Taking time away prevents leading in survival mode. Listen to this final episode in the leadership series.
The Heartfelt Way’s leadership series concludes in this conversation with Denise Palmer and Brooke Lewandowski on how and why to lead. 
Denise never thought of herself as a leader. But over the last few years, she’s grown to love sharing her knowledge with other teachers and celebrating their successes.
Brooke agreed.
[00:16:14] Brooke: "Being a leader has helped me grow as an individual. That’s helped me become more confident in myself, but it also has helped me to build those relationships.”
One of Heartfelt Impressions’ core values is “others before self but not at the expense of self.” This is one of Brooke’s favorite things about Heartfelt, and the leadership retreat is born directly from that value.
[00:17:39] Brooke: “When we step away as leadership for retreats, . . . it’s us investing in ourselves . . . to better the experience for families, for children, for everyone.”
Survival mode crushes passion. Stepping away allows leaders to make a clear plan, get on the same page and work towards shared goals.

Growing in Commitment and Passion | Leadership Series

The leadership series continues with a conversation about core values, leading by listening and building respectful, reciprocal relationships.
This episode of The Heartfelt Way continues the leadership series with Elizabeth Hall and Penny White, leaders from Heartfelt’s Rochester campus. They spoke with Rhonda Meyers about the core values, investment in teachers and community involvement that sets Heartfelt apart. 
Elizabeth came to Heartfelt after owning and running her own in-home daycare. It was difficult for her to decide to no longer be her own boss, but it was a step toward achieving her personal and leadership goals.
When Elizabeth first read Heartfelt’s core value statement, she was sold. She intentionally started in an entry-level position to learn the company from the ground up.
[00:12:36] Elizabeth: “I want to embody those core values. And I want to work with people where those values are just as important to them as [they] are to me, and that’s what the leadership team is.”
Fresh from the Heartfelt leadership retreat, Elizabeth and Penny are excited to build stronger relationships with families and the community in the coming year.
[00:30:45] Penny: “I want the children, and the parents, in my classroom to know they are a part of my life, and I want to be a part of their lives.”
Leaders are the foundation of good schools. Pour connection, support and education into your leaders and watch your organization flourish.

Core Values and Investing in People | Leadership Series

Leadership grows from vulnerability and hard conversations. Join two of Heartfelt’s leaders as they speak about growing in confidence and skill. 
There never is a right time to become a leader. Sometimes we think we’ll wait forever for the chance. Other times, we think we’ll never be ready.
In this episode, Rhonda Meyers speaks with Heartfelt leaders Mayra Castro and Kiara Barahona. They reflect on their leadership journeys following Heartfelt's annual leadership retreat.
Mayra and Kiara say that the opportunity to share openly with other leaders is a big part of what made the retreat impactful.
[00:14:17] Mayra: “Being vulnerable with each other . . . shows the type of team we have.”
They speak about how they learned to have hard conversations as part of their leadership, the kind you’re tempted to put off because you think someone might abandon you. They share that most times, the result of the hard conversation looks better than they thought it would.
Looking ahead, Kiara and Mayra are excited from the growth that comes from being challenged.
[00:27:39] Kiara: “Because I’m being pushed, I want to help push others, too, to their full potential.”
True leaders are committed to growth. If you’re responsible for supporting leaders, pause and ask them how they’re doing. Time spent connecting with each other without a strategic goal is essential.

Growing Into Leadership Together | Leadership Series

Feeling unseen can take a quiet toll. Listen for five practices that help you reconnect with yourself.
What happens when you stop waiting for someone else to make you feel seen? 
In this solo episode, Rhonda shares five practices that changed the way she experienced her vacation and left her feeling more grounded as she returned to work.
Say what you want. Rhonda points out that amidst our roles as parents, leaders and friends we can forget that we have wants and preferences.
[00:02:43] “Sometimes it's hard to choose yourself, and it even sometimes feels selfish.” 
Even if it doesn’t come naturally, answer honestly when someone asks what you'd like to do. 
Keep things simple. Make a main dish and one side for dinner. Sit back and enjoy the people around you.
Read for pleasure. Rhonda admits that when she reads, it’s usually with a business or personal goal in mind. Ask your local bookstore for a recommendation and experience the emotional release of immersing yourself in a good story.
Act bravely and be fully present. Small choices like trying something difficult on your own or setting your phone aside create space to reconnect with yourself.
If you're feeling overlooked, this episode is for you. You might be the person who needs to see you.

Five Ways to Choose Yourself

Vacation can be exhausting with kids. Rhonda shares three ways to spark curiosity for kids and make vacation memories that reenergize the whole family.
Packing for vacation can leave parents feeling exhausted before they even leave the driveway. 
In this solo episode, Rhonda Meyers shares three ways to help children stay engaged on vacation without breaking the bank.

 Create a discovery challenge. It could be finding a feather or something older than them or digging the deepest hole on the beach. Discovery challenges help children strengthen observation, vocabulary and problem-solving skills and appreciate their surroundings. 


[00:12:01] “The possibilities are endless because when children create, their brains are doing incredible work.”

 Pack a creativity bag. A handful of everyday materials like tape, paper, markers and string gives children the freedom to experiment. As they plan, create and revise their ideas, they strengthen executive functioning skills they will use for the rest of their lives.

 Let your child tell the story. Hand them a Polaroid or disposable camera and invite them to capture their surroundings. Their perspective may surprise you!


[00:15:13] “Children notice details adults miss. . . . And at the end of vacation, print a few. Make that simple book. And now your child hasn't just gone on vacation. They've become a storyteller.”
Rhonda’s ideas help families create meaningful memories long after the suitcase is unpacked.

Three Vacation Hacks That Children Will Remember

Growth can begin with one honest conversation. Listen to Alissa’s story about confidence, resilience and choosing to believe in yourself.
If life does anything, it throws curveballs.
This episode is about the growth that comes from recognizing and honoring your needs, especially when life gets messy. Heartfelt director Alissa Russell joins Rhonda to speak about her hard-won success story. 
In her early 20’s Alissa was looking for a school for her daughter when she found Heartfelt. She started working there shortly after, and though she had command of the classroom, parents repeatedly expressed concern.
She realized that the belief that no one cared what she had to say kept her from connecting with parents.
Fast forward a few years, and life hit hard again. Alissa knew she couldn’t move forward alone. She needed support.
[00:31:36] “I knew what I needed, but I wasn't ready. I couldn't take the step myself. I needed somebody to help me take that step.”
Rhonda and Alissa share how coaching, therapy, mentorship and small daily commitments helped her confidence grow. She’s found exercise is essential to her physical and mental wellbeing.
[00:36:08] “You don't have to start off with a marathon. You can start off with a five-minute walk.”
Growth begins the moment you choose to believe a new story about yourself.
Mentioned in this Episode:
<a href="https://pod.link/1858704384/episode/ZGMzMWI4NWUtNjliNS0xMWYxLTljY2QtMzc0ZWQ4MjkyNjNm">Ep. 27 More Than a Classroom: The Paths to Early Childhood</a>

The Story You Tell Yourself Can Change

As Heartfelt celebrates 15 years, Rhonda reflects on gratitude, resilience and the people who made the journey possible.
As Heartfelt Impressions celebrates 15 years in business, Rhonda Meyers takes a moment to reflect on the people, relationships and lessons that have shaped its journey. 
Rhonda challenges the idea that successful organizations are built by a single person. Instead, she honors the teachers, families, leaders, support staff and the children who have been essential to creating the community of trust and belonging that defines Heartfelt.
[00:13:45] “People want to matter. Children, parents, teachers, leaders, every single person wants to know they make a difference . . . so we make space and time in our busy lives to make sure people know they matter.”
As she reflects on the difficult seasons, Rhonda shares that gratitude makes going forward possible.
[00:22:50] “Gratitude isn't something we do after we arrive. It is literally how we keep going. It's how we stay grounded when things are hard. It's how we remember what truly matters: people.”
Listen for more of Rhonda’s wisdom on resilience, leadership and how the real circumstances of our life help us become who we are meant to be.

15 Years Later: What Gratitude Built

Careers in childhood go far beyond the classroom. Listen to learn about early childhood career paths, mentorship, and shaping a meaningful life.
When most people think about a career in early childhood, they picture a classroom. 
That’s only the tip of the iceberg.
In this episode, Rhonda Meyers sits down with longtime friend and educator Betsy Spiker to explore the many directions a career in early childhood can take.
Over four decades, Betsy has served as a kindergarten teacher, accreditation specialist, college instructor, coach and high school career and technical education teacher. 
[00:35:12] “All of the principles that I know to be true about early childhood—building a community, connection before correction, setting the tone, making them feel seen and heard—I apply to the high school classroom.”
Along the way, she has discovered that meaningful careers are built through relationships, curiosity and a willingness to ask for opportunities.
Betsy speaks about the value of mentorship, professional organizations, career setbacks and the courage to keep moving forward when plans change.
[00:43:57] “Whatever you're gonna do, do it because it fills you up.”
Whether you're just beginning your career or wondering what comes next, this episode is a reminder that the most meaningful opportunities often start with a conversation.

More Than a Classroom: The Paths to Early Childhood

Learn how to maintain balance and work toward kindergarten-readiness this summer with Mary Jo Cloutier.
Everything seems to happen during the last month of school.
After all of the field days, performances and graduations, this time of year can feel more like drowning than thriving.
Mary Jo Cloutier joins Rhonda for another episode to share three ways to bring more sanity to summer and help your child get ready for kindergarten.
 
1. Create a predictable routine together
Children thrive on predictability. Mary Jo recommends creating a visual schedule children can refer to throughout the day. It helps them develop a sense of time and build the executive functioning skills needed to plan ahead.
[00:14:25] Rhonda: “Children need to know they are capable."
Routines also give children the opportunity to be leaders. It’s amazing to see them take charge when they know what’s coming next.
 
2. Practice fine motor skills
No extra materials needed! Mary Jo and Rhonda share at-home activities to try. The important thing is to think about how to help the child use their whole body. Mary Jo points out that an important part of growing in fine motor skills is growing in patience, both for children and parents.
[00:15:25] Mary Jo: “We live in a microwave society. . . . We’re so used to everything being instant.”
 
3. Enjoy books together
This is a big one: Go to the library. Utilize the kid-friendly space, activities and programs. Mary Jo and Rhonda also recommend putting books in every room of your house and share practical tips for helping your child begin to fall in love with reading.
Summer is a chance to take a breath and remember that you are exactly who your child needs.

School’s Out: Three Tips for Summer Sanity

Children are shaped by every relationship. Learn how each adult has the power to help children feel valued, noticed and safe with Ryan Tedesco.
When we think about the adults who shape children, we often picture family members and teachers. 
But children are paying attention to everyone. 
They notice who smiles at them. Who remembers their name. Who waves goodbye.
And who makes them feel safe.
In this episode, Rhonda Meyers sits down with Ryan Tedesco, a member of Heartfelt’s maintenance team and transportation staff, to explore the impact of the relationships children build with the adults they encounter every day.
Drawing from his experiences as a bus driver and volunteer firefighter, Ryan shares that trust forms through noticing — things, people, conversations — consistently.
[00:15:22] “One of the greatest privileges that I've ever had is when a parent says, ‘I trust you with my child.’ There's no greater gift to me than that.”
Whether he is helping a child buckle a seatbelt for the first time, asking about a treasured toy or listening after a difficult day at school, Ryan dedicates space for children’s needs and curiosity. For others to feel seen, you have to slow down.
[00:21:44] “Never pass up the opportunity when a child comes up to you and wants to know about something. Never pass that up. Your day is never too busy for a child. It never, ever is.”
Children remind us that every relationship matters, every interaction, and every person. 
And when a child grows up surrounded by adults who care, those moments become a part of who they are. And that's a real privilege.

More Than Maintenance: The Impact You Don’t Always See

Miss Charlene shares what 20 years in infant care has taught her about responsiveness, trust and knowing every baby deeply.
Infant care is relationship work. Every bottle, every diaper change, every moment on the floor is a chance to build trust.
In this episode, Rhonda Meyers sits down with Miss Charlene, an infant teacher with 20 years of experience in the first year of life. Together they walk through what quality infant care looks like from the inside: responsive caregiving, individualized routines, calm presence in the chaos, and the kind of deep knowing that only comes from paying close attention.
 
[00:07:39] "Infant teaching, you are on the floor 95% of your day. You are on the floor with the children."
 
They cover the green flags parents should look for when touring a program and the red flags that deserve a second look. Charlene shares what it means to follow a baby’s lead, why containers limit development and how honest communication with families builds the trust every parent needs.
 
[00:38:00] "Babies don’t need perfect adults. They need responsive ones, predictable ones, and present ones."
 
Whether you're touring a program or reflecting on your own classroom, Charlene's perspective will stay with you.

On the Floor with Them: What Infant Care Should Feel Like

Early childhood leaders carry invisible pressure every day. Learn how to avoid burnout through rhythms and sustainable leadership with Chanie Wilschanski.
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
<a href="https://thiscantbenormal.com/">“This Can’t Be Normal”</a> by Chanie Wilschanski
*Email cw@chanie.me after purchasing the book for bonus training on the top five rhythms to install in your school
<a href="https://schoolsofexcellence.com/podcast/">Schools of Excellence podcast</a>
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Finding-Your-Way-Through-Conflict/dp/1631984942">“Finding Your Way Through Conflict”</a> by Chris Amirault and Christine Snyder

Leadership, Burnout, and Creating Rhythms That Restore

Rhonda reflects on the beauty of motherhood, its emotional labor and the longing to feel seen.
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.

You Matter Too: A Message for Mothers

Learn tools for responding to children’s grief and loss with Heidi Friedel.
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.

Guiding Young Children through Grief and Loss

Co-teacher alignment changes outcomes for kids. Rhonda and her guests speak about what a strong teaching team looks like and how to cultivate it.
When a strong teaching team is in action, you can feel it. 
It’s in the care with which the kids put away toys, how things are labeled and in the teachers’ attunement to the other’s needs.
Rhonda sits down with Brittany Reaume and Geanene Chalut in this episode to talk about the importance of co-teacher alignment, how it happens and the impact it has on children.
Brittany and Miss G. (Geanene) worked as co-teachers at Heartfelt Impressions, and they emphasize that being in lockstep is essential.
[00:00:00] Miss G.: “The big word is consistency. [Kids] need to have the same two teachers in that room that know them and that they’re not hearing [different] things from the other teacher.”
Rhonda adds that consistency is vital for the teachers, too. Co-teachers learn to anticipate and read each other and step up when the other is feeling stretched.
That relationship happens through intentionality. Brittany recalls meeting Miss G. for dinner early on to talk about their needs and ideas for the classroom. 
[00:00:00] Brittany: “It was really fun and very comforting knowing that we could bounce ideas off each other and not be like, ‘No, that’s a dumb idea. Don’t do that.’”
If you’re a teacher who feels isolated or is struggling to be in lockstep with your teammate, this episode is for you.

Better Together: The Power of Strong Teaching Team

Joy is possible even in the hardest moments. Carissa Orr shares how educators can cultivate it through curiosity and care.
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 Joy Amidst Challenges

Rhonda shares what to look for—and what to feel for—when choosing infant care that’s right for your family.
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.

That Feeling Matters: Finding the Right Infant Care

Learn how children build confidence through independence, risk and real experiences with Morgan Chartier.
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.

Let Them Try the Power of Toddler Independence

What happens when we truly see people? This episode explores belonging, inclusion, and the power of being known with Jessica Loxley-Smith.
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.

When Work Feels Like a Place You Belong

How educators can recognize triggers, respond with intention, and stay grounded during challenging behavior.
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:

 
<a href="https://www.challengingbehavior.org/training/conference/">Center for Pyramid Model Innovations: Addressing Challenging Behavior conference</a>

 
<a href="https://www.pbis.org/">Center on Positive Behavior Intervention Support (PBIS)</a>

 
<a href="https://mtss4success.org/essential-components">Center on Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS)</a>

 
“<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Unpacking-Pyramid-Model-Practical-Preschool/dp/1681253909">Unpacking the Pyramid Model</a>” by Dr. Mary Louise Hemmeter

 
<a href="https://www.challengingbehavior.org/document-category/scripted-story/">Pyramid Model Practice social stories</a>

 
Jennifer Champagne’s <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-champagne-ab8ba2b/">LinkedIn</a>

 
<a href="https://developingchild.harvard.edu/">Center on the Developing Child at Harvard</a>

 
<a href="https://www.michiganallianceforfamilies.org/">Michigan Alliance for Families</a>

 
<a href="https://miaeyc.org/professional-development/annual-early-childhood-conference/">Michigan Association for the Education of Young Children annual conference </a>

Get Started

Download the App