CheckBox Pro Series

Missy Couch

CheckBox Pro founder, Missy Couch, interviews experts in the field of education to offer tools, tips, and insights to make the life of a charter school leader even more sustainable.

  1. 6d ago

    55: The Team Teaching Model

    In this episode of the CheckBox Pro Series, Missy sits down with Mohamad Maarouf, Superintendent of Arcadia Schools, for a conversation about rethinking both student learning and teacher sustainability. Mohamad shares his journey from finance to education, sparked by a desire for more meaningful work and deepened through Teach For America, school leadership, and years spent supporting principals across Texas. Now, as the founder of Arcadia Schools, he is preparing to open a new high school model designed to address two of education's biggest challenges: student outcomes and teacher retention.  Mohamad explains Arcadia's innovative team teaching model, where students learn in smaller groups with multiple educators, instruction is adjusted in real time using data, and aspiring teachers are developed through a built-in apprenticeship model. He also shares the realities of school founding, from balancing competing priorities to resisting perfectionism and staying grounded in the relationships that make the work possible.  Throughout the conversation, Mohamad returns to a central belief: schools are built through trust, collaboration, and community voice. He also shares a practical relationship tracking tool that helps him intentionally steward connections with families, staff, and partners without letting relationships become transactional.  This episode is an encouraging listen for school leaders thinking about innovation, sustainability, and what it looks like to build a school with people, not just for them.  Connect with Mohamad: LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/maarouf/ Learn more about Arcadia Schools https://www.arcadia-schools.org/home At CheckBox Pro, we help school leaders reclaim time and build sustainable careers through executive assistant support designed specifically for education leaders. https://www.checkboxpro.com/ Licensed music ID: ILRNI9DIEHE4JTVQ Music: Energizer by Chris Phaze licensed through Premium Beat by Shutterstock ID: ILRNI9DIEHE4JTVQ

    55: The Team Teaching Model

  2. Jul 6

    54: What's Saving My Life: Spring 2026

    Spring is always a whirlwind. Between school events, travel, sports, and what Missy affectionately calls "May-hem," it can feel like life is moving at full speed. In this quarterly What's Saving My Life episode, Missy reflects on ten things that brought a little more joy, ease, and sustainability to her life between April and June 2026. From practical solutions like grocery pickup and snack prep to meaningful moments with grandparents, coaching youth soccer, and hiking through Zion National Park with friends, this episode is a reminder that the things saving our lives are often smaller and simpler than we expect. If you've never made your own "What's Saving My Life" list, this episode might inspire you to start.  Key Takeaways: Small conveniences can make a big difference. Whether it was finally using up accumulated samples, embracing grocery delivery, or keeping healthy snacks ready to go, simple systems helped reduce decision fatigue during a busy season.  Being present in your children's world matters. Volunteering at school provided opportunities to see my daughters in a different environment and connect with the people who invest in them every day. Kids are capable of more than we think. One unexpected milestone this spring was watching her youngest daughter decide she was done with nighttime pull-ups and take ownership of the process herself. Shared experiences create lasting memories. Whether it was coaching a youth soccer team, watching sports together, or traveling with close friends, some of the most meaningful moments came from doing life alongside others. Friendship is worth planning for. The Zion National Park trip served as a powerful reminder that investing time with friends can be both restorative and life-giving.  What's Saving My Life This Spring: Using up sample products A weekly snackle box filled with fruits and vegetables Volunteering at my girls' school My youngest daughter nighttime potty training herself A new ice cream maker Coaching my daughter's soccer team Grocery delivery and grocery pickup Grandparents Watching the Atlanta Braves and women's soccer A Zion National Park trip with friends  Resources Mentioned: Snackle Box https://www.target.com/p/large-snackle-box-cool-sun-squad-8482/-/A-94824074#lnk=sametab Cuisinart Ice Cream Maker https://www.cuisinart.com/pure-indulgence-2-quart-frozen-yogurt-sorbet-ice-cream-maker/ICE-30BCP1.html?srsltid=AfmBOoq58vjUiygTaDGmYjS9x2ouLn3Ji2dOrsZnkbr61cU3rUKXpsEN3aI Ben & Jerry's Recipe Book https://www.target.com/p/ben-jerry-s-homemade-ice-cream-dessert-book-by-ben-cohen-jerry-greenfield-nancy-stevens-paperback/-/A-11759333 Connect with CheckBox Pro: At CheckBox Pro, we help school leaders reclaim time and build sustainable careers through executive assistant support designed specifically for education leaders. https://www.checkboxpro.com/ Licensed music ID: ILRNI9DIEHE4JTVQ Music: Energizer by Chris Phaze licensed through Premium Beat by Shutterstock ID: ILRNI9DIEHE4JTVQ

    54: What's Saving My Life: Spring 2026

  3. Jun 15

    53: Building an AI-Powered School

    In this episode of the CheckBox Pro Series, Missy sits down with China Cardriche, founder of Power Public Schools, for a forward-thinking conversation about reimagining education for the future. China shares her journey from investment banking to the classroom and ultimately to school founding, driven by a belief that zip code should not determine access to quality education. After returning home, she spent a year listening to her community, conducting more than 200 one-on-one conversations to understand what students and families truly need.  That work led to Power Public Schools, an AI-empowered model designed to accelerate learning while building real-world, future-ready skills. China explains how she uses AI to reduce operational burdens on educators so they can focus on students, while also preparing young people to think critically, collaborate, and create in a rapidly changing world.  She also shares a behind-the-scenes look at founding, including navigating a compressed six-week charter timeline and using AI tools to build systems, recruit board members, and raise funding. Throughout the conversation, China highlights the importance of community, faith, and perseverance when building something new.  Key Takeaways: Why listening to the community is essential when designing a school model. How AI can support teachers by reducing operational workload. The growing importance of durable skills like critical thinking and collaboration. What it takes to navigate the pressures and unpredictability of founding a school. How leaders can begin experimenting with AI to increase efficiency and innovation.  Connect with China: Connect with China Cardriche on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/chinacardriche/ Learn more about Power Public Schools https://powerps.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/ Licensed music ID: ILRNI9DIEHE4JTVQ Music: Energizer by Chris Phaze licensed through Premium Beat by Shutterstock ID: ILRNI9DIEHE4JTVQ

    53: Building an AI-Powered School

  4. Jun 1

    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/ Learn more about The Meliora School 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/ Licensed music ID: ILRNI9DIEHE4JTVQ Music: Energizer by Chris Phaze licensed through Premium Beat by Shutterstock ID: ILRNI9DIEHE4JTVQ

    52: Running the Founding Marathon

  5. May 18

    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 Connect with Kristy Beam on LinkedIn 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/ Licensed music ID: ILRNI9DIEHE4JTVQ Music: Energizer by Chris Phaze licensed through Premium Beat by Shutterstock ID: ILRNI9DIEHE4JTVQ

    51: Where Education Meets Healthcare

  6. May 4

    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/ Learn more about Yellowstone Schools 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/ Licensed music ID: ILRNI9DIEHE4JTVQ  Music: Energizer by Chris Phaze licensed through Premium Beat by Shutterstock ID: ILRNI9DIEHE4JTVQ

    50: The Power of Words

  7. Apr 20

    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/ Connect with Tiana Stephenson on LinkedIn 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/ Licensed music ID: ILRNI9DIEHE4JTVQ Music: Energizer by Chris Phaze licensed through Premium Beat by Shutterstock ID: ILRNI9DIEHE4JTVQ

    49: Choosing Purpose Over Timeline

  8. Apr 6

    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 Missy's Summer Camp Planning Spreadsheet https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ZFBk-ER6cDRtxfurSkQbMs0s6iiBbzNS6HDZaMgDGnU/edit?usp=drive_link Connect with Missy: LinkedIn: 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/ 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
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About

CheckBox Pro founder, Missy Couch, interviews experts in the field of education to offer tools, tips, and insights to make the life of a charter school leader even more sustainable.

Information

  • Creator
    Missy Couch
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    55
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2024
  • Show Website
    CheckBox Pro Series