Entrepreneurial Mindset for Transformative Education with Stephen Carter

Listen - EVERY school should be working toward the creation of a culture where the entrepreneurial mindset can flourish, but this culture does not happen on its own. It requires intentional language and key measurements to allow the right amount of FREEDOM, AUTONOMY, and RESOURCES for teachers to embrace innovation in order to drive student engagement. In this episode, Stephen Carter breaks down how this culture at Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy enabled the entrepreneurship program to not only start (13 years ago) but to grow at an incredible rate and gain national attention. Culture is key to everything when it comes to school innovation.

In this episode, Stephen Carter sits down with longtime mentor and former Head of School at Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy, Randy Brunk, to explore what happens when school leaders embrace a culture of yes.

For 18 years, Randy led CHCA through seasons of growth, experimentation, and deep cultural transformation—laying the groundwork for what would become one of the most replicated K–12 entrepreneurship programs in Christian education. Together, they unpack how thoughtful risk-taking, teacher empowerment, and student engagement converge to build thriving, innovative schools rooted in faith.

You’ll hear stories about:

– Launching groundbreaking programs like Personal Responsibility Time (PRT) and the Teacher Innovation Fund
 – Why student engagement—not tradition—is the best metric for success
 – What heads of school can do right now to foster flourishing and innovation
 – How “minimum viable risk” creates space for big ideas to grow
 – The power of saying yes—even when the outcome isn’t guaranteed

Whether you’re a head of school, principal, or educator looking to ignite something new in your school, this conversation is packed with real-world wisdom and actionable takeaways.

Connect with Stephen to get started with entrepreneurship at your school by visiting https://www.seedtreegroup.com/ and connect with Randy at https://next-ed.com/

In this episode, Stephen Carter sits down with Kathie Davis—educator, creative advocate, and leadership champion—to explore the powerful idea that artists are entrepreneurs. Together, they unpack how schools can help creative students see themselves as leaders and changemakers, not just performers or hobbyists. Drawing from her work at Sacred Heart Schools in Louisville, Kathie shares how integrating entrepreneurship and leadership into the fabric of education can transform how students think, create, and contribute. Whether you’re an arts educator, school leader, or parent, this conversation will challenge your assumptions and equip you with a vision for empowering every student to launch with purpose.

Want to bring this to your school?
Reach out to [email protected] or visit seedtreegroup.com to start the conversation.

What does it look like when a school places equal value on student formation, family partnership, and real-world readiness? 

In this episode, Stephen Carter sits down with Dr. Susan Crosier, Head of School at Grace Preparatory Academy in Arlington, Texas—the first trademarked university model school in the nation. Together, they explore how Grace Prep is rethinking everything from classroom structure to curriculum alignment, all anchored in a bold Portrait of a Graduate that emphasizes resilience, critical thinking, and effective communication.

You'll hear how the school’s no-homework model fosters meaningful learning and family connection, why parent engagement is not optional but essential, and how their upcoming entrepreneurship program—developed in partnership with Seed Tree Group—is helping students become resilient, curious problem-solvers ready for any future. Whether you're a school leader, teacher, or parent, this episode is full of insights on creating a truly transformative education experience.

Learn more about Seed Tree Group at https://www.seedtreegroup.com/ and learn more about Grace Prep by visiting https://graceprep.org/

Stephen Carter can be reached directly at [email protected]

In this episode, we explore one of Jim Collins’ most practical and empowering ideas: “Fire Bullets, Then Cannonballs.” It’s a mindset shift that helps schools innovate wisely—by starting small, testing what works, and scaling only when the time is right. Stephen shares how this principle shaped the launch of a thriving entrepreneurship program, and how it can transform everything from student-run ventures to leadership initiatives.

Rather than betting big on untested ideas, schools can take a smarter path: run small pilots, gather real feedback, and adjust as they go. That’s how you build momentum without burning out your team or your students. This episode walks through exactly how to apply that thinking—whether you're launching a new class, rethinking PD, or trying to boost student engagement.

And it’s not just for educators. Students can learn to lead the same way—by testing ideas, failing wisely, and learning fast. If you want a strategy for building innovation into your school’s DNA without losing focus, this episode will give you the tools—and the mindset—to start small and scale with confidence.

This episode dives into one of Jim Collins’ most powerful ideas: The Flywheel Effect. Stephen Carter explores why real, lasting school transformation doesn’t come from flashy launches or one-time events—but from consistent, mission-aligned actions that build momentum over time.

From student-run businesses to leadership programs, the episode unpacks how small, strategic steps—done repeatedly—can unlock exponential growth. Stephen also breaks down how to design your school’s unique flywheel using Collins’ framework and explains why this metaphor is essential for both educators and student entrepreneurs.

Whether you're launching a new initiative or helping students take their first steps as change makers, this episode will help you shift from short-term sprints to long-term momentum.

Discipline beats intensity. Steady, consistent effort—regardless of external conditions—is what drives breakthrough results. This is the 20 Mile March—a metaphor for setting and sticking to clear performance markers no matter the circumstances.

In this episode, we explore how in a world obsessed with hacks, bursts of energy, and overnight success stories, we need to teach our communities the value of consistent, disciplined progress over time.

I’ve seen so many schools launch bold new initiatives—a new leadership program, a student-run business, an advisory model—only to abandon it when the weather gets rough, the momentum dips, or results aren’t immediate.

That’s where we miss the mark. Because consistency compounds.

In my own work with schools across the country, I’ve seen one defining trait of those who build lasting, impactful programs: they commit to the 20 Mile March. They show up. They iterate. They track the right metrics. They don’t get too high when things go well, and they don’t collapse when things get hard.

Discipline is the differentiator.

And that’s where this all ties back to last week’s episode—preserve the core of who you are, yes. But stimulate progress not through massive shifts, but through consistent steps forward—week by week, month by month.

And this means having a vision for where you are and where you want to be.

Why do some schools seem to innovate without losing who they are… while others lose their identity in the process?

In this episode, we explore the Jim Collins concept behind the necessity of preserving the core (holding tightly to your mission, values, and distinct identity) while also stimulating progress (relentlessly pursuing new ideas, methods, and programs to stay relevant and effective). 

Innovative programs like entrepreneurship, STEM, or design thinking make learning feel exciting, real-world, and future-focused. These aren’t just electives — they are powerful vehicles for students to apply knowledge, solve real problems, and discover their unique strengths. When students build a business prototype, code a solution, or tackle a design challenge, the walls of the classroom expand — suddenly, learning has purpose and relevance. It’s in these moments that students aren’t just preparing for the future — they’re actively shaping it.

The caution is if we only preserve the core without progress, we get stuck. If we only chase progress without preserving the core, we lose trust and clarity.

There are four ideas for how to do this in the school setting:

1. Redesign Learning Spaces for Collaboration

2. Integrate Real-World Partnerships

3. Shift from Content Coverage to Competency Development

4. Empower Student Voice and Choice

And all of this matters because the future belongs to schools—and students—that know who they are and where they’re going.

Dr. Joel Hazard, the Head of Academic Collaboration and Culture at Fellowship Christian School in Roswell, Georgia, has amazing insights when it comes to transforming the school experience around true collaboration. On a mission to provide the best possible Christian education, Dr. Hazard explores how we, as teachers and school leaders, need to get used to being uncomfortable.

He recommends implementing After Action Reviews (AARs) for a culture of continuous improvement that focuses on 1) what went well, 2) what didn't go well, and 3) what can we do to enhance going forward?

Additionally, Dr. Hazard explores how true collaboration is different than cooperation, and schools need to step into this space to make sure true collaboration is taking place. This means learning to "fail cheaply" through trying new, innovative things in the classroom. It also means getting feedback, providing differentiated learning, creating physical movement in the classroom, and given choices to students. 

With an emphasis on "relationship first," Dr. Hazard has fantastic content that can e immediately applied to K-12 schools across the nation.

You can follow him on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-joel-hazard-797703126/ and you can learn more about Fellowship Christian School by visiting https://www.fellowshipchristianschool.org/

Connect with me, Stephen Carter, at [email protected]

After a chance encounter with Chris Voss, author of Never Split the Difference and CEO of the Black Swan Group, I walked away with a valuable lesson around negotiation tactics.

Voss suggested that the key to a negotiation is to get what you want with the other person saying "no." The reasoning is that it feels considerably safer to say "no" than to say "yes" and therefore you are more likely to close the deal or make the sale if you can get what you want while the other person feels they can say "no."