Behind every staffing call, difficult conversation and licensing visit, early childhood leaders carry an immense emotional weight that’s often invisible.

In this episode, Rhonda Meyers sits down with leadership coach, speaker and author Chanie Wilschanski to talk about burnout, relational leadership and the rhythms that help leaders stay grounded.

Chanie shares how years of caregiving and high-achievement led her to confront the exhaustion so many leaders normalize.

[00:08:24] "Leaders are not addicted to control. You are allergic to collapse. You are terrified of what will collapse if you stop." 

Things started to change when Chanie’s business mentor asked her: What if you don’t need to protect your energy; what if you can create it? She realized that leaders normalize the exhaustion they feel because they’ve decided that it’s the cost of success.  

Rhonda and Chanie discuss practical ways leaders can create rhythms of connection, gratitude and communication that strengthen teams and outperform traditional “standards” many schools set:

[00:23:55] “Your standards have to be able to be pressure-tested and not renegotiated in real time when things are tiring and overwhelming.”

This conversation is a reminder to leaders that building a sustainable culture while avoiding burnout is possible with the right perspective and support.

Resources mentioned in this episode

“This Can’t Be Normal” by Chanie Wilschanski

*Email cw@chanie.me after purchasing the book for bonus training on the top five rhythms to install in your school

Schools of Excellence podcast

“Finding Your Way Through Conflict” by Chris Amirault and Christine Snyder

Mothers notice things. They’re always scanning the room’s emotions, ready if someone’s in need.

In this solo episode, Rhonda reflects on the tension many mothers experience between trying to care for everyone around them and desiring to feel seen. 

Drawing from her own experiences as a mother and grandmother, she shares honest stories about balancing work, family, overwhelm, and the pressure to “do enough.”

[00:17:38] “Your children do not need a burned-out version of you to prove [you] love [them].”

Rhonda reminds listeners that children remember connection, emotional safety and presence more than extravagance or perfection.

It takes a quiet kind of courage to accompany a child who’s grieving.

We adults just want to make their pain go away. But we can’t. 

So, the work of just being with them starts. It’s hard, important work.

In this conversation, Heidi Friedel joins Rhonda Meyers to talk about how grief and loss show up in young children and what they need from the adults in their lives in those moments.

Children experience grief beyond the death of a loved one. It can come from the loss of a caregiver, a routine or even a beloved object. Rhonda explains that because many children don’t have the language to express what they’re feeling yet, their grief can show up in unexpected ways.

[00:15:07] “Grief doesn't always show up like sadness. Loss doesn't always show up like sadness. It sometimes shows up as defiance. It sometimes shows up as [behavioral] regression.”

Guiding children through loss means choosing to be present, connected and communicative. Heidi urges adults to use clear and honest language, acknowledge the child’s feelings and avoid trying to fix their grief.

[00:23:00] “When we deal with any kind of loss, . . . we have to make sure that we're present and that we don't shut ourselves down.”

This conversation is a reminder that when children are grieving, they’re asking if they’re safe to feel the way they’re feeling.

This work is heavy sometimes. In the middle of behaviors, breakdowns and things happening in our personal lives, joy can feel impossible some days.

In this episode, Carissa Orr joins me to talk about what it really looks like to find joy when things are hard. She shares stories from her early days in the classroom and the challenges that tested her resilience. 

Through it all, she learned that you have to create joy; waiting for it isn’t practical enough.

We talk about how our brains are wired to focus on what’s difficult and how we can intentionally shift that focus. 

Carissa shares a great example. She bought a car in a shade of green she never really saw before. But once she bought it, she saw it everywhere. 

[00:16:48] “What we focus on, we get more of.”

The same is true with joy. We can retrain our brains to stay curious, even in the hardest moments. This conversation is a reminder that joy doesn’t come from the absence of difficulty.

[00:42:10] “We just need to remember that we do what matters, even when it’s messy. And we gotta keep showing up and staying curious and find a tribe.”

Choosing care for your infant is one of the most personal decisions you’ll make as a parent.

In this episode, Rhonda Meyers draws on 35 years in early childhood education—and her own experience as a new mom and now a grandmother—to walk through what families should look for when touring an infant program. From the feeling in the room to the details of health and safety practices, she shares what quality infant care looks like day to day.

[00:01:33] "That feeling, it matters."

Rhonda explains why infant care is all about trust, attachment and safety. She covers what to watch for in caregiver interactions, why individualized routines matter more than classroom schedules, and how strong communication between teachers and families builds the partnership every parent deserves.

She also gets honest about the hard parts such as illness, cost and the guilt that comes with leaving your baby in someone else’s care.

[00:33:44] "The goal is to walk away knowing my baby is seen, my baby is safe, my baby is nurtured and cared for the way I would care for them."

Whether you’re touring your first program or revisiting a decision that still doesn’t feel settled, this episode is a guide and a reassurance: trust what you feel.

It’s natural to want to shield our children from risk. 

But that’s where growth happens.

In this episode, I sit down with Morgan Chartier to talk about the tension so many parents and educators feel between keeping children safe and allowing them to grow. We explore how independence, risk and real-world problem solving shape confident, capable learners.

Toddlers are so capable. They can wash their hands, hang their jackets up when they get to school and put toys away. Morgan stresses that we adults shouldn’t do for children what they can do for themselves.

[00:14:21] “A lot of times I feel like we as parents want to cradle them so they don't fall and hurt themselves.”

Morgan shares how climbing, navigating conflict, trying and failing build resilience over time. She urges parents to shift from “How do I keep this from happening?” to “Is this a safe risk or a true hazard?”

I share some of my thoughts, too.

[00:40:49] “Your child doesn't need to do more. They need you to do less, on purpose.”

There's something so powerful about watching a child do something the first time, and not because we taught them, but because we trusted them.

Amazing things happen when we truly see people — when we believe in them first instead focusing on their limitations.

In this episode, Rhonda Meyers sits down with Jessica Loxley-Smith, a cook assistant and classroom aide at Heartfelt Impressions, whose story is about perseverance, belonging, and what is possible when someone is given the right environment to grow.

Jessica shares her journey navigating workplaces where she felt misunderstood because of her autism. 

[00:05:32] I have a little disability. I'm just a little different, but not too different. I'm still like you guys, but I just have these challenges. 

Jessica’s found that Heartfelt’s scaffolded approach to learning — her detailed schedule, regular progress check-ins, clear expectations and supports — and the friendships she’s made at work have transformed her confidence and sense of purpose, allowing her giving personality to shine.

[00:09:25] “I feel like I’m loved and I feel like this is a job for me 'cause they wanna know that they care about me and that if I have anything to say they can listen.”

When leaders create spaces where people are known, supported and given the opportunity to contribute, they unlock potential that might otherwise be overlooked.

Jessica’s story challenges us to lead with belief, extend patience and create environments where every person feels they belong.

Challenging behavior doesn’t just test strategies. It tests us. 

Rhonda Meyers and Beth Pierson-Ringer, a HighScope curriculum expert and ECE Subhub co-owner, explore the deeply human side of teaching—what happens when a child’s behavior pushes you to your limit.

Even experienced educators are not immune to emotional responses. Beth shares a powerful moment from the classroom that surfaced one of her biggest personal triggers. 

[00:03:14] “Early on I probably would've got really loud [and] put the kid in a timeout. . . . I know [now] that a lot of challenging behaviors with consistent support can be overcome.”

Together, they unpack what it means to recognize those triggers without shame, respond as adults and help children “repair” after bad behavior.

The conversation also touches on schools’ responsibility to support early childhood teachers when big behaviors happen.

[00:30:44] “It is so important that you create a culture, not of perfection, but permission. If a teacher calls us and says, ‘I need help’ [and] we measure their need for help by our barometer, we are doing them such a disservice.”

Every challenging behavior that you navigate is building something in you. If you’re a teacher or parent whose patience or resilience is being tested, you are not alone.

You are still the adult that the child needs.

Mentioned Resources:

• Center for Pyramid Model Innovations: Addressing Challenging Behavior conference

• Center on Positive Behavior Intervention Support (PBIS)

• Center on Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS)

• “Unpacking the Pyramid Model” by Dr. Mary Louise Hemmeter

• Pyramid Model Practice social stories

• Jennifer Champagne’s LinkedIn

• Center on the Developing Child at Harvard

• Michigan Alliance for Families

• Michigan Association for the Education of Young Children annual conference 

Sometimes the most powerful learning starts with the simplest moments.

In this episode, Rhonda Meyers reflects on the everyday realities of parenting and teaching and how small, creative moments can make a lasting difference in a child’s development. From a simple shaving cream “mom hack” to hands-on classroom activities, she reminds us that learning doesn’t have to be complicated to be meaningful.

The episode centers on fine motor development, the small muscles in children’s hands that support writing, independence and confidence. But as Rhonda explains, those skills don’t begin with worksheets or pencils. They begin with movement, exploration and play.

[00:01:30] “It doesn’t start with pencils and pens and worksheets. It starts with the tiny muscles in those little hands getting stronger through play.”

Through five simple, accessible activities—from sponge squeezing to pasta threading—Rhonda offers practical ways parents and educators can support children using materials they likely already have at home or in the classroom.

When adults join children in playful exploration, something deeper happens. Confidence grows, curiosity expands and children begin to see themselves as capable.

Because when we nurture little hands, we’re nurturing so much more.

Sometimes the moments that shape us most are the ones we don’t fully recognize until years later.

In this episode, Rhonda Meyers reflects on the ripple effect of influence in early childhood education. Fresh from the energy of the Michigan AEYC conference, she shares how simple moments—a hallway conversation, a listener sharing their story, or a word of encouragement—can remind us that our impact often travels further than we ever see.

This episode is also a tribute to Dr. Crystal Sanford-Brown, a beloved friend and advocate in the field who dedicated her life to protecting and uplifting early childhood education. Through stories of their friendship, Rhonda reflects on the courage it takes to share our truth, the strength found in faith, and the lasting influence we have on one another.

[00:03:13] “Impact doesn't always come from a big stage. Sometimes impact comes from a conversation in the hallway, a moment that someone believed in you.”

Through stories of friendship, mentorship and resilience, Rhonda reflects on how a single message—I am enough—became a turning point in Crystal’s life and a reminder of the unseen ways our words and actions shape others.

[00:05:58] “Resilience is not pretending something didn’t happen. It’s choosing not to let it define the rest of your story.”

Whether you’re an educator, a leader or someone showing up each day to support others: never underestimate the ripple effect of your presence. The way we lead, speak and care for one another creates impact far beyond what we may ever see.

Sometimes the most meaningful legacy is simply showing up with heart.

When we give children space to dig, build, test, and imagine outdoors, we're not just letting them play. 

We're building thinkers, risk-takers and confident learners.

In this episode, Arianne Condrick-Bettazzi shares how creating thoughtful outdoor spaces gives children opportunities to test their abilities and grow. 

[00:28:45] “When children are bored, that's when they're rascally. You want to get rid of the rascalliness? Then create engaging [spaces] and places that create age-appropriate risk.” 

This conversation offers encouragement and practical insight for parents and educators who want to support confident, courageous learners.

Resources

• Carmel Mountain Preschool Play Practice Purpose Conference

• Buy Your Tickets to the Play Practice Purpose Conference

• Outdoor Classroom Project

• Conscious Discipline

• The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt

• The Comfort Crisis by Michael Easter

• The Whole Brain Child by Dr. Dan Siegel and Dr. Tina Payne Bryson

• The Last Child in the Woods by Richard Louv

• Good Inside by Dr. Becky Kennedy

• The Way of Play by Dr. Tina Payne Bryson

• Simplicity Parenting by Kim John Payne and Lisa M. Ross

• The Self-Driven Child by Ned Johnson and Dr. William Stixrud 

• Adventures in Risky Play by Rusty Keeler

• Nature Explore Classroom Program

• Community Playthings

• Bienenstock Natural Playgrounds

Kindness and empathy are built through repetition, patience and connection. 

Brooke Lewandowski, Lead Teacher and Team Lead at Heartfelt Impressions, joins Rhonda Meyers to talk about the tools and humanity needed to nurture empathy in the classroom.

Brooke shares that one of the most rewarding aspects of her job is helping young children learn social-emotional skills. She shares practical tips for helping children feel known and seen, especially when emotions are running high.

[00:10:43] “The best way we understand the feelings is when we talk about them.”

Tone, language and posture play a big role in communicating empathetically, too. Brooke recommends connecting with kids by meeting them at their eye-level, making eye contact, and using their name.

When kids are in conflict, Brooke urges that it's important to stay calm, be curious and help them acknowledge their feelings. 

[00:20:07] “Noticing how they’re feeling can help to solve problems. . . It can help you get to that solution that you’re working toward.”

Brooke reminds listeners that fostering empathy requires modeling, mistakes and humility. Whether you’re an educator navigating a busy classroom or a parent working through big emotions at home, the way you show up matters more than perfection ever will.

Conflict is common in early education classrooms. 

For many children, the classroom is their first experience of being part of a community and learning to share — and sometimes, emotions run high. 

In this episode, Beth Pierson-Ringer, a HighScope curriculum expert and ECE Subhub co-owner, joins Rhonda Meyers to discuss how to guide children through healthy conflict resolution.

Beth explains that adults often feel guilty or embarrassed that children are exhibiting “bad” behavior when a conflict arises. She provides a helpful way to re-frame that thinking:

[00:07:48] “I think if we just switch our lens to ‘This is absolutely normal . . . and these are misbehaviors of kids, not bad behavior’ it helps us think of [conflict resolution] as more of a teachable skill.”

Beth highlights the importance of patience, empathy, and modeling language when teaching kids to solve problems. She walks through HighScope’s 6-step conflict resolution framework, and emphasizes that children become capable problem-solvers when adults act as partners rather than judges.

[00:10:19] “When we rush to come up with a solution . . . we don't get to teach those skills. What we’re teaching is . . . compliancy rather than the life skills that we need to be successful.”

Beth urges parents and educators to give themselves plenty of grace. It’s ok to be an adult and have big feelings too. Conflict isn’t a problem but a practice.

Often, the simple moments matter most.

In this episode, Mary Jo Cloutier, longtime lead Great Start Readiness Program teacher at Heartfelt Impressions, joins host Rhonda Meyers to reflect on how family traditions shape children’s sense of belonging.

Mary Jo shares memories of growing up in a busy household where birthdays felt special because each child got to choose the meal and cake. The simplicity made the event feel meaningful.

[00:07:06] “[With] all the different things we do, sometimes we’re making it bigger, harder work for ourselves where[as with] the children, [traditions] really can be about that simplicity.”

In the classroom, daily routines become traditions children rely on, especially in stressful times. Familiar patterns help children feel capable and secure.

Traditions work best when they are grounded in what already happens everyday, rather than in perfection. Consistency and connection matter more than complexity.

[00:28:47] “When we think back to parties or traditions or holidays, the things we remember probably weren’t necessarily big things. So just [start] small.”

This episode offers reassurance that small, repeated moments build confidence, strengthen relationships and leave a lasting impression on children.

Leadership is messy. Courage, compassion and accountability collide.

In this episode, Beth Cannon, Stretch-n-Grow in Greater Dallas-Fort Worth’s CEO and owner, joins host Rhonda Meyers to discuss leading through change. They reflect on how the pandemic reshaped leadership, exposed blind spots and forced even seasoned leaders to confront what no longer worked.

Beth shares how years of accumulated stress, personal loss and professional challenges pushed her to examine her own leadership impact. She discovered that transformation has to start with leaders.

[00:11:25] “I had to own my impact. . . . it’s not necessarily about what you need to fix on your team. It starts with you. . . . We are messy people working with messy people.”

Beth and Rhonda explore the tension leaders feel between compassion and accountability. They’ve learned hesitation and avoiding hard conversations can harm teams and organizations. 

[00:15:22] “[Due to] the high cost of hesitation, I nearly sacrificed my company on the sacred altar of my comfort zone.”

Leadership growth requires courage and community. Beth and Rhonda encourage listeners to use reflection as a mirror, accountability as a magnifying glass and values as a map forward. 

Intentional professional development is the foundation for growth and connection.

In this episode of The Heartfelt Way, host Rhonda Meyers turns the reflection inward, sharing lessons learned on her professional journey. 

She reflects on her early days as a director, when her instinct was to fix problems quickly rather than guide teachers through growth. She found when educators have a choice, engagement increases.

[00:04:18] “When a teacher has an opportunity to have some agency in deciding what gets changed, the level of motivation they have for that change is going to be much higher.”

Rhonda emphasizes that professional development days build culture. They create space for laughter, vulnerability and conversations that normalize struggle and reinforce belonging. 

[00:25:49] “Those shared moments give us fuel we need to keep going. . . . Knowledge sticks when we wrap it in support and love and compassion and empathy.”

Whether you are leading from within or outside of the classroom, this episode is a reminder that learning together positively impacts culture and confidence.

What does it really mean to be ready for kindergarten?

In this episode of The Heartfelt Way, Denise Palmer, an experienced pre-K teacher in Heartfelt Impressions’ Great Start Readiness Program, joins host Rhonda Meyers to reframe one of the most common worries families face: kindergarten readiness. 

Denise shares how many families arrive concerned about ABCs, numbers and early reading. 

[00:05:49] “I always tell my parents that the letters and the numbers [are] gonna eventually come to them.”

Denise’s teaching focuses on independence, emotional regulation and social problem-solving. Those skills, she explains, are what allow children to thrive in a classroom with one teacher and many peers.

Throughout the conversation, Denise offers classroom examples that show how children learn readiness skills by working through conflict, collaborating with peers and being supported — not rescued — by adults. 

[00:13:32] “We like to make the children solve their own problems because we already know as we get older, we're gonna have problems forever.”

If you’re a parent worried your child isn’t “there yet,” or an educator supporting children on different timelines, this episode offers reassurance, perspective and hope. Readiness isn’t a checklist — it’s a foundation built through trust, relationships and time.

What if professional learning felt as meaningful and engaging as the learning we hope to create for children?

In this episode of The Heartfelt Way, host Rhonda Meyers is joined by Brittany Kay, Director of Program Quality at Heartfelt Impressions, for a thoughtful conversation about the power of intentional professional development. Brittany shares her journey from aspiring elementary teacher to leading a multi-year vision to certify all Heartfelt classrooms in the HighScope curriculum.

The conversation centers on a simple but transformative idea: learning works best when it’s inch wide and mile deep. Brittany reflects on her own experiences with professional development—both disconnected and deeply impactful—and explains how Heartfelt reimagined learning for educators through small cohorts, hands-on practice and trust-based reflection.

Rather than one-size-fits-all training, teachers move through multi-year learning levels together, experimenting, reflecting and even recording themselves to grow their practice. The result isn’t just stronger curriculum implementation—it’s increased confidence, stronger relationships and classrooms where children know routines, feel secure and stay deeply engaged.

This episode is an invitation to rethink professional learning, not as another obligation, but as a culture shift. Whether you’re an educator, leader or parent curious about what quality truly looks like behind the scenes, this conversation offers reassurance, inspiration and a reminder that growth takes time, trust and heart.

In this episode of The Heartfelt Way, Sam Squibb, a Heartfelt preschool teacher and mom, joins host Rhonda Meyers to share insights into self-soothing and potty training. Sam stresses that these important developmental milestones are opportunities to help children build trust and communication skills.

Sam reflects on how children communicate their needs long before they can articulate them. She advocates for offering acceptable alternatives to children when pacifier training to help them learn to self-regulate rather than just comply.

Sam and Rhonda walk through the realities of potty training: readiness cues, accidents, regressions and the importance of removing shame from the process.

Potty training success comes from honest communication with families, realistic expectations and preparation on both sides of the classroom door.

[00:08:44] “Accidents are going to happen. Expect success with a mess.”

Knowing there will be an inevitable mess, Sam emphasizes that it’s important to go all-in on potty training.

[00:00:00] “I am a firm believer [that] once you start potty training, you ditch the diaper. You can wear it for nap time and wear it for bedtime.”

Children know accidents are meant for diapers. Sam explains that when children have accidents in underwear, they feel an uncomfortable sensation that teaches them to know when they need the bathroom.

Sam offers practical potty training guidance in this conversation, from clothing choices to timing and motivation, and reminds parents and educators alike that progress isn’t linear—and it’s ok to make mistakes and try again.

In this episode of The Heartfelt Way, Robin Watts, Heartfelt Impressions’ Director of Food Service, joins host Rhonda Meyers for a thoughtful conversation about the power of family-style dining.

Robin reflects on her own childhood memories of screen-free family meals and the pride she felt contributing to holiday traditions. Those early experiences shape her deep belief that mealtime is a cornerstone of community. 

Family-style dining is a space where children learn to listen to their bodies and make choices about food. Trying new foods is essential, Robin says, and helps children to be able to express themselves.

[00:16:13] “If [students] don't like something, we can talk about why they don't like it. . . . Was it too soft? Was it too crunchy? We're giving them the words and understanding to help them.”

Robin addresses common concerns—from spills and picky eating to sensory sensitivities—and explains how teachers approach these moments with patience and trust rather than pressure or shame. 

Robin emphasizes, too, that lessons learned at the table extend far beyond nutrition. Children learn spatial awareness, communication, problem-solving when milk is spilled and community when they help clean up the mess.

[00:32:34] “[Participating in family-style meals] is a quiet part of their development, I think, that goes unrecognized.”

Whether you’re an educator guiding mealtime in the classroom or a parent navigating dinner at home, this episode is a warm reminder that when we slow down and eat together, we’re setting the table for lifelong learning.

Messy play is more than chaos. It’s curiosity and confidence in action.

In this episode of The Heartfelt Way, Bev Marchi, a longtime early childhood educator, joins host Rhonda Meyers to explore the power of sensory-rich play. Bev shares how hands-on experiences help children learn and collaborate—and find joy in the process.

Drawing from her own childhood spent exploring nature, Bev explains how early sensory experiences shaped her teaching philosophy. Paint splatters, mud puddles and melted snowballs aren’t disruptions. They’re opportunities for discovery and social-emotional learning.

[00:09:59] “One of the first things we talk about when there’s messy play is, ‘You know, it’s okay. We’re washable.’”

Throughout the conversation, Rhonda and Bev reflect on the role educators play in creating safe environments where children can take risks, make mistakes and learn from them.

Bev explains that messy play doesn’t always make a mess. It can help ground young people and give them a sense of wonder.

[00:17:31] “Almost every day, we spent a couple of hours in the woods . . . and one day, I had a couple of really active boys call me over to their fort. . . . And they said, 'Isn't it just so peaceful?’”

Bev reminds us that growth happens when we let go and let children explore the beautiful, the orderly and the messy.

Goodbyes matter more than we often realize.

In this episode of The Heartfelt Way, host Rhonda Meyers is joined by Elsa Jacobsen, a seasoned early childhood educator and working mom of two, for a deeply personal conversation about separation anxiety. Together, they unpack the emotions behind drop-off—those lingering hugs, hesitant steps and the quiet worry parents carry with them long after goodbye.

Elsa shares her experience navigating separation anxiety with her second child. Her story is a powerful reminder that experience doesn’t eliminate emotion—and parents’ feelings are just as important as children’s behaviors.

[00:05:29] “Sometimes slowing down, taking the extra second, getting the extra hug and doing the extra thing stops all the extra feelings.”

Rhonda and Elsa discuss practical strategies educators use to build trust before the first day of school—from home visits and informal meet-and-greets to building routines. When followed consistently, these strategies can help minimize separation anxiety for children and parents.

Elsa also addresses one of the most important—and often overlooked—principles of separation: always saying goodbye. 

[00:19:19] “Don’t leave without saying goodbye. Don’t do the sneaky leaving. . . . it breaks the trust.”

When parents resist the urge to sneak away, they protect the trust children are still learning to build with their parents, teachers and peers.

Whether you’re a parent wrestling with guilt at drop-off or an educator welcoming a child into your care, this episode offers reassurance, practical insight and a heartfelt reminder: small moments of care can shape a child’s sense of safety.

Links

Heartfelt Impressions Learning Center's website