52: Running the Founding Marathon

52: Running the Founding Marathon

In this episode of the CheckBox Pro Series, Missy sits down with Christine Keck, Founder of The Meliora School, for a candid conversation about the realities of planning year and what it takes to sustain yourself through the work of founding a school. Christine shares her journey into education, from choosing Teach For America over a move to London, to working across high-performing charter networks, and ultimately launching her own school. She also introduces Meliora's model, a mastery-based 6–12 school focused on entrepreneurship, computer science, and ensuring students are truly seen and known as individuals. The conversation offers an honest look at the demands of the planning year, where founding a school often feels less like leading academics and more like running a multi-million dollar business. Christine compares the experience to running a marathon. It requires endurance, discipline, and intentional moments of rest to make it to the finish line. She reflects on the challenge of balancing deep passion for the work with the need to model sustainability for her team. Christine also shares what she is most proud of. She has a fully enrolled founding class with a growing waitlist and a team that is deeply invested in the mission and willing to build something meaningful together. She names her leadership superpower as persistence and problem-solving, figuring things out when others say no. She also emphasizes the importance of building systems that foster innovation and follow-through. This episode is an energizing and honest look at the founding journey and a reminder that while the work is demanding, it is also deeply purposeful. Key Takeaways: * Why founding a school often feels like running a marathon and how to pace yourself. * The hidden business demands of planning year leadership. * How to build a mission-aligned team in a competitive hiring landscape. * The importance of modeling sustainability and setting boundaries early. * Why persistence and creative problem-solving are essential leadership skills. Connect with Christine: * Connect with Christine Keck on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-christine-keck-82a75536/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-christine-keck-82a75536/] * Learn more about The Meliora School https://www.themelioraschool.org/ [https://www.themelioraschool.org/] About CheckBox Pro: CheckBox Pro helps school leaders create sustainability through added capacity, taking repetitive tasks off their plates so they can focus on what matters most. https://www.checkboxpro.com/ [https://www.checkboxpro.com/] Licensed music ID: ILRNI9DIEHE4JTVQ Music: Energizer by Chris Phaze licensed through Premium Beat by Shutterstock ID: ILRNI9DIEHE4JTVQ

51: Where Education Meets Healthcare

In this episode of the CheckBox Pro Series, Missy sits down with Kristy Beam, Founder of the Academy for Innovation in Medicine (AIM), for an honest and energizing conversation about the realities of building a school from the ground up. Kristy shares her unexpected journey into education, from a young mom searching for a stable career to a longtime teacher and district leader who ultimately felt called to build something different. After years of seeing the same challenges persist in traditional systems, she began asking a bold question. What if we designed a new system instead? That question led to AIM, a 6–12 career immersion school focused on healthcare pathways. Kristy explains how the model blends early college, STEM, and real-world work experiences to give students earlier exposure to careers and clearer postsecondary options. With a growing healthcare shortage and increasing expectations for hands-on experience, AIM is designed to help students graduate with both direction and opportunity. The conversation also dives into the realities of planning year. Kristy shares what it feels like to move from instructional leader to "everything else," navigating facilities, finance, hiring, and recruiting families while selling a vision that, at times, exists only on paper. She speaks candidly about the pressure, the ambiguity, and the challenge of building something new while learning as you go. What sustains her is a clear sense of purpose and a strong community. Kristy reflects on the power of a mission-aligned team, the importance of being unapologetically clear about who the school is for, and the joy of seeing families choose a vision they believe in. She also shares a simple but powerful leadership practice, her "meeting with herself," which helps her stay grounded, organized, and focused during an intense season. This episode is an honest look at the complexity of founding a school and a reminder that even in the hardest seasons, clarity of purpose and strong systems can carry leaders forward. Key Takeaways: * Why some leaders choose to build new systems instead of trying to fix existing ones. * How early career exposure can change student outcomes and postsecondary paths. * The hidden complexity of planning year, from facilities to finance to enrollment. * The importance of being clear about who your school is and is not for. * How a simple weekly planning practice can bring clarity and sustainability to leadership. Connect with Kristy: * Learn more about AIM: https://aimgeorgia.org [https://aimgeorgia.org] * Connect with Kristy Beam on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristy-beam-78aa6b12/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristy-beam-78aa6b12/] About CheckBox Pro: CheckBox Pro helps school leaders create sustainability through added capacity, taking repetitive tasks off their plates so they can focus on what matters most. https://www.checkboxpro.com/ [https://www.checkboxpro.com/] Licensed music ID: ILRNI9DIEHE4JTVQ Music: Energizer by Chris Phaze licensed through Premium Beat by Shutterstock ID: ILRNI9DIEHE4JTVQ

50: The Power of Words

In this episode of the CheckBox Pro Series, Missy sits down with James Mosley, Superintendent of Yellowstone Schools, for a thoughtful and practical conversation on leadership, communication, and building systems that sustain both people and results. James shares his unexpected path into education, from initially pursuing law to discovering a deep passion for teaching and leadership. Now serving a unique pre-K through high school model in Houston's Third Ward community, he reflects on the responsibility and purpose that comes with leading a school designed to serve students and families with both excellence and care. The conversation dives into one of the most overlooked but critical leadership challenges: communication. James explains why clarity across stakeholders, from board members to staff to families, is essential for alignment and execution. He shares how even the most complex problems can be simplified through clear expectations, strong systems, and consistent messaging. James also offers a window into the systems that help him stay grounded in the work. From using OKRs to track priorities, to structuring meetings around real-time challenges, to intentionally separating "office days" and "coaching days," his approach is rooted in focus, visibility, and follow-through. He emphasizes that leadership is not about doing everything yourself, but about building strong teams and creating systems that allow others to execute well. Throughout the conversation, James returns to a central theme: sustainability. Whether it is being present in classrooms, showing up for his team, or making time for his family, he shares how intentional structure and discipline make it possible to lead well without losing yourself in the process. This episode is a practical and encouraging listen for leaders navigating complexity, offering a clear reminder that when systems, people, and purpose align, meaningful change becomes possible. Key Takeaways: * Why communication with clarity is one of the hardest and most important leadership skills. * How simplifying complex problems leads to stronger execution. * The role of systems like OKRs in keeping teams focused and aligned. * Why leaders must build strong teams to get results through others. * How structuring your time can support both leadership effectiveness and personal sustainability. Connect with James: * Connect with Dr. James Mosley on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-mosley-ed-d-62a0a060/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-mosley-ed-d-62a0a060/] * Learn more about Yellowstone Schools https://yellowstoneschools.org/ [https://yellowstoneschools.org/] About CheckBox Pro: CheckBox Pro helps school leaders create sustainability through added capacity, taking repetitive tasks off their plates so they can focus on what matters most. https://www.checkboxpro.com/ [https://www.checkboxpro.com/] Licensed music ID: ILRNI9DIEHE4JTVQ Music: Energizer by Chris Phaze licensed through Premium Beat by Shutterstock ID: ILRNI9DIEHE4JTVQ

49: Choosing Purpose Over Timeline

In this episode of the CheckBox Pro Series, Missy sits down with Tiana Stephenson, Founder and CEO of The Wright Community School, for a powerful conversation about purpose, persistence, and building a school with—and for—community. Tiana shares her journey into education, shaped by personal loss, a deep search for purpose, and a commitment to ensuring students feel seen, heard, and valued. That purpose now lives in The Wright Community School, a 6–12 charter school designed to help students explore who they are and what they love through early college access, community partnerships, and a strong focus on restorative culture. The conversation offers an honest look at the challenges of planning and founding a school, especially when navigating setbacks outside of your control—like facilities delays that have pushed back opening timelines. Tiana shares how staying grounded in non-negotiables and community voice has guided every decision, even when it means waiting longer to get it right. She also reflects on what she's most proud of: a deeply committed community that has stood alongside her through multiple application cycles and continues to believe in the vision. Tiana names her leadership superpower as the ability to figure things out and create solutions when they don't exist, and she shares a practical planning system she built to help manage the complexity of leadership while giving herself grace along the way. This episode is an encouraging and honest reminder that founding is not a straight path—and that staying rooted in purpose and community can carry you through the hardest seasons. Key Takeaways: * Why building a school with community leads to stronger alignment and ownership. * The realities of founding, including delays and decisions outside your control. * The importance of holding non-negotiables, even when timelines shift. * How to create systems that support both productivity and grace. * Why community support can make the founder journey feel less lonely. Connect with Tiana: * Learn more about The Wright Community School https://www.thewrightcommunityschool.org/ [https://www.thewrightcommunityschool.org/] * Connect with Tiana Stephenson on LinkedIn https://www.thewrightcommunityschool.org/ [https://www.thewrightcommunityschool.org/] About CheckBox Pro: CheckBox Pro helps school leaders create sustainability through added capacity—taking repetitive tasks off their plates so they can focus on what matters most. https://www.checkboxpro.com/ [https://www.checkboxpro.com/] Licensed music ID: ILRNI9DIEHE4JTVQ Music: Energizer by Chris Phaze licensed through Premium Beat by Shutterstock ID: ILRNI9DIEHE4JTVQ

48: What's Saving My Life: Winter 2026

In this quarterly What's Saving My Life episode, Missy reflects on the small (and surprisingly impactful) things helping her navigate the busy winter season—January through March. From systems that reduce mental load to simple routines that bring joy, this episode is a reminder that what sustains us doesn't have to be big or complicated. Sometimes, it's as simple as a shared calendar, a family show, or finally getting your kids to do their own chores. If you're in a full season (and let's be honest—who isn't?), this episode offers practical ideas and gentle encouragement to pause and notice what's working in your life right now. \Key Takeaways: * Small systems can create big relief. Tools like a shared digital calendar or a planning spreadsheet can significantly reduce daily friction. * Kids can—and want to—contribute. Creating clear expectations around chores builds independence and reduces parental load. * Shared experiences matter. Whether it's a family TV show, the Olympics, or an Oscars watch party, having something to enjoy together builds connection. * Look for ways to "stack" your time. Pairing connection with productivity (like folding laundry while catching up with friends) can be both efficient and life-giving. * Lower the bar to make things sustainable. Simplifying holiday decor or meal routines makes it easier to maintain traditions without overwhelm. * Future planning can be energizing. Booking trips or mapping out summer childcare provides something to look forward to—and reduces future stress. Resources Mentioned: * Skylight Digital Frame (for shared calendars, chores, and lists) * Kendra Adachi's (The Lazy Genius) Homemade Granola Recipe https://www.thelazygeniuscollective.com/blog/the-best-granola-ever?rq=granola [https://www.thelazygeniuscollective.com/blog/the-best-granola-ever?rq=granola] * Missy's Summer Camp Planning Spreadsheet https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ZFBk-ER6cDRtxfurSkQbMs0s6iiBbzNS6HDZaMgDGnU/edit?usp=drive_link [https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ZFBk-ER6cDRtxfurSkQbMs0s6iiBbzNS6HDZaMgDGnU/edit?usp=drive_link] Connect with Missy: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/missy-couch-5626b8176/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/missy-couch-5626b8176/] About CheckBox Pro: CheckBox Pro helps school leaders create sustainability through added capacity—taking repetitive tasks off their plates so they can focus on what matters most. https://www.checkboxpro.com/ [https://www.checkboxpro.com/] Licensed music ID: ILRNI9DIEHE4JTVQ Music: Energizer by Chris Phaze licensed through Premium Beat by Shutterstock ID: ILRNI9DIEHE4JTVQ