are good. The team is doing well. No fires. No panicked texts. No impossible parent meetings. And somehow, instead of leaning in, you…
Feb 23, 2026 · 17:36
Early childhood education promotes leaders faster than almost any other industry — and school leaders are paying the price. In this episode, Chanie Wilschanski names a quiet but…
Feb 16, 2026 · 20:51
Hiring can feel like a test you’re supposed to pass. You check references. You trust your gut. You believe in someone. And then something happens — they struggle, disappoint you,…
Feb 9, 2026 · 23:51
Many school leaders reach a stage where things are “running.” Schedules hold. Classrooms open. Systems work. And yet — they’re still looped into decisions they thought were…
Feb 2, 2026 · 18:47
Leadership doesn’t unravel because you did something wrong. It unravels because disruption is inevitable — and most school leaders were never taught what to return to when it…
Jan 26, 2026 · 20:31
Many school leaders ask for consistency. What they’re really asking is: What holds when I’m tired? In this episode of the Schools of Excellence podcast, Chanie explores why…
Jan 19, 2026 · 19:38
School leaders are often told that clarity creates relief . That once the systems are documented… once the SOPs are written… once the team is trained one more time … then the…
Jan 12, 2026 · 14:59
There is a role many school leaders step into long before they ever receive a title. It’s the role of the strong one. The steady one. The one who handles it. In this episode,…
Jan 5, 2026 · 14:17
There’s a moment in school leadership that rarely gets named. It’s not burnout. It’s not failure. It’s not collapse. It’s the quiet moment when everything looks “successful” on…
Dec 29, 2025 · 40:25
As 2025 comes to a close, many school leaders find themselves pausing and asking a quiet but important question: How did we end up here? In this episode of the Schools of…
Dec 22, 2025 · 26:48
As the world slows down in the quiet space between years, Chanie invites school leaders into a powerful reflection: What did this year build in you? Not what you accomplished……
Dec 15, 2025 · 13:03
Most school owners aren’t losing money because of one major expense. They're losing money in the quiet places —the small operational habits, the unspoken “just this once”…
Dec 8, 2025 · 17:41
Every school leader drifts, even the strongest ones. Drift is not burnout, not laziness, and not a leadership flaw. It is one of the quietest, most human forces in leadership.…
Dec 1, 2025 · 14:51
Leadership in early childhood has long been treated like an “extra,” a bonus you get after the fires are out and the classrooms are staffed. But here’s the truth: Leadership…
Nov 24, 2025 · 23:52
You can’t call in tired when you’re the leader. Even on the days when your body aches, your brain is foggy, and every text feels like one more demand — leadership still needs…
Nov 17, 2025 · 14:56
If your brain feels like a filing cabinet that never closes, you’re not alone. For many school leaders, memory becomes the hidden system — the thing holding birthdays, licensing…
Nov 10, 2025 · 32:20
In early childhood education, it’s easy to feel like marketing changes faster than you can keep up. But the truth is, while tactics evolve, the fundamentals of trust, rhythm, and…
Nov 3, 2025 · 11:17
Leadership is heavy in ways no one talks about. We expect long hours, enrollment pressure, staff turnover, and parent demands — but the invisible weight of leadership isn’t in…
Oct 27, 2025 · 30:50
When Irene Gomez stepped into her role as director at the J Center for Early Learning in El Paso, Texas, she carried what so many new leaders do: hyper-responsibility,…
Oct 20, 2025 · 19:13
If you’ve ever thought, “It’s just easier if I do it myself,” or found yourself ready to “burn it all down” after one too many hand-holding moments—this episode is for you. In…
Oct 15, 2025 · 27:20
Scaling is glorified in our culture. In early childhood education, that often means opening more schools, adding more classrooms, and constantly chasing “what’s next.” But is…
Sep 29, 2025 · 31:10
Leadership doesn’t pause for grief, betrayal, or personal storms. In this deeply vulnerable conversation, Chanie sits down with Beth Cannon to talk about what it means to lead…
Sep 22, 2025 · 15:33
Admin & Tech isn’t flashy like enrollment or emotional like staff culture—but it’s one of the biggest hidden profit drains in schools. In this finale of the Money Leaks series,…
Sep 15, 2025 · 15:13
Your Amazon bill isn’t proof of overspending, it’s proof of a missing rhythm. In this fifth episode of the Six Money Leaks series, Chanie uncovers why supply management is one of…
Sep 8, 2025 · 11:47
Pizza at staff meetings. Coffee for PD days. Uber Eats orders that feel small at the moment. These choices come from generosity, but without systems, they quickly become one of…
Sep 1, 2025 · 9:09
Payment problems aren’t about “bad parents.” They’re about broken systems. In this episode of the Schools of Excellence podcast, Chanie exposes the hidden money leak that’s…
Aug 25, 2025 · 23:11
.This is the second episode in Chanie Wilschanski’s Six Money Leaks series, and it’s all about a leak that quietly drains thousands from your school each year, schedule…
Aug 18, 2025 · 25:02
Turn Underused Classrooms, Time Blocks, and Facilities Into Predictable Profit With Systems That Last This episode kicks off Chanie Wilschanski’s Six Money Leaks series, diving…
Aug 11, 2025 · 18:09
In this solo episode, Chanie Wilschanski unpacks Three Money Truths every school leader must face in 2025. If your classrooms are full, your team is in place, and your calendar…
Aug 4, 2025 · 37:06
In this strategic episode of the Schools of Excellence podcast, Chanie Wilschanski sits down with longtime industry expert Kathy Ligon , founder of Hinge Advisors and the BOOST…
Jul 28, 2025 · 23:29
Most school leaders have said: “We just need to get on the same page.” But what if that phrase is actually sabotaging your culture, creating false harmony, and leaving you…
Jul 21, 2025 · 49:10
In this client spotlight episode, Chanie Wilschanski sits down with longtime coaching client Niki Van Cleave, owner of Butterfly Bunch in Metro Detroit, to explore what it means…
Jul 14, 2025 · 12:01
As the school year gains momentum, it's easy for school leaders to fall into survival mode—abandoning the very rhythms that anchor sustainable growth, effective school…
Jul 7, 2025 · 19:39
In 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…
Jun 30, 2025 · 31:09
From Burnout to Boundaries: Redefining Female Leadership in Private Education In this deeply honest and emotionally resonant episode, Chanie Wilschanski invites female school…
Jun 23, 2025 · 38:21
“Tough conversations aren’t about fixing everything immediately — they’re about understanding each other enough to keep moving forward.” What does it really mean to be present in…
Jun 16, 2025 · 39:24
“When enrollment is low, you don’t hire a marketing agency. You examine your identity.” What do you do when your enrollment numbers drop—but you know you're running a powerful,…
Jun 9, 2025 · 20:57
“If you don’t decide or name the intention, the season will decide for you.” How do you move from chaotic, catch-up summers to ones that genuinely renew your family and your…
Jun 4, 2025 · 27:55
“Essentials are not what’s in your handbook. They’re what you do under pressure.” What do you protect when you're overwhelmed—not in a crisis, but in the daily fog of leadership?…
May 26, 2025 · 24:48
“We don’t light candles because we’re ready. We light them because it’s time.” What if energy isn’t something you wait for—but something you create? In this episode, Chanie opens…
May 19, 2025 · 20:03
“You can delegate work, but you cannot delegate trust.” You’ve done everything right—checklists created, SOPs in place, team hired and trained. So why does it still feel like…
May 12, 2025 · 33:46
How do you keep leading when life knocks you down? Grief, loss, and hardship don’t pause for leadership responsibilities—and yet, as school owners and leaders, we’re expected to…
May 5, 2025 · 36:55
You’ve checked the boxes. ✅ Built the center. ✅ Hired the team. ✅ Filled the classrooms ✅ Hit the revenue goals. On paper, everything looks like a dream. So why does it still…
Apr 28, 2025 · 26:32
What if the biggest difference between stress and stability wasn’t strategy—but emotional maturity? In this powerful episode, we explore how emotionally mature leaders rise above…
Apr 21, 2025 · 27:19
If drama keeps showing up in your school—it’s not a people problem, it’s a design problem. In this episode, Chanie unpacks how school leaders can move from managing chaos to…
Apr 9, 2025 · 26:11
What if you had a Culture Decoder — a way to see exactly why your school feels stuck in constant chaos? Every day, you're bombarded with decisions, interruptions, and team…
Apr 7, 2025 · 26:49
The sixth and final episode in the 5 Gears series, today’s episode focuses on the Strategic Growth Gear. This episode looks a little different from others in the series because…
Mar 31, 2025 · 23:52
Imagine if parents didn't just receive updates — they became your biggest champions. Let me tell you a story. For years, schools have been playing an exhausting game of…
Mar 24, 2025 · 23:09
The fourth in the 5 Gears series, this episode dives deep into the Staff Culture Gear. Here’s a surprising truth about staff culture: It's not just about having great benefits or…
Mar 19, 2025 · 42:46
Why do some schools effortlessly attract families while others struggle — despite offering the same features, pricing, and programs? The secret isn’t more Facebook ads or another…
Mar 17, 2025 · 24:28
Warren Buffett famously said: “Only when the tide goes out do you discover who has been swimming naked.” Right now, the financial tide is going out. And many school leaders are…
Mar 10, 2025 · 18:05
When was the last time you looked at your enrollment numbers and thought, “This is fine?” Many school leaders mistake “not terrible” for “optimal” — and it's costing them more…
Mar 3, 2025 · 19:13
We know the feeling of trying to juggle everything at once and feeling overwhelmed when we aren’t able to. That’s why this episode introduces a Schools of Excellence proven…
Feb 24, 2025 · 1:15:13
This episode looks a little different. Chanie was recently joined by school leaders wanting to fill their programs without spending a dollar on marketing. During this exclusive…
Feb 17, 2025 · 20:55
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Feb 13, 2025 · 10:25
Every school leader we talk to is feeling the same crushing pressure: Enrollment numbers are dropping Marketing costs are skyrocketing Parents are becoming more selective than…
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