Schools of Excellence

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 nonprofit initiative, to unpack what it truly takes to lead a financially sustainable school—without compromising your mission. Together, they explore how school leaders can align mission, metrics, and money, and why profit isn’t the opposite of purpose—it’s what makes your vision possible. If you’ve ever felt the pressure of payroll, struggled with discounting, or wondered how to strengthen your school operations for long-term sustainability, this conversation offers clarity, structure, and relief. What You'll Learn * Why profit fuels purpose—and how financial clarity protects your mission * The five profit pillars: occupancy, tuition pricing, discount strategy, staffing efficiency, and facilities cost * How to identify and eliminate hidden financial leaks * Strategies to improve staffing efficiency while increasing staff retention * What sustainable leadership looks like across economic cycles Key Insights and Takeaways 1. Purpose Without Profit Is Unsustainable You can’t serve your students, support your staff, or lead with confidence if you’re losing sleep over cash flow. Financial health gives school leaders the peace of mind and capacity to lead with intention. 2. Know Your Five Financial Pillars Occupancy, tuition rates, and discounting drive your revenue. Staffing and facility costs are your biggest expenses. These five pillars account for 95% of your financial outcomes. Some need daily attention—others should be reviewed quarterly. 3. The Hidden Cost of Discounting Discounts often erode margins silently. Track full tuition versus actual collected revenue to see what you’re really “giving away.” Strategically revisit all discounts—except staff discounts—to reclaim margin and reinforce your school's value. 4. Smarter Staffing, Not Cheaper Staffing Reducing staffing costs doesn’t mean reducing quality. Build a school culture where staff finish strong—even when ratios drop. Instead of cutting pay, optimize hours and clarify expectations. Retention is more cost-effective than constant turnover. 5. Resilience Comes from Readiness After four decades in the industry, Kathy emphasizes that school leaders who adapt quickly—and build financial buffers—are the ones who sustain growth through any season. From public pre-K expansion to economic downturns, having systems that can pivot is non-negotiable. Tools and Action Steps Benchmark Your Financials Use Hinge’s free Benchmarking Tool to evaluate tuition, occupancy, and staffing costs frameworkbyhinge.com [https://frameworkbyhinge.com] Audit Your Discount Strategy Update billing systems to track full tuition vs. discounted tuition separately Evaluate where your pricing may be undermining your perceived value Check Your Staffing Rhythms Explore opportunities to close early or adjust shifts based on ratios Ensure your team is equipped to support those decisions Quarterly Financial Review Schedule time each quarter to evaluate the five pillars Use data to guide decisions, not gut reactions Quote to Remember “There is no possible way for you to provide the purpose or mission… without the money or the profit— they are absolutely necessary for each other.” — Kathy Ligon Why This Matters for School Leaders * Creates financial stability that supports your mission and your team * Reduces burnout by removing the constant pressure of underfunded operations * Builds systems for sustainable growth—even in unpredictable seasons * Reinforces your leadership with confidence, clarity, and purpose Resources and Next Steps * Grab Kathy’s Book: The Five Pillars of Purpose‑Driven Profit (all proceeds support BOOST, her nonprofit for educators in crisis) * Use the Free Financial Benchmark Tool: frameworkbyhinge.com [https://frameworkbyhinge.com] Book a Strategy Call: Get clarity around your growth and leadership rhythms at schoolsofexcellence.com/profit [https://schoolsofexcellence.com/profit] Mentioned in this episode: The 6 Money Leaks in Schools™ Turn Financial Blind Spots into Immediate Profit. Find Your Hidden Profits with The 6 Money Leaks in Schools™ Your school is silently losing thousands every month – money that should be yours. This proven diagnostic reveals exactly where your profit is escaping and how to reclaim it. Click here to learn more about Money Leaks [https://schools-of-excellence.captivate.fm/moneyleaks] The 6 Money Leaks in Schools™ Turn Financial Blind Spots into Immediate Profit. Find Your Hidden Profits with The 6 Money Leaks in Schools™ Your school is silently losing thousands every month – money that should be yours. This proven diagnostic reveals exactly where your profit is escaping and how to reclaim it. Click here to learn more about Money Leaks [https://schools-of-excellence.captivate.fm/moneyleaks]

In this solo episode, Chanie Wilschanski challenges one of the most common—and misleading—phrases in school leadership: “Let’s get on the same page.” While it may sound like alignment and feel like unity, this phrase often leads to passive agreement, false harmony, and a school culture built on appeasement—not real accountability. Chanie shares why being “on the same page” is no longer her goal—and how installing shared standards, guardrails, and team rhythms can transform your school systems and restore trust across your staff. If you’re tired of repeating the same expectations over and over, this episode offers a leadership framework for creating clarity, follow-through, and sustainable team ownership—without micromanaging. What You’ll Learn * Why “being on the same page” creates confusion, not clarity * How to lead with shared standards that drive school-wide accountability * Why rhythms and systems—not reminders—protect your school culture * A practical framework for restoring team ownership without overfunctioning * What false harmony is costing you in terms of trust, time, and retention * How to navigate team members with inconsistent follow-through Key Insights 1. “On the Same Page” Is a Leadership Mirage 2. It creates a false sense of alignment while team members continue to operate with unclear expectations. Real school culture is built through systems, clarity, and ownership—not agreement alone. 3. Standards Build Clarity—Ownership Creates Stability 4. Your team doesn’t need the same words. They need the same follow-through. When team roles are clearly defined and reinforced, it reduces micromanaging and school burnout. 5. Guardrails Make Standards Stick 6. Systems like recommitment rhythms, role clarity, and consistent follow-up help move your team from second-guessing and scrambling to anchored, confident leadership. 7. Overfunctioning Leaders Block Ownership 8. When school directors or owners jump in to “just fix it,” it reinforces a culture of dependency and disempowers the team. Guardrails allow you to stop doing it all—and let your staff rise. The Guardrails Framework: Try This Instead Tired of repeating the same school standard over and over? Use this 3-part framework to reinforce shared ownership and sustainable systems: 1. Define Follow-Through → What does success look like for each role? → Be specific, especially when addressing low accountability or inconsistent team members. 2. Install a Recommitment Rhythm → Use weekly check-ins, midpoint reviews, or 1:1s to revisit standards regularly. → Don't build new rules—recommit to existing ones with intention. 3. Clarify Ownership → Who is responsible for what? → Sustainable school operations require role clarity and systems that reduce friction. Memorable Quotes “You don’t need matching words. You need matching follow-through.” “Culture isn’t built by agreement. It’s built by what we hold—together.” “If the standard is that children go home clean, your schedule must support that.” Why This Matters for School Leaders * Reduces the pressure of overfunctioning and the mental load of repeating standards * Shifts team dynamics from passive compliance to real accountability * Helps overwhelmed school directors install systems that actually stick * Strengthens school retention and team trust by building predictable rhythms * Protects your school culture from burnout, resentment, and low follow-through Resources & Next Steps Need help installing shared standards and ownership across your team? Book a Consultation Call to uncover where your school leadership rhythms are breaking down—and explore whether School Leadership HQ is the next step. 👉 schoolsofexcellence.com/profit [https://schoolsofexcellence.com/profit] Mentioned in this episode: The 6 Money Leaks in Schools™ Turn Financial Blind Spots into Immediate Profit. Find Your Hidden Profits with The 6 Money Leaks in Schools™ Your school is silently losing thousands every month – money that should be yours. This proven diagnostic reveals exactly where your profit is escaping and how to reclaim it. Click here to learn more about Money Leaks [https://schools-of-excellence.captivate.fm/moneyleaks] The 6 Money Leaks in Schools™ Turn Financial Blind Spots into Immediate Profit. Find Your Hidden Profits with The 6 Money Leaks in Schools™ Your school is silently losing thousands every month – money that should be yours. This proven diagnostic reveals exactly where your profit is escaping and how to reclaim it. Click here to learn more about Money Leaks [https://schools-of-excellence.captivate.fm/moneyleaks]

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 to lead a school with sustainable systems, real accountability, and operational clarity—especially during seasons of personal and professional upheaval. Niki’s leadership journey spans two centers, a season of grief, increased operational pressure, and the bold decision to consolidate into one location with strategy and purpose. The turning point? She stopped defaulting to survival mode and started anchoring into intentional leadership. With the support of the Five Gears Diagnostic and the Money Leaks Assessment, Niki clarified her school operations, strengthened her team culture, and created rhythms that hold—even in chaotic seasons. What You’ll Learn * What aligned school leadership looks like when the pressure is high * How to identify stuck gears that are slowing down your school’s growth * Why a no-spend freeze revealed unsustainable patterns and opened up team ownership * How operational clarity and team systems reduce burnout and second-guessing * What it means to move from micromanaging to leading with confidence Key Insights 1. Survival Mode Isn’t a Long-Term Strategy 2. Niki’s story reminds us that running a school in constant reaction mode isn’t failure—it’s a signal. And it doesn’t have to be permanent. 3. The Five Gears Diagnostic Pinpoints System Gaps 4. Niki identified Financial Health and Strategic Growth as her stuck gears. That clarity helped her stop putting out fires and focus her energy where it mattered most. 5. Tightening Systems Reclaims Profit and Ownership 6. A no-spend freeze and new ordering protocols cut supply waste by over 50% and empowered her assistant director to take ownership of key systems. 7. You Don’t Need More Staff—You Need a Team You Can Trust 8. By equipping one team member to manage supplies with clear accountability, Niki eliminated micromanaging and babysitting staff while building sustainable team trust. 9. Anchored Rhythms Lead to Sustainable Leadership 10. Even during high-demand seasons like back-to-school, Niki prioritized personal anchors—prayer, movement, reflection—to stay grounded in intentional leadership, not reactive chaos. Try This Instead: 3 Tools to Regain Operational Control 1. Run the Five Gears Diagnostic 2. Discover which area of your school is stuck—enrollment, staffing, parent communication, finances, or strategy—and stop scrambling by focusing on what’s slowing your momentum. 3. 🔗 Take the Diagnostic [https://hub.schoolsofexcellence.com/fivegears] 4. Audit Your Money Leaks 5. Use this tool to expose where your school is hemorrhaging resources—supplies, staffing, or food—and implement systems that protect your budget. 6. 🔗 Download the Money Leaks Assessment [https://schoolsofexcellence.com/moneyleaks/] 7. Commit to One Leadership Anchor 8. Pick one rhythm—a daily walk, a reflective pause, a team huddle—that gives you peace of mind and builds real leadership capacity when the pressure is on. Memorable Quotes “Different is scary—but different is good.” – Niki Van Cleave “You don’t need another tactic—you need a system that aligns with your values.” – Chanie Wilschanski “Anchored leaders build cultures that hold—even when they don’t.” – Chanie Wilschanski Why This Matters for School Leaders * Helps overwhelmed school directors move from chaos to clarity * Uncovers financial inefficiencies and operational blind spots * Builds team systems that reduce mental load and increase accountability * Supports confident school leadership through sustainable daily rhythms * Models how long-term coaching transforms leadership and school culture Resources for School Leaders * Take the Five Gears Diagnostic [https://hub.schoolsofexcellence.com/fivegears] - https://hub.schoolsofexcellence.com/fivegears * Download the Money Leaks Assessment [https://schoolsofexcellence.com/moneyleaks/] - https://schoolsofexcellence.com/moneyleaks/ Mentioned in this episode: The 6 Money Leaks in Schools™ Turn Financial Blind Spots into Immediate Profit. Find Your Hidden Profits with The 6 Money Leaks in Schools™ Your school is silently losing thousands every month – money that should be yours. This proven diagnostic reveals exactly where your profit is escaping and how to reclaim it. Click here to learn more about Money Leaks [https://schools-of-excellence.captivate.fm/moneyleaks] The 6 Money Leaks in Schools™ Turn Financial Blind Spots into Immediate Profit. Find Your Hidden Profits with The 6 Money Leaks in Schools™ Your school is silently losing thousands every month – money that should be yours. This proven diagnostic reveals exactly where your profit is escaping and how to reclaim it. Click here to learn more about Money Leaks [https://schools-of-excellence.captivate.fm/moneyleaks]

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 operations, and confident leadership. In this episode of the Schools of Excellence Podcast, Chanie Wilschanski breaks down the essential distinction between anchors and enhancers, and why understanding this difference is critical for school directors managing high-pressure seasons. If you're facing a surge in enrollment, onboarding new staff, or navigating leadership fatigue, this episode will help you identify the systems, habits, and non-negotiables that protect your energy and peace of mind. Because running a private school, preschool, or early childhood center shouldn’t mean always putting out fires—it means leading with intentionality, clarity, and control. WHAT YOU’LL LEARN * The difference between anchors and enhancers—and why both matter for sustainable school leadership * How to identify the leadership habits that protect you from burnout, second-guessing, and resentment * The hidden cost of abandoning your routines during busy seasons * Why survival mode becomes the default when systems are missing * A simple way to assess where your school needs operational focus KEY INSIGHTS 1. Anchors create stability during chaos Anchors are the daily habits that ground you emotionally and mentally. For overwhelmed directors, these aren’t luxuries—they’re leadership tools. Anchors may look like prayer, walking, journaling, or quiet reflection. When the pressure is high, these are the habits that keep you rooted and resilient. 2. Enhancers elevate—but they don’t stabilize Massages, time with friends, or a night out can be wonderful enhancers, but they can’t replace the foundational habits that regulate your mindset and sustain your ability to lead. Enhancers help you feel good, but they don’t create consistency. 3. Abandoning anchors leads to burnout When school leaders drop their anchors in exchange for hustle, the cost is high. Leadership becomes reactive. Decision fatigue sets in. You feel stuck, anxious, and resentful. Rebuilding your rhythms later will require far more energy than simply preserving them now. 4. Your anchors are unique to you Chanie shares her personal anchors—prayer, walking, and meditation—and encourages leaders to identify their own. The true test? If you still do it when you're sick, traveling, or exhausted, it’s likely an anchor. 5. Systems—not hustle—drive confident leadership Real school leadership isn't about working harder. It's about installing rhythms and school systems that do the heavy lifting. When you lead from systems, not from stress, you create time freedom, better team accountability, and long-term sustainability. MEMORABLE QUOTES "When you stop doing your anchors, survival becomes a habit—and it’s harder to come back from." – Chanie Wilschanski "Anchors aren’t nice-to-haves. They’re lifelines." "Leadership is about alignment, not exhaustion." TRY THIS: 3 STEPS TO IDENTIFY YOUR ANCHORS Step 1: Look at your stress habits What do you continue doing when you’re sick, overextended, or traveling? That’s likely an anchor. Step 2: List your daily wellness practices Then separate anchors from enhancers. Anchors are essential and stabilizing. Enhancers are supportive, but optional. Step 3: Choose one anchor to protect this season Commit to it fully. That single action can create the clarity and consistency you need to lead well this fall. WHY IT MATTERS FOR SCHOOL LEADERS * Reduces burnout, resentment, and emotional exhaustion in high-pressure seasons * Helps you lead from systems and values—not reactivity * Supports long-term sustainability and mental clarity * Shifts your school culture from disorganized chaos to rhythm-driven leadership RESOURCES & NEXT STEPS Take the Free Five Gears Diagnostic: Discover where your school leadership is misaligned at schoolsofexcellence.com/fivegears Book a Profit & Growth Strategy Session: Identify where you’re leaking time, energy, or resources at schoolsofexcellence.com/profit ABOUT CHANIE WILSCHANSKI & SCHOOLS OF EXCELLENCE Chanie Wilschanski is the founder of Schools of Excellence and a sought-after mentor for early childhood and private school leaders. Her work is grounded in building operational systems, emotionally intelligent leadership, and sustainable rhythms for long-term success. Through her podcast, trainings, and membership program, Chanie helps private school and ECE leaders lead with confidence, build high-functioning teams, and step into their full leadership potential—without burnout or chaos. If this episode resonated with you, share it with another school leader ready to move beyond survival mode and into intentional, systems-driven leadership. Mentioned in this episode: The 6 Money Leaks in Schools™ Turn Financial Blind Spots into Immediate Profit. Find Your Hidden Profits with The 6 Money Leaks in Schools™ Your school is silently losing thousands every month – money that should be yours. This proven diagnostic reveals exactly where your profit is escaping and how to reclaim it. Click here to learn more about Money Leaks [https://schools-of-excellence.captivate.fm/moneyleaks] The 6 Money Leaks in Schools™ Turn Financial Blind Spots into Immediate Profit. Find Your Hidden Profits with The 6 Money Leaks in Schools™ Your school is silently losing thousands every month – money that should be yours. This proven diagnostic reveals exactly where your profit is escaping and how to reclaim it. Click here to learn more about Money Leaks [https://schools-of-excellence.captivate.fm/moneyleaks]

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 August becomes the culture you’re stuck managing by February. This isn’t just a motivational pep talk—it’s a wake-up call. As classrooms buzz with fresh energy and bulletin boards get a glow-up, your old leadership reflexes start creeping back in. The skipped 1:1s, the ignored red flags, the well-meaning rescues? They’re not small moments. They’re culture-setting decisions that will quietly shape your entire year. You’ll learn how to lead with rhythm instead of reactivity, shift your team’s expectations through consistency (not speeches), and install rituals that hold your culture steady—even when the chaos kicks in. WHAT YOU’LL LEARN * Why back-to-school energy masks deeper leadership reflexes * The invisible patterns that shape school culture more than your speeches * The difference between rescuing and rhythm—and how to choose wisely * How to stop trading your boundaries for short-term order * 3 specific August moves that build long-term ease and clarity * How to lead without becoming the emotional center of your school KEY INSIGHTS 1. CULTURE ISN’T BUILT BY WHAT YOU SAY—IT’S BUILT BY WHAT YOU NORMALIZE The kickoff speech doesn’t shape the culture. What you protect and what you let slide in August quietly creates the tone your team will carry into February. 2. RESCUING IN AUGUST = BURNOUT BY OCTOBER Jumping in every time someone is overwhelmed might feel helpful—but it silently teaches your team that leadership equals emotional labor and unpredictability. 3. BACK-TO-SCHOOL IS NOT A FRESH START—IT’S A MIRROR Your patterns will show up early. Canceling a 1:1, skipping an accountability moment, or “letting it slide” may seem harmless, but they’re the seeds of future burnout. 4. LEADERSHIP HAPPENS IN REPETITION, NOT REACTION What you do consistently is what your team learns to expect. Stop trying to be everywhere—start being predictable in the right places. TRY THIS INSTEAD: 3 AUGUST SHIFTS THAT ANCHOR LONG-TERM CULTURE If you want this year to feel different, you don’t need a new checklist. You need a new rhythm. Here are three moves to make in August that will shape your leadership for the rest of the year: 1. PROTECT ONE RITUAL AT ALL COSTS Choose one leadership rhythm—like weekly 1:1s, classroom walks, or a team huddle—and commit to protecting it. Even in chaos. Especially in chaos. It tells your team: “We don’t abandon connection when things get busy. We anchor in it.” 2. INSTALL A WEEKLY “CULTURE CHECK” Every Friday, ask yourself: * What did I tolerate this week? * What did I repeat on purpose? * What culture am I writing through my actions? Culture isn’t what you say on Monday. It’s what you normalize all week. 3. ANCHOR YOUR OWN ENERGY Pick one small rhythm that fuels you—like a lunch walk, a 5-minute journaling practice, or a coffee check-in with a mentor. Because when you’re regulated, you lead from vision—not vigilance. MEMORABLE QUOTES “Leadership isn’t what you say—it’s what you normalize.” – Chanie Wilschanski “You don’t need more visibility. You need more predictability.” – Chanie Wilschanski “Excellence is built through rhythm, not reaction.” – Chanie Wilschanski WHY IT MATTERS FOR SCHOOL LEADERS * Prevents emotional and operational burnout midyear * Creates team-wide predictability, not dependency * Shifts the culture silently—through consistent, visible rhythms * Keeps your leadership identity rooted in presence, not panic RESOURCES * Apply for School Leadership HQ to build rhythms that hold your school—even when you're tired. * Learn how to lead without over-functioning → Apply Now [https://schoolsofexcellence.com/profit] ABOUT CHANIE WILSCHANSKI & SCHOOLS OF EXCELLENCE Chanie Wilschanski leads Schools of Excellence with a passion for cultivating soulful, effective leadership through intentional rhythms. Through podcasting and coaching, she empowers directors and owners to thrive with grace, clarity, and sustainable systems—never at the expense of their well-being. If you found this episode valuable, please rate, subscribe, and share it with a fellow school leader who’s ready to stop over-carrying and start leading with radiant, sustainable rhythms of joy. Mentioned in this episode: The 6 Money Leaks in Schools™ Turn Financial Blind Spots into Immediate Profit. Find Your Hidden Profits with The 6 Money Leaks in Schools™ Your school is silently losing thousands every month – money that should be yours. This proven diagnostic reveals exactly where your profit is escaping and how to reclaim it. Click here to learn more about Money Leaks [https://schools-of-excellence.captivate.fm/moneyleaks] The 6 Money Leaks in Schools™ Turn Financial Blind Spots into Immediate Profit. Find Your Hidden Profits with The 6 Money Leaks in Schools™ Your school is silently losing thousands every month – money that should be yours. This proven diagnostic reveals exactly where your profit is escaping and how to reclaim it. Click here to learn more about Money Leaks [https://schools-of-excellence.captivate.fm/moneyleaks]