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

Winning in the Dark: Shame and Anger

03 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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...

Winning in the Dark: Comparison

27 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 inf...

Winning in the Dark: Enoughness and Worthiness

20 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 resu...

178. How to Lead the Last Staff Meeting of the Year

13 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

I’m one of the few people who actually enjoys public speaking.Walking onto a stage excites me, and I gain a lot of energy from interacting with a cr...

177. Defining Your Own Success at the End of the School Year

06 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In January, the internet was full of cute memes about going back to the gym, eating salads, and recommitting to your health.At the end of the calendar...

176. A Path to Leadership Mastery with Cayla Rush

28 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In 2020, everyone’s world turned upside-down Sioux Falls school owner Cayla Rush knew there was too much on her plate as the pandemic began, bu...

175. A Culture of Urgency: Creating the Calm

21 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Have you seen Forbes’ 30 Under 30 and 40 Under 40 lists?They feature the brightest, shiniest, hardest-working entrepreneurs. These individuals embod...

174. A Culture of Urgency: Recognizing the Patterns

15 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Leaders have lots of amazing ideas. And sometimes, those ideas can turn into multiple priorities. This is absolutely normal. But when there’...

173. The Invisible Labor of Decision Making

08 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Summer is coming, faster than we could have anticipated. Have you figured out what you and your family are doing for the break?“What are your s...

BONUS: Season of Life Reflective Questions

03 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Learn more and apply for the Director’s Inner Circle & Owner’s HQ: https://schoolsofexcellence.com/membership/  More about...

172. Respecting the Season of Life You're in

01 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

When my business was new, I was in the practice of waking up at 5:00am to work on some big, exciting projects. I would reply to emails and write conte...

171. Redefining Leadership with Paige Kepner

25 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

“We were only closed for two weeks when the pandemic started, but I swear it felt like we were closed for four months.”This is what Paige Kepner, ...

170. The Paradox of School Leadership: Support

18 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

A director I was coaching a few weeks ago told me about a repeat problem that kept coming up in her center. She was constantly being interrupted by te...

169. The Paradox of School Leadership: Control

11 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Recently, I was speaking with a school owner who was selling a location. She had truly done her due diligence in her preparations for this moment, cro...

168. The Paradox of School Leadership: Success

04 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Recently, I was on a coaching call with two ECE center owners.The first owner had just purchased her second location. This was a huge milestone for he...

167. The Paradox of School Leadership: Choice

26 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

When’s the last time you went to a huge buffet? While it seems like a treat to eat anything you want, you can’t eat it all—and that means you ha...

166. The Paradox of School Leadership

19 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Learn more and apply for the Director’s Inner Circle & Owner’s HQ: http://Chanie.me/jointhedic   More about the show:...

165. Values Driven Leadership with Catherine Doberstein

12 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In 2022, Catherine Doberstein had just started listening to my podcast. In an episode, I mentioned the live, in-person Summit of Excellence that was c...

164. Timeless Leadership Insights with Simon Sinek

05 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

 Back in 2017, I had the immense pleasure of interviewing author and speaker Simon Sinek about how to be an effective leader. It's a topic that m...

163. Preparing for Parent Teacher Conferences

29 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Communication is about more than just your words.Years ago, when I was still working as a teacher, I was preparing for parent–teacher conferences wi...

162. 2024 ECE Forecast: Navigating Money Leaks & Investment Gaps

22 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

When my husband Mayer and I moved to Florida, we had a pool for the first time ever. But as New Yorkers, we had no idea how to take care of it. So whe...

161. 2024 ECE Forecast: Cultivating Healthy Child Relationships

15 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

When I was a new parent, I thought I could give my kids more by simply loving them more.Spoiler alert: I was mistaken.Don't get me wrong—my heart wa...

160. 2024 ECE Forecast: The Shifting Landscape of Parent Partnerships

08 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Has someone ever told you to calm down?It's one of the most aggravating statements ever.Recently, I was having a conversation with my husband, Mayer, ...

159. 2024 ECE Forecast: Pioneering a New Era of Leadership

01 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Are you living by your values?While you think that question over, let me tell you a story.In our family, generosity is a core value, and one of the wa...

158. Shifting into Legacy-Minded Leadership with Mandy Moore

11 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

School leadership can be a lonely journey. When you're at the top of the org chart, it's your responsibility to support your team—meaning there...

157. Building Strong Relationships in Leadership with The Little Foxes Team

04 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Last year, after speaking at a conference, I was contacted by, Sophie Kerr, the owner of Little Foxes Nursery School in Wiltshire, England, an early c...

156. Educating your Team on Reporting

27 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

When you write out a to-do list—whether for your team, your family, or yourself—does it give an accurate representation of everything that goes in...

155. How to Plan Travel as a Leader

20 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

When my husband Mayer and I still lived in NYC, he held a position at a college that was highly demanding (to put it lightly).As part of his role, he ...

154. Navigating Tough Talks: A Guide to Handling Termination Communication

30 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

No matter the industry, leaders are often afraid to be honest about why they're firing someone. They think that by sugar-coating the truth or dancing ...

153. Leadership and Letting Go: When is it Time to Say Goodbye?

23 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Many years ago (when my kids were a lot smaller), my husband Mayer and I took a trip to Niagara Falls. As usual, I had organized everything in advance...

152. The Fear of Firing: What is the True Cost?

16 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

No one enjoys having to fire an employee. In most cases it's uncomfortable and unpleasant to have to let someone go, especially if they didn't do...

151. Fighting Flu Season: How a Proactive Insurance Policy Makes a Difference

09 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Every year, flu season seems to come as a surprise.We know it’s coming. And yet, it always seems to catch us unaware, putting us into all kinds of h...

150. Creating a Culture of Growth & Gratitude Ashriel Huber

02 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

It’s easy to feel pulled down by the difficult happenings at your center.This was the case for Ashriel Huber, second-generation legacy owner of A Ch...

149. Your Distress Tolerance Staff Toolkit

25 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Does the word “stress” make your chest tighten?If so, you’re not the only one We tend to think of stress as a negative thing. But the truth...

148. Developing your Distress Tolerance as a School Leader

18 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

You’re no stranger to challenges.Whether it’s helping fifteen children into their winter coats, navigating a difficult relationship with one of yo...

147. From Loss to Legacy

11 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In our society, conversations about grief are largely dominated by death and the experience of losing someone we love.But death is far from the only t...

146. How to Create Your School Org Chart

04 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Roles and responsibilities are crucial to building a school of excellence. You can't weather the storm—let alone captain your ship—if your crew is...

Additional Tips on How to Plan for Chaos

30 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This episode is from a Strategic Advisory from our Membership programs. I know that the impending chaos of a new year is incredibly unsettling. You’...

145. Tolerating Good Enough For Long Enough To Create Excellence

28 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

When you sit down to draw with a 4-year-old, you know you're not going to get the Mona Lisa. Kids don't have the capacity for things like perspective,...

144. The Ambition Equation: Balancing Passion, Purpose, and Practicality

21 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

What does ambition look like to you?Does it mean owning the best school in your city? Expanding your center? Retiring early?Maybe it's none of those t...

143. Overcoming Overwhelm and Cultivating Confidence with Ashley Corthell

14 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

What if I told you that you didn't have to be at your center 40+ hours a week?Would you believe me?The reality for a lot of owners is that the line be...

142. Preparing for the Chaos at the Start of the School Year

07 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

I know that the impending chaos of a new year is incredibly unsettling. You’re preparing for new kids, new teachers, new protocols, and new expectat...

141. How to Prepare for the First Staff Meeting

31 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The first staff meeting of the year—we've all been there.You go into the meeting filled with the ripe excitement of possibility, ready to share your...

140. The Pyramid of Excellence: Aligned and Legacy Stages

24 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Take a moment to remember why you became a school leader.If you’re anything like me and the leaders in my programs, you’re interested in leaving a...

139. The Pyramid of Excellence: Integrated Stage

17 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Many of the school leaders I meet are in the midst of growing their centers, and they all share one common challenge.Balancing expansion with the qual...

138. The Pyramid of Excellence: Disordered Stage

10 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Does any of this sound familiar?You know you need a strong team, but you don’t feel like you have the infrastructure to support itConstant questions...

137. The Pyramid of Excellence: Survival Stage

03 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Everyone starts somewhere.You may have just opened a new center. Or maybe you’re coming through the other end of a crisis.Either way, this major pha...

136. The Pyramid of Excellence

26 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

For years, I've been developing, cultivating, and nurturing the mindset and skills of owners and directors in early childhood education so they can bu...

135. Why Traditional ROI Doesn't Work for School Leaders

19 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Let me ask you a couple of questions:When you're looking at making a big-ticket purchase to update the infrastructure of your school, how long does it...

134. Navigating a Multigenerational Workforce

12 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

For the first time in history, we have 5 different generations in the workplace: the Silent Generation, Baby Boomers, Gen X, Millennials, and Gen Z.An...

133. Stop Getting Caught Up In The Fairness Game

05 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Do you know the difference between equality and equity?It's a distinction that could be at the heart of some of the issues you're facing at your cente...

131. The Power of Emotional Intelligence in Leadership with Heather Chauvin

22 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

As a leader, you're responsible for a lot of people.But what does that responsibility really mean?Is it about taking on the problems of your team and ...

130. Does Your School Culture Foster Health or Burnout?

15 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Let me know if this sounds familiar:You're emotionally, mentally, and physically exhausted on a daily basisYou feel disconnected from your work, your ...

129. 5 Layers to Building a Culture of Retention: Promotion

08 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

I hear a lot of leaders say they'd love to provide advancement opportunities for their staff, but no one's interested in taking on more responsibility...

128. 5 Layers to Building a Culture of Retention: Accountability

01 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

A while back, I was working with a school that was having trouble with one of their new teachers. She was relatively new to her role, and although she...

127. 5 Layers to Building a Culture of Retention: Contribution

24 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

One of our core needs as human beings is a sense of service which prompts us to help and support others. Put differently, we have an innate need to wa...

126. 5 Layers to Building a Culture of Retention: Quality of Life

17 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Do you remember when the only people on-call 24/7 were emergency workers?Back then, there was a much clearer divide between work and life. Once you le...

125. 5 Layers to Building a Culture of Retention: Gratitude & Community

10 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

What does it feel like when you belong?It's not always easy to put into words, but when you know, you know.Think about what it's like to go to the mal...

124. Finding Investors for your Childcare Center with Kangarootime

03 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Within the early childhood education space, many owners have dreams of growing their centers but are hesitant about taking on investors. Oftentim...

123. Delegation Dip Part 3: Firing

27 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

​We all have limits to what we can tolerate… and what we can't.Once, I was working with a director who went into a tailspin if the grapes at snack...

122. Delegation Dip Part 2: Neglect

20 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

What if I told you that training a new team member wasn't much different from coaching an Olympian?Bear with me for a second.When you coach your son's...

121. Delegation Dip Part 1: Micromanaging

13 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Discernment is a topic I address here often, and for good reason: It's a key ingredient to many aspects of strong leadership.One of the areas in which...

120. Creating Excellent Experiences with HiMama

06 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

When you go to a restaurant, the quality of the food is critical to whether or not you like the restaurant and want to go back. But food isn't th...

119. Founding Member to Confident Leader with Courtney Grenier

27 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Raising tuition can be a touchy subject for owners. It's something you know you have to do—something you have the right to do—and yet you feel the...

118. Decoding Your Culture Part 4: Using Feedforward to Build Skills

20 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

You already know that feedback is an important part of growth. All of us need to be given the chance to view our work critically so we can find the ar...

117. Decoding Your Culture Part 3: What is Emotionally Mature Leadership?

13 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Last week, I talked about drama and the toll it can take on the culture of your center. We started to identify the different symptoms of drama to look...

116. Decoding Your Culture Part 2: Indicators there is Drama in your Center

06 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Gossip is a normal part of the human experience—I mean, who doesn't perk up their ears when they hear a juicy piece of information?We all engage in ...

115. Decoding Your Culture Part 1: What is Culture?

30 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

When I talk about school culture, I'm not talking about Secret Santa gift exchanges, karaoke night, or the pingpong table in the breakroom.Instead, cu...

114. Tripling Income for her Most Profitable Year with Aliyah Johnson-Roberts

23 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

If you had to be brutally honest with yourself right now, where are you focusing the majority of your attention? On yourself? On your family?&nbs...

113. How to Discern Which Events to Invest In & Attend

16 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In the midst of the pandemic, there were days when I wondered whether we'd ever return to attending in-person events. As helpful as Zoom was duri...

112. The Difference Between an Opportunity and a Distraction

09 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

It's the beginning of 2023, which means the promise of a whole new year of possibilities!As a visionary, you're likely especially anxious about gettin...

111. Manuals to Modules with Beth Cannon

02 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

One struggle that seems to come up again and again for school leaders is onboarding. Year after year, I see owners and directors stressing over t...

How to Raise Capital Funding with Scott Wayman from Kangarootime

19 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

When you're caught up in the day-to-day responsibilities of running your school, planning for the future can become the last thing on your mind.But th...

How to Simplify and Streamline with Samantha Phillips & Chris Myers from Comploy

19 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Whether we like it or not, the unexpected is bound to happen.Injuries on the playground, accidents in the classroom, and even instances of verbal or p...

The Journey of Becoming a Leader with Summer Picha from Conscious Classroom

19 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

One time, I had an owner ask me whether there's a universal set of values that all centers should have.My answer was no, actually, there's not.Confuse...

110. 2023 ECE Forecast: Experts Share Predictions and Trends Part 2

12 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

We need to address the elephant in the room. After coming out of a multi-year pandemic, we’re possibly headed into a global recession.With what...

109. 2023 ECE Forecast: Experts Share Predictions and Trends Part 1

06 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

As a leader, it’s your job to see the forest through the trees. While your staff are involved in the details of the day-to-day, you’re the one tha...

108. A Journey of Confidence and Legacy with Erin Owens

29 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Throughout my career coaching leaders in early childhood education, I’ve worked with owners and directors at various points in their journey. So, I ...

107. Utilizing Experiences, Rituals and Routines for Values Based Leadership

21 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Having closed out a month of Jewish holiday celebrations in October, I find myself reflecting on how holidays do such a good job of highlighting the i...

106. 6 Qualities of Being a Role Model

14 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

We’ve all had role models throughout our lives, whether parents, teachers, friends, or the people we look up to from afar (like astronauts or Olympi...

105. How to use Storytelling for Values Based Leadership

08 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Many of us have those “special” family stories—you know, the ones you’ve heard a million times that have been passed down from generation to g...

104. Boundaries to Prevent Over Planning this Holiday Season

01 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

When it comes to the holidays, I think we’re all a little guilty of overcommitting ourselves without checking our calendars. After all, it’s hard ...

103. Taking Back Control in your Center and Life with Sheila Smozynski

25 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

As a leader, you’re well aware that being in your position can feel extremely isolating.    At times, it can feel like you’re stranded in the mi...

102. [Guest Share] Setting Expectations for and Connecting with Your Child Care Staff

18 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

There’s a subtle but important difference between high standards and high expectations. Contrary to how it may feel, you can maintain high standards...

101. Strategic Mapping for the School Year

11 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

There’s only so much time in the year, and most of it is already accounted for. After you add up necessary activities like eating, sleeping, and sho...

100. The 3 M's that Create Stability and Security for your Team

06 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This is a special live-recorded episode to celebrate our 100th episode!   Being a leader is hard. It requires you to exercise new skills, make tough ...

99. Emotional Regulation: Create a Calm Confident Environment

22 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Everyone experiences a variety of emotions throughout the day. Whether it’s anxiety before a dentist appointment, excitement when we find $20 in our...

98. Generosity: Giving Abundantly and Latitude For Mistakes

20 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

What does it mean to be generous?   Oftentimes the first thing people think of is financial generosity. They believe that to be a generous leader, th...

97. Discernment: Balance Self-Reliance and Asking for Help

13 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

One of the most important skills I help owners and directors develop is discernment. But…what exactly does that mean? Let me give you an example: Tw...

96. Individual Advocacy: Empower the Team to Own Their Growth and Development

06 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Some of my biggest coaching Aha! moments happen when I talk to my kids.   Earlier this summer, my son came to my husband with a question that was bot...

95. Relationship Intelligence - Navigate Conflict and Build Trust

30 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

One of the hallmarks of a great leader is how you understand and respond to emotions, and, then in turn, how that understanding helps you cultivate re...

From the Archive: The First Staff Meeting of the School Year

25 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Starting off the new school year on the right note will set up your school for excellence. As a school leader, the last thing you’d want is overload...

94. Boundaries: Create Space and Time to Hit Your Goals

23 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Recently, I was reflecting on my parenting style and how it’s evolved over time.    As much as we think we’ll parent in our own unique way once ...

93. The B.R.I.D.G.E Principles for Legacy and Leadership

16 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

As a school leader, you’re likely a pro at creating systems, processes, and checklists. You’ve trained your leadership team on them so things run...

Part 3: How to Prepare for the New School Year - Why Over Commitment Can Hurt Your Retention

09 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This week I'm sharing a new 3-episode podcast series, How to Prepare for the New School Year, to give you strategies for navigating the first few week...

92. Part 2: How to Prepare for the New School Year - Why Good Enough is a Lifeline

09 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This week I'm sharing a new 3-episode podcast series, How to Prepare for the New School Year, to give you strategies for navigating the first few week...

92. Part 1: How to Prepare for the New School Year - Anchors vs. Enhancers

09 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This week I'm sharing a new 3-episode podcast series, How to Prepare for the New School Year, to give you strategies for navigating the first few wee...

91. Navigating Grief with Dr. Sherry Walling

02 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This week on the podcast, I talk with Dr. Sherry Walling about how to find wholeness after loss and the ways you can support your team to overcome gri...

90. How to Prioritize Positive Mental Wellbeing

26 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Are you prioritizing your mental wellbeing?   If you’re anything like the many directors and owners I’ve worked with, your answer probably depend...

89. You're Not The Only One: Leading The Team

19 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Has a difficult conversation with someone at your school ever left you feeling guilty?   Me too.   I can recall times when the guilt was so intense ...