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

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 weight will finally lift.In this episode, Chanie Wilschanski names the quiet truth many school leaders are living inside of: training transfers knowledge—but it does not transfer ownership.You haven’t failed leadership.You didn’t miss a step.You believed a promise that confused training with behavior change.This conversation unpacks:Why systems and SOPs don’t automatically change behaviorHow “performing confusion” shows up on otherwise capable teamsWhy leaders stay stuck answering questions, absorbing pressure, and carrying invisible weightThe difference between clarity and accountabilityHow patterns—not explanations—drive ownershipWhy rest doesn’t come after training, but only when behavior actually shiftsIf you’ve ever thought:Why am I still holding this when I’ve explained it clearly?Why does confusion keep showing up even after training?Why does leadership still feel so heavy when the systems are in place?This episode will help you name what’s really happening—and why nothing is “wrong” with you.A Question to Sit WithInstead of asking: What else do I need to explain?Try asking: What behavior am I protecting right now?That question alone often reveals where ownership is being unintentionally redirected back to the leader.Download Chapter One of This Can’t Be NormalThis episode is part of an ongoing conversation inspired by Chanie’s upcoming book:This Can’t Be NormalChapter One is available now and offers language for leaders who:Have trained their teamsBuilt the systemsAnd are still carrying the weight aloneYou can download Chapter One for free at:https://thiscantbenormal.comThe full book releases at the end of January.There’s no urgency.No fixing required.Just language for what you may already be experiencing.

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, Chanie explores the hidden cost of being the strong leader—the invisible emotional weight carried by school owners and leaders who learned early that being useful meant being safe, valued, and connected.This conversation isn’t about burnout or failure. It’s about survival adaptations that once protected you, but may now be quietly costing you rest, connection, and being met as a human.You’ll hear:Why over-functioning is not a personality trait—but a learned survival strategyHow leadership responsibility slowly becomes identityThe invisible emotional labor school leaders carry that never shows up on an org chartThe difference between being essential and being chosenWhy strong leaders are often admired—but rarely supportedGentle questions to help you notice where you’re still earning safety through givingThis episode is not a lesson and not a call to action.It’s a place to sit.A place to be honest.A place to let something unnamed finally have language.If parts of this conversation feel tender or emotional, that’s not a problem to solve. That’s information. And you don’t need to do anything with it right now.If you want language for what you’re already carrying, Chapter One of Chanie’s upcoming book, This Can’t Be Normal, is available to read.Download Chapter One: thiscantbenormal.com

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 the outside — but something inside you feels tight, constricted, or unsustainable.In this episode of the Schools of Excellence Podcast, Chanie opens a new conversation inspired by her upcoming book, This Can’t Be Normal. She invites school leaders to slow down and listen — not to fix, optimize, or pivot — but to notice what the signal is trying to say.This episode is not a lesson.It’s not a framework.It’s a place to stand inside yourself for a few minutes without managing the truth.If you’re a school owner, director, or leader who has learned to normalize pressure, sacrifice, and endurance — this conversation offers permission to stop arguing with the signal and let clarity emerge at its own pace.In This Episode, You’ll Hear:Why “success” can quietly start to feel like survival for school leadersThe difference between naming something and deciding what to do about itHow leaders learn to mute their own internal warning signalsWhy clarity doesn’t come from moving faster — it comes from pausingHow creating space for truth restores leadership steadiness and discernmentA Reflection to Sit WithWhat if leadership feels heavy not because something is broken —but because something true has gone unnamed for too long?Resource MentionedIf you want language for what you’re already experiencing, Chanie wrote Chapter One of her upcoming book specifically for leaders standing in this place.You can download it here, if and when it feels right: https://thiscantbenormal.comThere’s no urgency.No expectation.Just an invitation to read slowly — or simply sit with the moment.

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 Excellence Podcast, Chanie Wilschanski unpacks one of the most overlooked leadership challenges in schools, drift. Not burnout. Not laziness. But the subtle loss of alignment that happens when leaders lose connection to the rhythms and anchors that once kept them steady.This conversation is especially for school owners, directors, and leadership teams who are preparing to step into 2026 and want to do so with clarity, steadiness, and intention — not pressure or performative “new year” resets.Chanie introduces two distinct types of leadership drift that show up in schools:Calm Drift — when things are going well, systems feel stable, enrollment is strong, and leaders quietly loosen the rhythms that protect culture, leadership, and sustainability.Chaos Drift — when life, grief, stress, or operational overwhelm slowly erode boundaries, clarity, and leadership presence over time.Rather than offering another system, checklist, or reset plan, this episode reframes excellence in leadership as the ability to return — again and again — to the rhythms that anchor school leaders through every season.This is a grounding conversation about leadership, humanity, culture, and the systems that support sustainable growth in schools.In This Episode, You’ll Learn:Why drift is a normal part of leadership — even for strong, experienced school leadersThe difference between burnout, laziness, and leadership driftHow calm seasons can quietly lead to complacency if rhythms aren’t reinforcedWhy chaotic seasons cause leaders to over-function and lose themselves over timeThe role of rhythms (not perfection) in restoring clarity, confidence, and leadership presenceWhy consistency in leadership is about return, not flawless executionHow anchored leadership protects culture, operations, and retention in schoolsWhat school leaders should focus on before turning the calendar page to 2026A Note for School LeadersYou don’t need a new plan.You don’t need new software.You don’t need to overhaul your systems.What most school leaders need as they move from 2025 into 2026 is a return — to the rhythms that already work, the leadership standards they already know, and the anchors that keep their school steady through both calm and chaos.Next Step for LeadersIf this conversation resonated and you want clarity around where your leadership — and your school, may be drifting, we invite you to start with awareness.Take the 5 Gear DiagnosticThis free diagnostic helps school leaders identify which of the five core leadership gears — Enrollment, Financial Health, Staff...

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…Not what you finished…Not what you checked off the list…But what was formed within you as a leader navigating exhaustion, momentum, setbacks, breakthroughs, culture challenges, enrollment pressures, financial strain, team transition, and the very real humanity of leadership.In this deeply personal episode, Chanie shares her own journey through 2025 — a year that stretched her capacity, reshaped her identity as a leader, and forced her to develop new rhythms of discernment, emotional regulation, faith, marriage, health, and operational leadership.And while the details are her own, the themes are universal for school leaders:The invisible weight you carryThe pressure to remember everythingThe instinct to manage every outcomeThe exhaustion of holding everyone’s emotionsThe desire for relief without guiltThe dance of relationshipsThe need for rhythms, not more systemsThis episode is a mirror, reflecting back the capacity you’ve built this year, often without even noticing.What You’ll Learn in This EpisodeThe Leadership Lessons Inside a Full Year of StretchWhy capacity is built in friction, stretch, and tension — not in easeHow slowing down becomes a leadership strategy, not a setbackThe hidden emotional labor behind writing This Can’t Be NormalWhat the Five Gears framework revealed about school operations and leadershipWhy memory can’t be your leadership system — and how rhythms carry what your brain shouldn’tHow marriage, teams, and leadership all share the same “choreography” of conflictWhat it means to return — and why trust is built in the returnHow faith, steadiness, and presence become leadership anchorsThe power of “living the question” instead of rushing toward clarityWhy you’re not behind — you’re in a season that’s building youKey Insights for School Leaders1. Capacity is being built right now — even if it feels messy.Your stretch is the training ground for deeper leadership.2. Rhythms protect your energy more than systems ever will.This is the heart of SOE: predictable rhythms outperform reactive solutions.3. Slowing down keeps you steady — it never means you’re behind.Hustle creates fragility. Rhythm builds...

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” purchases, and the daily micro-decisions no one sees.These are money leaks—and they drain profit, capacity, and emotional bandwidth far more than leaders realize.In this episode, Chanie shares a short but powerful clip from HQ member Nikki, who took the Money Leaks Diagnostic and used one simple rhythm—not an overhaul—to cut her supply costs by 50% in 90 days.But the deeper transformation is even more important:She stopped carrying the financial stress alone.Her team stepped into real ownership.Her assistant director found confidence she hadn't trusted in herself for years.And the entire school strengthened its financial gear.This episode is a reminder that financial health is deeply connected to culture, leadership, and operational rhythms—not just spreadsheets.If you want a school that runs with more clarity, less reactivity, and stronger team buy-in, this conversation will open your eyes to what's possible.What You’ll Learn in This EpisodeWhy most schools lose money through leaks, not large expensesHow simple rhythms—not complex systems—create predictable financial stabilityThe connection between financial health and team cultureHow to establish a supply baseline that restores clarity and reduces wasteWhy teachers and support staff play a role in every single gear, including financialsHow ownership develops when leaders stop holding everything aloneThe emotional relief that comes from shifting financial responsibility from “me” to “we”Key Insights for School Leaders1. Money leaks are leadership problems, not budgeting problems. They're symptoms of unclear rhythms, inconsistent expectations, and leaders carrying operational details alone.2. Stability is built through small, predictable systems. Not dramatic overhauls—just rhythms your team can trust and repeat.3. Every team member influences your financial gear. When teachers understand usage, they naturally make different decisions.4. Ownership grows when leaders step back. Nikki’s story shows how powerful it is when a leader stops rescuing and starts equipping.Memorable Quotes“Most leaders don’t need more money. They need fewer leaks.”“You don’t fix financial stress by working harder—you fix it by installing a rhythm that everyone can follow.”“Every person in your building is part of every gear. Financial health is a team sport.”“Relief doesn’t come from overhauling your school. It comes from sharing the weight.”Why This Matters for Your SchoolA school with constant money leaks will always feel behind—financially, emotionally, and operationally. When you strengthen this gear:✓ Your team takes more ownership✓ Your spending becomes predictable✓ Your systems stabilize✓ Your culture strengthens✓ Your leadership becomes lighterThis isn’t about cutting corners.It’s about aligning your people, your systems, and your rhythms so your school can breathe again.Take the Next StepIf you want to identify your biggest leaks and begin plugging them immediately:Take the Money Leaks Diagnostic schoolsofexcellence.com/moneyleaksThis diagnostic will show you exactly where money is slipping through the cracks — and give you a clear starting point for strengthening your school’s financial

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. And it shows up long before leaders ever realize they’re off course.In this powerful episode, Chanie unpacks the two forms of leadership drift, Calm Drift and Chaos Drift,  and reveals why both are inevitable, expected, and deeply human. More importantly, she explains the one skill every school leader needs:The ability to return.Because leadership strength isn’t measured by how perfectly you stay on track.Leadership strength is your capacity to return to your anchors, your rhythms, your clarity, and your truth.Inside this episode, you’ll discover:What Drift Really Is (and What It Isn’t)Drift is not burnout — burnout is depletion.Drift is not laziness — laziness is apathy.Drift is the slow, subtle loss of connection to the rhythms that steady you.The Two Types of Drift1. Calm Drift:The most dangerous form — when enrollment is strong, your team is stable, and systems are flowing. This comfort lulls leaders into relaxing their anchors, easing up on rhythms, and slipping into complacency without even noticing.2. Chaos Drift:When overwhelm, grief, or nonstop crisis slowly erode your routines, boundaries, health, and identity. It’s not dramatic at first — it’s the slow, quiet unraveling of “just one more thing.”Why Drift Happens to Every LeaderBecause leadership is human work.And humans will always drift out of alignment through pressure, success, grief, or comfort.The Path Back: ReturnYou don’t need a fresh start, a January reset, another software, or a new checklist.You need to return.Return to the rhythms that keep you anchored.Return to the small practices that restore clarity.Return to the version of you that leads with presence, steadiness, and grounded confidence.Key School Leadership Themes You’ll HearWhy systems require perfection — but rhythms allow humanityHow calm seasons can create complacency and driftWhy chaos drift drains your identity slowly and quietlyHow rhythms become your “way home” in every seasonWhy consistency is not perfection — it is the willingness to returnHow your anchors carry you through both storms and successWhy leaders don’t need more systems — they need sustainable rhythmsIf you've been feeling off, foggy, tired, or disconnected — this episode will feel like a deep breath and a gentle nudge back to yourself.If today’s episode made you realize you’ve drifted, whether in calm or chaos, start by identifying which part of your school’s foundation needs attention. Take the 5 Gear Diagnostic at schoolsofexcellence.com/diagnosticIt’s the fastest way to see which gear is sticking and what rhythm to return to next.

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 development isn’t a perk.It’s the job.Because calm doesn’t grow you, discomfort does.In this episode, Chanie names a trap many school owners fall into: waiting for life to “settle down” before investing in their own growth. But settled never comes. Systems will always need refining, enrollment will always ebb and flow, team members will always cycle — and your center needs a leader who is growing while leading, not after everything is perfect.Inside this conversation, Chanie breaks down:What You’ll LearnWhy comfort creates complacency, but discomfort builds capacityThe cycle school leaders get stuck in: conditional growth (“once things calm down…”)How one owner shifted from task-completion to capacity-building, transforming her entire leadership team’s cultureWhy professional development is oxygen, not dessertThe difference between intensity bursts and predictable development rhythmsHow your growth becomes the ceiling, or the expansion, of your teamWhy sustainable leadership is built on consistency, not perfectionChanie also shares real examples from the field, the predictable patterns that show up in every school’s culture, and the practical rhythm shifts that move leaders out of survival mode and into mastery.If you want to grow your school, you must grow you.Because your team will not outgrow you, they grow through you.Resources Mentioned✔️ Take the Money Leaks Diagnostic Identify where your school is unintentionally losing profit and begin building the rhythms that stabilize your financial health. 👉 schoolsofexcellence.com/moneyleaks

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 you. Parents still email. Licensing still calls. Staff still need direction.And in that fatigue, it’s easy to believe the lie: I just need a break. I just need a new system. I just need to get through this week.But energy isn’t something you find. It’s something you create.In this deeply personal episode, Chanie unpacks what it means to create energy on demand — not from caffeine or quiet, but from rhythm, breath, and emotional containment. She shares how leaders can shift from guarding what’s left to generating what’s needed, and how to stop being the emotional battery for everyone around you.If you’ve ever said “I’m just so tired,” this episode will help you see that your exhaustion isn’t from doing too much — it’s from holding too much.You’ll LearnWhy you’re not one vacation or system away from feeling aliveThe truth about emotional fatigue and over-holdingHow to reframe your story and create energy in the middle of chaosThe science of energy creation and how your body chemistry responds to posture and languageHow to install transition rhythms between work and homeWhy “protecting your energy” keeps you in survival mode — and how to shift to creation modeSimple morning, end-of-day, and transition rhythms that restore peace and focusKey Insights“You’re not exhausted because you’re doing too much. You’re exhausted because you’re holding too much.”“Energy isn’t found in quiet. It’s created through rhythm.”“You don’t need rest to be restored — you need rhythm to be renewed.”“You are not a battery pack to be drained. You are a lighthouse — a generator of light and calm.”Memorable Quotes“Waiting for energy is like waiting for clarity — it never comes until you take action.”“You don’t protect energy. You create it.”“You close your laptop not because the work is done — but because the day is.”“Leadership still needs you when you’re tired, but you’re not powerless. You can create energy, on demand.”Reflection PromptsWhere are you still acting as the emotional battery for others?What transition rhythm would help you leave work restored instead of depleted?How can you practice creating energy through breath, posture, or language this week?Episode ResourcesPre-order Chanie’s new book This Can’t Be Normal — coming soonTake the 5 Gear Diagnostic to identify which area of your leadership is most drained — Enrollment, Staff Culture, Parent Engagement, Financial Health, or Strategic Growth. schoolsofexcellence.com/diagnostic

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 dates, parent notes, staff needs, and the million invisible details that make your school run. But here’s the truth: your brain was never meant to be the system.In this powerful, personal episode, Chanie shares how her once-reliable memory began to fail — and how that moment became the turning point for her leadership. Forgetting wasn’t a crisis; it was clarity. It revealed that her business had outgrown her brain and was ready for real systems and rhythms that could carry the weight sustainably.If you’ve ever said, “I just have to remember to…” — this episode will help you see why forgetting is not failure. It’s a signal that your leadership is evolving.You’ll LearnWhy memory-based leadership leads to burnout and anxietyHow your brain becomes a false “system” when trust in processes is lowWhy stress pokes holes in memory — and what to build insteadHow rhythms create psychological safety and operational stabilityHow to shift from mental management to systemized leadershipPractical examples of where you may be leading from memory (and how to stop)How to trust your systems and rhythms — even when it feels uncomfortableKey Insights“Your brain and your memory are not the system. Systems and rhythms hold excellence at scale.”“The brain is for having ideas, not holding them.”“Forgetting isn’t failure — it’s feedback that your leadership is ready to evolve.”“When you lead from rhythm instead of recall, you build peace into your operations.”Memorable Quotes“My memory made me feel safe. But safety doesn’t come from remembering — it comes from trusting the rhythm.”“Your leadership isn’t breaking down. It’s breaking open — to a simpler, more sustainable way to lead.”“Forgetting wasn’t the problem. It was the most generous wake-up call from God.”“The brain is for having ideas, not holding them. Systems are what keep those ideas alive.”Reflection PromptsWhere in your leadership are you still using your memory as a safety net?What’s one area where you could install a rhythm to replace recall?How does over-reliance on your brain create invisible weight in your day?What would it look like to trust your systems — even when your instinct is to double-check?Episode ResourcesLearn more about Chanie’s upcoming book This Can’t Be Normal, where she unpacks how rhythms replace over-functioning and burnout.Take the 5 Gear Diagnostic to identify which area of your leadership carries the most invisible weight — Enrollment, Staff Culture, Parent Engagement, Financial Health, or Strategic Growth. schoolsofexcellence.com/diagnostic

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 authenticity never go out of style.In this episode, Chanie sits down with longtime friend and industry leader Nick Williams, CEO of Childcare Business Growth, to discuss the timeless marketing strategies that stand the test of time.They explore how to create authentic content, follow up with confidence, and use AI and systems to reclaim your time — all while staying true to your school’s values and mission.If you’ve ever felt like your marketing is a moving target, this episode will help you return to the anchors that actually drive enrollment.You’ll LearnWhy authenticity always outperforms the latest trendHow to position yourself as the local expert families trustThe power of consistent follow-up rhythms in enrollmentHow to centralize communication without losing personal connectionThe role of AI in buying back time and simplifying marketing systemsHow to track baselines and lead sources to make smarter decisionsWhy clarity on your values attracts your ideal familiesHow to stay ahead of change without losing your focusKey Insights“Sales is service. You’re not pushing — you’re inviting families into something that matters.”“If you want consistent enrollment, follow up on the platforms your parents actually use.”“There’s no money in being neutral. Your values are your magnet.”“AI should help you work smarter, not harder. Use it to reclaim time for leadership.”Memorable Quotes“Marketing doesn’t need to be frantic — it needs to be rhythmic.” — Chanie Wilschanski“Be authentic. Be visible. Be the local expert. That’s timeless marketing.” — Nick Williams“The best marketing strategy isn’t about chasing trends — it’s about building systems that keep working while you lead.” — Chanie WilschanskiReflection PromptsWhich part of your marketing is built on rhythm — and which still feels reactive?Are your systems making your brand more human or more complicated?What would it look like to be known as the trusted local expert in your community?Episode ResourcesExplore Nick’s work at childcarebusinessgrowthlive.comTake the Schools of Excellence 5 Gear Diagnostic to identify your biggest growth opportunity in:Enrollment, Staff Culture, Parent Engagement, Financial Health, or Strategic Growth 👉 schoolsofexcellence.com/diagnostic

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 the spreadsheets. It’s in the emotions, expectations, and energy you absorb every day.In this powerful conversation, Chanie redefines burnout and exposes why the “fix-it-fast” advice doesn’t work. Because burnout doesn’t come from working too hard, it comes from becoming the system.If you’ve been the leader who holds everyone else’s fear, absorbs everyone’s disappointment, and smiles while suffocating inside, this episode is your permission to stop.Learn how to trade survival for sustainability by building rhythms that distribute the weight, not systems that keep you holding it all.Join the live workshop, Delegation Isn’t the Finish Line: Ownership Is to learn how to build rhythms that hold you steady.Register at: schoolsofexcellence.com/delegationWhat You’ll LearnWhy traditional definitions of burnout miss the real causeThe difference between working hard and becoming the systemWhy “fix-it-fast” solutions (like pizza parties) don’t actually workHow to identify invisible labor,  and stop carrying what’s not yoursThe power of rhythms to distribute emotional and operational weightWhat it means to be an “all-seasons leader” — not just calm-weather leadershipKey InsightsBurnout doesn’t chase weakness — it preys on competence.The body keeps score when you carry what’s not yours to hold.You don’t need to get stronger — you need to be held.Systems alone can’t save you; rhythms sustain you.Calm isn’t forever. Leadership is who you are under pressure.Memorable Quotes“Burnout isn’t working too hard, it’s becoming the system.”“If burnout can find you because you’re extraordinary, then rhythms can hold you because you’re extraordinary.”“You don’t need to get stronger. You need to be held.”“Leadership isn’t what happens in the calm. It’s who you are when the pressure knocks.”Reflection PromptsWhere are you holding what isn’t yours to hold?What invisible weight are you carrying for your team or school?What would change if your leadership wasn’t a solo sport?Next StepTake the Schools of Excellence 5 Gear Diagnostic to identify your biggest growth opportunity in: Enrollment, Staff Culture, Parent Engagement, Financial Health, or Strategic Growth 👉 schoolsofexcellence.com/diagnostic

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, people-pleasing, and the pressure to be the “hero” in every situation.In this episode, Irene shares her journey inside the Schools of Excellence coaching program and the transformation that followed—from chasing fires and working late nights, to leading with clarity, boundaries, and trust.You’ll hear how a calendar became her leadership lifeline, how gratitude reshaped her staff culture, and how self-trust shifted her from over-functioning into a confident leader who now builds sustainable rhythms for her team and balance for her family.This isn’t just a story of better systems. It’s a story of reclaiming identity, building trust, and choosing to lead without sacrificing health or home.What You’ll Learn in This Episode:Why boundaries start with the leader, not with the staffHow shifting from “hero” to CEO changes your school cultureThe role of one-on-one meetings in building trust and career growth for teachersWhy specific gratitude builds safety and resilience in teamsHow leadership growth impacts marriage, parenting, and personal lifeWhy coaching is never “one more thing”—it’s the foundation of sustainable leadershipKey InsightsBoundaries are for you first. Without them, you’ll always default to rescuing instead of leading.Culture starts with trust. One-on-ones and specific gratitude create safety for real conversations.You can’t hustle your way to sustainability. Systems and rhythms—not over-functioning—are what hold schools together.Personal growth multiplies. When leaders evolve, staff mirror that same growth in respect, empowerment, and culture.Memorable Quotes“The boundaries weren’t just for others—they were for me.” – Irene Gomez“True success is having a strong team that wants to stay forever.” – Irene Gomez“Enough isn’t about getting ahead. It’s about trusting that what you did today was enough.” – Chanie WilschanskiWhy This Matters for School LeadersEnds the cycle of firefighting and hyper-responsibilityBuilds cultures of trust where staff thrive and turnover decreasesProtects leaders’ health, marriage, and family timeShows how leadership coaching transforms not just schools, but livesResources & Next StepsReflect: Where in your leadership are you holding on to hyper-responsibility?Audit your staff culture: Are you building trust, or chasing harmony?Share this episode with a fellow leader who feels stuck in people-pleasingReady to stop holding everything together alone? Book your Leadership Reset Consultation—a 90-minute strategy session that gives you a 30-day roadmap to build rhythms your team will actually own. Learn more here.

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 this solo episode, Chanie Wilschanski exposes the false binary so many school leaders get trapped in: over-functioning or giving up entirely. Through real client stories, she unpacks how these extremes are both driven by the same craving for instant relief—and how true leadership means learning to live in the messy middle.You’ll hear how one owner, “Sarah,” learned to hold her team accountable without lowering standards, what happens when you trade to-do lists for calendars, and why grace never means abandoning expectations.This conversation is packed with practical wisdom for leaders who are tired of doing it all, frustrated that delegation still feels heavy, and ready to build rhythms of ownership instead of cycles of exhaustion.What You’ll Learn in This Episode:The real reason leaders oscillate between over-functioning and firing everyoneWhy to-do lists create comfort but calendars create clarity and accountabilityHow to show grace without lowering your standardsThe difference between outsourcing and ownershipWhy “getting ahead” is often avoidance disguised as productivityHow to right-size the load while keeping standards visibleKey InsightsComfort isn’t clarity. A private to-do list may feel safe—but a calendar makes priorities visible, reviewable, and real.Grace ≠ lowered standards. True grace adjusts the load, not the expectation.Instant relief leads to instability. Sustainable leadership requires tolerating discomfort while building systems and rhythms.Outsourcing is temporary relief; ownership is transformation.Memorable Quotes“Comfort over clarity is not leadership—it’s avoidance.” – Chanie Wilschanski“Grace never means lowering the standard. You right-size the load while keeping the standard visible.” – Chanie Wilschanski“Outsourcing brings relief. Ownership builds leadership.” – Chanie Wilschanski“When you complain about doing something, it just means you need more reps.” – Chanie WilschanskiWhy This Matters for School LeadersHelps leaders recognize and break the over-functioning vs. burnout cycleTeaches practical ways to build accountability without micromanagingReinforces the connection between standards, systems, and sustainable leadershipEmpowers leaders to replace chaos with structure—and delegation with ownershipResources & Next StepsAudit your leadership rhythms: Where are you over-functioning or lowering standards?Define your school’s standards—what’s visible, measurable, and consistent?Replace your team’s to-do lists with a shared calendar rhythm this week.Ready to delegate without burning out? Join Chanie’s Delegation Workshop to learn the exact scripts, standards, and systems that make it work:👉 schools of excellence.com/delegation

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 that the only way to define success?In this episode of the Schools of Excellence Podcast, Chanie Wilschanski sits down with Latrice Galloway, known as The Child Care Chick, to talk about the overlooked power of scaling with one location. Latrice shares how she built Kidsville Learning Academy into a multimillion-dollar school that has sustained for 18 years without expanding into multiple sites.This conversation dives into the foundation of sustainable leadership: mindset, systems, culture, and defining what’s truly “enough.” You’ll hear Latrice’s powerful story of burnout and breakthrough, how she shifted from operator to CEO, and why her definition of success is rooted in peace, values, and sustainability.If you’ve ever felt the pressure to open “just one more” location, or you’re struggling to sustain the school you already have, this episode will show you another path to growth—one rooted in clarity, culture, and deep alignment.What You’ll Learn in This Episode:Why scaling doesn’t have to mean opening more schoolsThe foundation school leaders often skip—and why it leads to burnoutThe mindset shift from operator to CEOHow to invest in your team so they sustain without you holding everythingWhy defining “enough” is critical to long-term successHow to filter opportunities through your values and visionKey InsightsSustainability is scale. Long-term thriving in one school can build wealth, culture, and community impact.Foundations matter. Hustle and charisma cannot replace systems, rhythms, and leadership infrastructure.Enough is a filter. Defining what is “enough” keeps you aligned when opportunities (and distractions) come knocking.Your health and peace are part of the equation. Burnout is not the price of success.Memorable Quotes“Scaling isn’t about adding more schools—it’s about sustaining the one you already have.” – Latrice Galloway“Enough is not a finish line. It’s a feeling of integrity.” – Chanie Wilschanski“Don’t fear if your staff leave after you invest in them. Fear what happens if they stay and you never do.” – Latrice GallowayWhy This Matters for School LeadersHelps leaders redefine success beyond growth at all costsProtects culture, peace, and sustainability by focusing on depth, not constant expansionEmpowers leaders to filter opportunities through values instead of external pressureProvides a model for scaling to millions with one schoolResources & Next StepsDefine your personal and leadership definition of “enough”Audit your school’s foundations: Are you building on systems, or on hustle?Share this episode with a fellow school leader wrestling with pressure to expandReady to stop holding everything together alone? Book your Leadership Reset Consultation—a 90-minute strategy session that gives you a 30-day roadmap to build rhythms your team will actually own. Learn more here.

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 when life unravels. From walking through the terminal illness of a loved one, to staff exits and leadership mistakes, Beth shares her “discomfort zone” season and the messy middle of showing up for her people while falling apart inside.This episode is not about perfection, it’s about presence. It’s about choosing honesty over image, showing up when you don’t have it all together, and finding systems and rhythms that carry your school (and your soul) through seasons of chaos.What You’ll Learn in This Episode:Why “waiting until everything is perfect” is leadership avoidanceHow to keep showing up when grief and business crises collideThe difference between accountability and ownership in staff leadershipWhy leaders must choose honesty over image if they want trust and culture to holdHow to find outer-circle people who can lead you through your own foKey InsightsCulture isn’t built on polish. It’s built on consistency, clarity, and shared standards.Grief and leadership can coexist. You can hold heartbreak in one hand and still lead with purpose in the other.Leadership is a mirror. Staff accountability gaps often expose where owners haven’t built the right rhythms.You don’t wait for perfect conditions. Growth happens in the middle of the storm, not after it passes.Memorable Quotes“I wasn’t replacing a role. I was reacting to a wound.” – Beth Cannon“You have to choose honesty over image, because the day when everything is perfect doesn’t exist.” – Beth Cannon“Schools don’t need leaders who wait for the fog to clear. They need leaders who keep walking.” – Chanie WilschanskiWhy This Matters for School LeadersStops the cycle of waiting for perfect conditions before leadingModels vulnerability without abdicating responsibilityBuilds staff trust through honesty and accountability, not polishAnchors leaders in rhythms that hold during grief, betrayal, or transitionResources & Next StepsReflect: Where are you waiting for things to “settle” before you lead?Revisit your staff accountability systems: Are they true ownership, or excuses and follow-up cycles?Connect with Beth Cannon: bethcannonspeaks.com | Instagram & Facebook: @bethcannonspeaks

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, Chanie breaks down how underutilized software, paper-based SOPs, missing automations, and messy file systems quietly torch your time capacity and cash. You’ll get a simple, CEO-level playbook to audit your tech stack, automate the right tasks, assign platform “champions,” and build rhythms that stop dependency and start true scalability.👉 Take the free diagnostic mentioned in this episode: schoolsofexcellence.com/moneyleaksWhat You’ll LearnThe 5 Admin & Tech pillars that protect profit (workflows, utilization, automation, data & file systems, review rhythms)How to audit your tech stack and cut redundancies without chaosWhy automation doesn’t replace people—it gives them back time for what only humans can doThe “internal platform champion” model that prevents bottlenecks and builds team capacityA simple naming convention + 10-second file-finding standard that ends “final-final-FINAL-v6” madnessHow to move from dependency (it only works when Sarah’s here) to system (it works when anyone follows the rhythm)SOE Playbook: 5 Concrete MovesRun a Software Audit (30–45 min): List every tool, owner, cost, and actual use. Cancel redundancies, downgrade unused premium plans, and standardize what stays.Assign Platform Champions: One trained “owner” per platform. Share quick wins, create 1-page SOPs, and stop knowledge hoarding.Automate Repetitive Admin: Scheduling, reminders, links, confirmations, form routing, basic onboarding steps. Free people for gratitude, 1:1s, observations, feedback—the work only humans can do.Lock File Hygiene: Cloud-first, consistent naming, and a structure anyone can understand. Measure success by: “Can someone find any file in ≤10 seconds?”Quarterly Rhythm Block: Every 90 days: review tools, subscriptions, automations, and workflows. One block. Same calendar slot. Always.Case Studies & WinsSonia’s Tech Tangle → $4,000 Saved: She listed 19 tools; canceled 5–7 redundant platforms, downgraded others, and named champions for the rest—saving nearly $4K/year and loads of time capacity.The $9,000 Surprise: A leader who “couldn’t afford it” did a money leaks audit, canceled 3 subscriptions, and freed up $9,000—just by telling the truth in the tech stack.Memorable Lines“If it takes more than 10 seconds to find a file, you have a leak—not a library.”“Dependency isn’t a system. It’s a risk.”“Automation isn’t about replacing people—it’s about returning time to the work only humans can do.”“When someone leaves, the brain of your business shouldn’t walk out with them.”ResourcesFree diagnostic: schoolsofexcellence.com/moneyleaks

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 the most overlooked operational leaks in schools. From the toner that’s reordered twice in a week to the “just in case” stockpiles that clutter closets, poor systems quietly drain thousands of dollars and create chaos for your team.You’ll hear how one school leader cut supply costs by 50%, not by cutting corners, but by building rhythms of accountability, teacher ownership, and smarter purchasing strategies. Chanie explains how strong leaders use systems to bring predictability to supplies, just as they do in staff culture, enrollment, and every other gear of sustainable growth.What You’ll Learn in This EpisodeWhy supply challenges aren’t spending issues, they’re system issuesThe five pillars of supply management: inventory, seasonal planning, equipment lifecycle, vendor strategy, and storage organizationHow to create baselines that give you real data on usage and costsThe role of leadership rhythms in preventing waste and burnoutPractical steps to cut costs without sacrificing quality or cultureKey InsightsLeadership is stewardship. Systems, not sticky notes, are what protect your budget and your team’s time.Culture is built in the details. When supplies are predictable, teachers feel supported and operations run smoothly.Growth requires optimization. Scaling isn’t about more—it’s about refining what you already have.Why This Matters for School LeadersWhen supply management runs on chaos, leaders end up overspending, overfunctioning, and burning out. When it runs on systems, leaders free capacity for strategy, teams feel supported, and operations hold under pressure.Resources & Next StepsDownload the free Money Leaks Diagnostic and assess your school’s supply systems: schoolsofexcellence.com/moneyleaks

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 the biggest hidden drains on your budget.In this fourth episode of the Six Money Leaks series, Chanie Wilschanski explains why leaders don’t have food budget problems, they have food system problems. You’ll learn how to build baselines, create seasonal rhythms, and plan for the actual people you serve, so generosity strengthens culture without draining profit.Through real stories from school leaders, Chanie shows how small adjustments in food management save thousands, reduce waste, and create sustainable rhythms of appreciation.What You’ll Learn in This EpisodeWhy “spend as little as you can” is not a budgetHow to calculate your baseline with receipts and real dataWhy food budgets must shift seasonally with enrollment, staffing, and culture rhythmsHow to prevent waste by planning for allergies, sensitivities, and actual headcountThe difference between indulgent overspending and intentional generosityKey InsightsGenerosity needs guardrails. Without systems, your kindness works against you.Data builds confidence. Leaders negotiate budgets best when they bring baselines, not guesses.Culture thrives on intention. Food can build connection and trust when it’s planned with clarity.Why This Matters for School LeadersYour staff and students deserve abundance. But abundance without systems creates chaos, waste, and guilt around spending. Food control isn’t about being stingy—it’s about building rhythms that protect your financial health and your culture.Resources & Next StepsDownload the free Money Leaks Diagnostic and assess your school’s food systems: schoolsofexcellence.com/moneyleaks

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 quietly draining schools: payment systems. From failed cards and ignored invoices to outdated agreements and manual chasing, every gap in your tuition process pulls focus and drains energy.You’ll hear real client stories, from a $15,000 recovery in failed payments to a 90% drop in late tuition within one billing cycle and walk away with practical steps to finally stop chasing money and start leading with clarity.If you’re tired of payroll Fridays filled with stress and spreadsheets, this conversation will help you install systems that protect your cash flow, your culture, and your peace of mind.What You’ll Learn in This EpisodeWhy most tuition issues are about systems, not parentsThe #1 step to immediately reduce late paymentsHow to install a proactive collection process (not a “hope and faith” system)The role of late fees in protecting your standards and cash flowWhy payment agreements must be reviewed and stored digitallyKey InsightsBroken payment systems = hidden money leaks.Hope is not a collection system. Predictability is.Enforcing policies isn’t mean, it protects your staff and your culture.Outdated agreements open the door for confusion and chaos.Memorable Quotes“If you’re still chasing tuition, you don’t have a payment system, you have a hope and faith system.”“Late fees aren’t punishment. They’re protection for your cash flow and your peace of mind.”“Your agreements aren’t set-and-forget. They’re living guardrails that protect your school.”Why This Matters for School LeadersStops financial chaos from undermining your leadershipCreates consistent, predictable revenueProtects your time, energy, and staff trustMoves you from reaction to rhythmResources & Next StepsRequire auto-pay at enrollment (make one-time payment the default)Create a 24-hour failed payment follow-up system with backup cards on fileAutomate late fees to protect cash flow without awkward conversationsReview and digitize all payment agreements this quarter👉 Ready to stop patchwork fixes and build leadership systems that hold up under pressure? Book your Leadership Reset Consultation here: [Leadership Reset]And if you want to see where payment systems and other money leaks may be draining your school, take the Money Leaks Diagnostic.