By Ashli Karaman
There’s a certain kind of magic that doesn’t shimmer or sparkle, yet it transforms lives every single day. You won’t find it in fairy tales or wrapped in glitter. Though in my preschool, glitter is a recurring guest star. This kind of magic lives in the quiet corners of classrooms, in the soft whispers of encouragement, and in the moments when a child finally ties their shoe or spells their name for the very first time.
For years, I’ve been surrounded by these small, beautiful miracles. As the owner of a preschool, I’ve watched children discover themselves in ways adults often forget how to. What began as a simple dream to create a nurturing environment for children evolved into an emotional, spiritual, and professional journey. One that has taught me more about leadership, resilience, and emotional intelligence than any management course ever could.
The Real Heroes Don’t Wear Capes
When you work with children, you quickly realize that every day requires a touch of heroism. Not the kind that saves the world from danger, but the quiet kind. The kind that holds space for big feelings, endless questions, and tiny triumphs.
I often joke that running a preschool is part symphony conductor, part crisis manager, and part magician. Every day is unpredictable: one moment you’re mediating over a shared crayon, the next you’re soothing a teary-eyed child who misses mom. But beneath the chaos lies a profound truth: emotional intelligence is the real superpower in education.
Emotional intelligence is the real superpower in education.
Emotional Intelligence Begins at Eye Level
Early in my career, I learned that the most powerful leadership lessons happen at eye level, literally. When I kneel to meet a child’s gaze, I’m not just making communication easier; I’m telling them, ‘You matter. I see you’.
Adults often underestimate how deeply children understand emotion. They might not always articulate it, but they feel everything. When a teacher loses patience, they sense it. When someone listens fully, they flourish. That’s why emotional literacy being able to name, understand, and manage emotions isn’t just a skill for kids; it’s essential for every adult who guides them.
Leadership, like teaching, begins with presence.
The Classroom as a Mirror of the World
A preschool is, in many ways, a microcosm of society. Within those four colorful walls, you’ll find diversity, collaboration, conflict, empathy, and discovery all in their purest forms.
Children don’t judge based on background or difference. They connect through curiosity. One child’s idea to build a rocket quickly becomes a team project. Someone spills paint, and instead of scolding, another says, ‘It’s okay, we can make it part of the picture.’ These interactions reflect emotionally intelligent leadership, collaboration over competition and empathy over ego.
Every classroom moment holds a mirror to the world we’re shaping.
Leading with Heart: Lessons Beyond the Classroom
Running a preschool isn’t just about managing schedules and lesson plans, it’s about managing hearts. It’s about balancing the needs of children, parents, and teachers, all while keeping your own sanity intact.
Over time, I learned that true leadership is about creating a safe emotional environment, where people, whether three or thirty, feel supported enough to be their best selves. The most successful leaders I know aren’t those who demand excellence but those who cultivate it through empathy, encouragement, and trust.
True leadership is creating emotional safety so others can shine.
Resilience Is the Real Reward
Every teacher has had one of those days when the classroom feels like a whirlwind. But then, a parent says, ‘My son started comforting his sister when she cried.’ That’s the ripple effect of emotionally intelligent leadership. Resilience isn’t about avoiding struggle; it’s about finding meaning through it.
Resilience isn’t born from perfection, it grows from compassion.
The Magic of Ordinary Moments
In a world obsessed with achievement, I’ve found that the most profound growth happens in the ordinary moments the giggles over a storybook, the teamwork of cleaning up blocks, the courage it takes for a shy child to speak up.
Magic isn’t always grand. Sometimes, it’s found in patience, kindness, and showing up day after day for the people who need you.
Magic isn’t in the moments we plan; it’s in the moments we pause.
A Final Thought: Becoming the Hero You Needed
Leadership is love in action. It’s listening deeply, forgiving quickly, and believing in potential. Sometimes before others can see it themselves. Every day, I meet small heroes in tiny sneakers—children who remind me that courage comes in many forms.
We all have a bit of magic in us. The question is how we use it.
About the Author
Ashli Karaman is an educator, entrepreneur, and preschool owner whose work blends early childhood development, emotional intelligence, and leadership philosophy. Her book, ‘Princesses, Unicorns, and Superheroes: A Preschool Owner’s Magical Journey,’ invites readers into the inspiring, heartwarming, and often humorous world of nurturing young minds while rediscovering the leader within.
Follow Ashli on Instagram @ashlikaraman, TikTok @ashlikaraman, and find her book on Amazon: https://a.co/d/8JLALke
