In this episode of the CheckBox Pro Series, Missy sits down with Shonqualla West, Founder and Superintendent/CEO of Unparalleled Preparatory Academy, for an honest conversation about what it really means to lead during a school's founding year.

Shonqualla shares how growing up in a small rural town with limited school choice shaped her belief that students deserve early opportunities to explore who they are, what they're good at, and what's possible for their future. That belief now lives at UPA, a career immersion middle school where students "try on" careers through STEM-focused, hands-on, and interdisciplinary learning.

She reflects on the realities no one prepares founders for—the constant zooming in and out, the many hats, and the tension between staying deeply involved while learning when to step back. Shonqualla also talks candidly about building her first leadership team, the importance of strong operations support, and the joy of seeing students and families choose—and take pride in—a school that began as an idea on paper.

She closes by naming her leadership superpower—bringing bold visions to life through community buy-in—and offers hard-earned advice for other founders: pace yourself, give yourself grace, and keep going.

Key Takeaways:

• What makes the founding year uniquely challenging—and uniquely formative.
• Why founders must constantly "zoom in and out" to lead effectively.
• The importance of hiring strong operations leadership early.
• How UPA helps students explore identity, strengths, and careers starting in middle school.
• Why community pride and student joy are powerful indicators of success.
• A reminder that grace is essential for sustainability in leadership.

Connect with Shonqualla:

• Learn more about Unparalleled Preparatory Academy https://upaschools.org/
• Connect with Shonqualla on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/shonqualla-west-m-ed-35b463229/

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/

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In this episode of the CheckBox Pro Series, Missy sits down with Rosalind DaCruz, Founder and Executive Director of RISE Prep Academies. Rosalind shares her journey from Teach For America corps member and high school history teacher to founding a charter school just three years into her teaching career—and what it's been like to lead and grow that organization for nearly a decade.

Rosalind reflects on the evolution of her role from Founding Head of School to Executive Director, naming the often-unspoken challenges of scaling a school network: letting go of daily classroom life, resisting the urge to solve every problem personally, and learning to trust others with work she once owned. She speaks candidly about the emotional weight of this transition, especially as RISE Prep expands from a single kindergarten class into a K–12 network serving up to 1,400 students, with multiple campuses and major facilities projects underway.

The conversation also explores how Rosalind sustains herself through this demanding season of leadership. As a working parent and long-time school founder, she shares the practical systems that help her stay grounded—including a weekly closeout and look-ahead routine that brings clarity, accountability, and grace to both her professional and personal life. This episode is an honest, encouraging listen for school leaders navigating growth, transition, and longevity in the work.

Key Takeaways:

• What it really feels like to transition from founder to Executive Director as schools scale.
• Why stepping back from day-to-day school life can be both painful and necessary.
• How executive coaching and time audits supported Rosalind's leadership shift.
• The role of grit, strategic pivots, and persistence in sustaining a growing charter network.
• A simple weekly planning practice that supports leadership, parenting, and well-being.

Connect with Roz:

• Learn more about RISE Prep Academies: https://www.riseprep.org
• Connect with Rosalind DaCruz on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/rosalind-dacruz-3a3a4177/

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/

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In this episode of the CheckBox Pro Series, Missy sits down with Luke Savidge, Principal of Compass Midtown High School in Memphis, Tennessee. Luke shares his journey into education—from growing up in a family of educators, to teaching middle school, to stepping into high school leadership for the first time in his 15-year career.

Luke offers a candid look at the realities of leading a high school, including the steep learning curve of credits, scheduling, and compliance, as well as the ongoing work of building relational trust with staff, students, and families. He explains why strong relationships are the foundation that make everything else possible—and how investing in people ultimately creates better outcomes for students.

The conversation also dives into Luke's leadership superpower: organization. He walks Missy through the system he's built to keep himself grounded and focused—a single, living document that tracks priorities, data, staff celebrations, walkthroughs, and even self-care. Luke shares how becoming "Type A by necessity" helped him protect his time, lead more sustainably, and show up better for his school community.

This episode is a practical and human look at what it takes to lead well in a complex environment—and a reminder that systems and relationships aren't opposites, but partners.

Key Takeaways:

• Why high school leadership feels like a different ballgame than middle school—and what makes it uniquely challenging.
• How Luke prioritizes attendance and discipline data with a clear weekly rhythm.
• The importance of building relational capacity quickly when stepping into a new leadership role.
• How one well-designed system can reduce overwhelm and increase follow-through.
• Why small, consistent acts of care matter more than grand gestures for staff morale.

Connect with Luke:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/luke-savidge-ed-s/
• Learn more about Compass Midtown High School: https://www.compassmidtown.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/

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In this episode of the CheckBox Pro Series, Missy sits down with Rachael Sewards, Founder and Executive Director of Solare Collegiate Charter School in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Rachael shares her journey from Teach for America corps member in Memphis to founding one of the city's highest-performing public charter schools serving a historically underperforming community.

She opens up about what it takes to lead through rapid growth—from launching Solare as a middle school to expanding into a full K–8 campus—and the lessons she's learned about delegation, communication, and defining her role as her organization matures. Rachael also reflects on her team's impressive results, the power of trying (and sometimes failing) boldly, and how she sustains herself as both a leader and a mom in a demanding season.

Key Takeaways:

• How Solare Collegiate grew from a middle school to a thriving K–8 campus in just seven years.
• Lessons from scaling leadership: knowing when to delegate and when to let go.
• Why embracing mistakes has become one of Rachael's leadership superpowers.
• Building trust with families in a transient community through partnership and persistence.
• Practical habits that protect her time and make the work more sustainable.

Connect with Rachael:

• LinkedIn: Rachael Sewards https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachaelsewards/
• Learn more about Solare Collegiate: https://www.solarecollegiate.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/

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In this quarterly solo episode of the CheckBox Pro Series, Missy shares her What's Saving My Life list for Fall 2025—a season she defines as October through December, otherwise known as the sprint to the end of the year. This episode is equal parts reflection, survival guide, and joy inventory, capturing the small habits, simple tools, and intentional choices that helped her stay grounded during one of the busiest seasons of the year. From tiny logistics like a USB port adapter and Aquaphor, to bigger mindset shifts like not overplanning a family trip abroad, Missy walks through ten very real things that made life feel more manageable and more joyful. Along the way, she reflects on slowing down enough to notice what's working, creating margin where possible, and giving herself permission to lean into ease—even when the calendar is full. If you've ever felt like fall moved faster than you did, this episode is an invitation to pause, take stock, and name the things—big or small—that are helping you show up well for your people and yourself.

In this episode, Missy shares:

• The tiny tools that removed daily friction (and why they mattered more than expected).
• How Halloween became a joyful on-ramp to a hectic season.
• A mindset shift that made international travel with young kids actually enjoyable.
• Why rewatching familiar shows can be the perfect form of rest.
• Simple systems that reduced decision fatigue at home.
• How naming what's working can bring more calm, clarity, and gratitude.

Listener Invitation: If you've never made your own What's Saving My Life list, this episode is your sign. Write it down, voice note it, or just name it quietly to yourself. And if something from Missy's list resonated with you, she'd love to hear about it—because noticing what's working is always better together.

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/

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In this episode of the CheckBox Pro Series, Missy sits down with Dr. Josh Pinto Taylor, Co-Founder and Executive Director of The Anchor School in Atlanta, Georgia. Josh shares his journey from studying architecture to founding a charter school that blends academic excellence, student voice, and community impact. He reflects on the challenges of leading a growing school—running a thriving middle school while preparing to launch a high school—and what it means to lead with vision and shared ownership. Josh also unpacks The Anchor School's approach to place-based and project-based learning, where students identify problems within their own community and design solutions that make their school—and city—better. From hygiene cabinets and community gardens to student-designed duffel bags, Josh shares how giving students real agency transforms learning and builds lasting confidence.

Key Takeaways:

• How The Anchor School blends architecture, education, and community design to shape learning.
• The difference between place-based and project-based learning—and why both matter.
• Practical examples of student-led projects that improve their school community.
• How to implement project-based learning whether you're a classroom teacher or school leader.
• The power of centering students' voices through structures like "micro village meetings."

Connect with Josh:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josh-pinto-taylor-ed-d-77913035/
• Learn more about The Anchor School: https://www.theanchorschool.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/

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In this powerful episode of the CheckBox Pro Series, Missy sits down with Jasmin Dean, Founder and Executive Director of Celebrate Dyslexia and Celebrate Dyslexia Schools in San Antonio, Texas. What began as a mom's determination to help her son learn to read has grown into a movement reshaping how families, educators, and medical professionals understand and support dyslexia. Jasmin shares her journey from managing her husband's medical practice to founding a nonprofit—and eventually launching a public charter school designed as a model for how every campus can serve students with dyslexia effectively. She explains how Celebrate Dyslexia's three initiatives—high-profile community events, medical collaboration, and education innovation—work together to bridge the gap between advocacy and action. With warmth and conviction, Jasmin invites listeners to rethink how we define literacy success and why reading is the foundation of equity.

Key Takeaways:

• How a personal journey led to founding both a nonprofit and a public charter school for students with dyslexia.
• The power of aligning education and medicine to improve diagnosis and access to services.
• Why every teacher at Celebrate Dyslexia Schools is trained in academic language therapy.
• How the organization uses its "lab school" model to pilot and share best practices statewide.
• Jasmin's vision for an open-source dyslexia curriculum to make effective instruction accessible to all.

Connect with Jasmin:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasmin-dean-b95270192/
• Website: https://www.celebratedyslexia.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/

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In this episode of the CheckBox Pro Series, Missy sits down with Aaron Wallace, Associate Education Director at Dynamic Minds Academy in Indiana—a public charter school serving students across the autism spectrum. Aaron shares how his untraditional path from college hockey player to educator led him to a school that blends academics and therapy in powerful ways. He talks about the importance of "being the solid object"—a grounding presence for students and staff alike—and how that mindset shapes his leadership, especially in challenging moments. From advocating fiercely for his students to sustaining himself as both a leader and a dad, Aaron's story is an honest reminder of what it means to stay steady in the storm.

Key Takeaways:

• How Dynamic Minds Academy blends education and therapy for students on the autism spectrum.
• What it means to "be the solid object" for students—and why tone, patience, and presence matter.
• The role of humor and humanity in leadership and de-escalation.
• The importance of onboarding, mentorship, and protecting teachers from burnout.
• How Aaron sustains himself through intentional boundaries, family time, and perspective.

Connect with Aaron:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaron-wallace-56b750374/
• Learn more about Dynamic Minds Academy: https://www.dynamicmindsacademy.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/

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In this inspiring episode of the CheckBox Pro Series, Missy talks with Dr. Leticia Archuleta, Executive Director of Health Leadership High School in Albuquerque, New Mexico. With a background that bridges social work, education, and leadership, Dr. Archuleta shares how her school is redefining access and equity for students through a powerful blend of health education, community partnerships, and social-emotional learning. From paying students for internships to providing free healthcare and mental health services on campus, Health Leadership High School is a model for what it looks like to truly meet students where they are. Dr. Archuleta also opens up about her journey—from learning American Sign Language to becoming a school leader—and how her superpower of social-emotional leadership fuels a culture of restorative justice and student growth.

Key Takeaways:

• How Health Leadership High School "breaks down barriers" for students and families.
• The impact of integrating paid internships and on-site health and healing centers.
• Why social-emotional learning and restorative practices are central to student success.
• Dr. Archuleta's innovative Student Success Report Card and her focus on emotional intelligence.
• How leaders can balance high-impact work with home life while staying connected to their "why."

Connect with Dr. Archuleta:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/school/health-leadership-high-school/
• Learn more about Health Leadership High School: https://healthleadershiphighschool.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/

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In this episode of the CheckBox Pro Series, Missy sits down with Danielle Mack, Chief Executive Officer of Ethos Classical in Atlanta. Danielle shares her journey from teaching seventh grade math to founding and leading a thriving K–8 school community, one she trusted enough to enroll her own children in. She opens up about the challenges of leading through growth and transition, the importance of balancing motherhood with leadership, and how she sustains herself in a demanding role. At the heart of her leadership is a superpower: creating joyful, connected communities where families, scholars, and staff are active participants rather than passive consumers.

Key Takeaways:

• Danielle's path from teaching and college access work to founding Ethos Classical.
• Why joy, community, and transparency are core values at Ethos.
• How Danielle balances being a school leader and mom of four—and why modeling whole-person care matters.
• The role of active listening and seeing children as "whole people" in building trust.
• Practical resources Danielle leans on: Yardsticks and The Whole-Brain Child.

Connect with Danielle:

• LinkedIn: Danielle Mack https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielle-mack-09627a173/
• Learn more about Ethos Classical: https://www.ethosclassical.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/

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