Services
How I Work with Schools
I partner with new and startup hybrid school founders to strengthen governance, leadership, and operational systems. Depending on your school’s stage and needs, we offer three main ways to work together:
1. School Health & Sustainability Review
The best starting point for many founders.
A diagnostic engagement that evaluates whether your school’s leadership, governance, and systems are positioned to sustain your mission. We go beyond daily operations to assess four key areas:
Program Structure & Capacity Alignment
Schedule + workload balance
Staffing structure & relational load
Volunteer reliance patterns
Expansion pressures and growth pacing vs operational readiness
Governance & Organizational Oversight
Clarity of governance vs operations
Board composition, roles, committees, and cadence
Strategic direction + decision-making pathways
Executive oversight and evaluation
Financial transparency and mission protection
Administration Management
Budgeting and cash-flow practices
HR basics: roles, onboarding, documentation
Payroll & contractor processes
Data + record systems (SIS, bookkeeping, documentation)
Internal planning and evaluation rhythms
Role clarity across administrative support
Communication, Trust & Organizational Culture
Internal communication pathways
Founder → staff → board information flow
Conflict patterns and relational strain
Decision transparency
Culture of trust vs burnout / crisis mode
The Outcome:
A comprehensive summary of strengths, vulnerabilities, and pressure points, giving you a shared language and a clear roadmap for informed decisions.
Cost:
Light Review: $500–$900 (ideal for young or small programs, 2–3 years)
Comprehensive Review: $1,800–$2,500 (larger, more complex programs)
Process:
Complete the Pre-Discovery Call Intake Form
Schedule a free Discovery Call
Sign the Agreement
Complete detailed questionnaire & submit requested documents
Schedule interviews (founder-focused; board input optional)
Receive summary and recommendations
Optional: Additional document review or board/meeting observation available (charges listed in agreement).
2. Founder Advisory
Ongoing strategic support for 6+ months.
Designed for founders navigating the first year, leadership complexity, board relationships, or institutional growth. Often follows a Sustainability Review to build from shared understanding.
May include:
Strategic decision-making support
Navigating board dynamics and governance questions
Leadership role clarity and boundary-setting
Thinking partnership during transitions
Engagement includes:
Weekly or twice-monthly calls
Email support
Optional meeting attendance
Cost: $150–$600/month depending on scope. Payment plans available for startups and very small programs.
[Inquire About Advisory Service →]
3. Governance & Sustainability Training
For boards and leadership teams.
Facilitated trainings develop shared understanding of:
Board roles, authority, and fiduciary responsibility
Governance vs operations in founder-led schools
Sustainability and strategic planning
Most effective:
In the first year
Following a Sustainability Review
During leadership or board transitions
When boards need clearer alignment and confidence
Cost: TBD based on needs.
[Inquire About Training →]
Program Structure & Capacity Alignment
“Is the program model appropriately sized for the people running it?”
Focus areas:
Schedule + workload balance
Staffing structure & relational load
Volunteer reliance patterns
New-program expansion pressure
Growth pacing vs operational readiness
Governance & Organizational
“Is the organization being well-stewarded at the leadership level?”
Focus areas:
Clarity of governance vs operations
Board composition, roles, committees, and cadence
Strategic direction + decision-making pathways
Executive oversight and evaluation practices
Financial transparency
Mission protection & sustainability mindset
Administration Management
“Are the administrative foundations strong enough to support the work?”
Focus areas:
Budgeting practices & cash-flow awareness
HR basics (roles, onboarding, documentation)
Payroll & contractor processes
Data + record systems (SIS, bookkeeping, docs)
Internal planning and evaluation rhythms
Role clarity across admin support
School Health & Sustainability Review
Ensure your mission outlasts your current challenges.
This diagnostic engagement provides an objective assessment of whether your school’s leadership, governance, and systems are positioned to sustain its mission into the next season and beyond.We look past the daily operations to evaluate the core structures that shape long-term viability in the following four areas.
Communication, Trust & Organizational Culture
“Do people understand what’s happening, why decisions are made, and how they fit in?”
Focus areas:
Internal communication pathways
Founder → staff → board information flow
Conflict patterns + relational strain
Decision transparency & rationale sharing
Culture of trust vs burnout / crisis mode
The Outcome: A comprehensive summary of strengths, vulnerabilities, and pressure points. You gain a shared language and a clear roadmap for making informed decisions.
The Cost: customizable but ranges from:
$500 to $900 for the Light version (best for younger and smaller programs in their first 2 to 3 years)
$1800 to $2500 for the Comprehensive version (larger and more complex programs)
Document review only available upon request (bylaws, handbooks, policies and procedures, etc..)
The Process:
Fill out the Pre-Discovery Call Intake Form
Schedule a free Discovery Call
Receive and sign Agreement*
Complete detailed questionnaire.
Submit requested documents for review.
Schedule interview (founder focused. A Board President and/or co-founder interview may also be requested)
Receive summary and recommendations
*Options for review of further documents and/or observation of Board or other meetings also available. Charges will be listed on agreement.
Founder Advisory (2-3 available)
Ongoing strategic support (long-term relationship of 6 months or more)
This work often follows a Sustainability Review, allowing advisory conversations to be grounded in a shared understanding of the school’s structures and challenges.
Founder Advisory provides ongoing, relational support for school founders navigating the first year, leadership complexity, board relationships, or institutional growth. This relationship is purely advisory and not operational.
May include:
Strategic decision-making support
Navigating board dynamics and governance questions
Leadership role clarity and boundary-setting
Thinking partnership during seasons of change
This engagement is intentionally limited and customized, but generally includes access to twice monthly or weekly calls, email support, and/or attendance at meetings over a 6 to 12 month period (can be customized to need).
Cost: Start-up and very small programs contact for payment plans
$150 to $600/month retainer depending on scope of work
Choosing the Right Starting Point
Usually the Review is the best place to start, but if you are unsure, we can begin with a conversation.
Governance & Sustainability Training
For boards and leadership teams
These facilitated trainings help boards and leadership teams develop shared language and understanding around governance responsibilities, roles, finances, meetings, bylaws, and smooth communication.
Training topics may include:
Board roles, authority, and fiduciary responsibility
Governance vs. operations in founder-led schools
Sustainability and Strategy
Training is often most effective:
In the first year
Following a Sustainability Review
During leadership or board transitions
When a board seeks clearer alignment and confidence
Cost: TBD based on needs.