On March 27, 2023, Leigh Toomey was the Head of School when shots were fired at the Covenant School in Nashville. In the hours and days that followed, she had to lead her community through lockdown, reunification, grief, and recovery.

In this episode, Leigh shares what that experience taught her about crisis leadership, trauma-informed school culture, and why women’s voices are essential in educational leadership today.

Whether you’re a Head of School, division leader, or classroom teacher, this conversation will help you think differently about preparedness, communication, and what it means to lead with both courage and compassion.

1. Leading Through Crisis in Real Time

2. Practical Steps to Strengthen School Safety

3. Supporting Communities After Trauma

4. Women in Educational Leadership

4. Redefining Leadership with Compassion

Leigh Toomey is the founder of LeadHership Educational Solutions and a former Head of School with deep experience in crisis management, women’s leadership development, and school culture. She brings a unique blend of business acumen and educational leadership to her consulting work, helping schools build safer, stronger communities.

After leading her school through the aftermath of the Covenant School tragedy in Nashville, Leigh became a passionate advocate for trauma-informed practices, preparedness planning, and empowering women in educational leadership.

Leigh Toomey — LeadHership Educational Solutions: leadHershipeducationalsolutions.com
Contact: [email protected] 
Voices for a Safer Tennessee: safertn.org
Help 100 Schools Movement: help100schools.com

How is your school preparing for crisis management while building community trust?

Share your thoughts on social media and tag #Help100Schools

Subscribe to the Help 100 Schools Podcast for more conversations on leadership, growth, and building stronger school communities.

In this episode of the Help 100 Schools Podcast, we are joined by  Dare to Lead facilitator, consultant with Educational Directions, and former head of school guest Nicole McDermott. Together, we explore why authenticity, courage, and vulnerability are not just leadership buzzwords—but essential ingredients for thriving school communities.

Drawing on her 18 years leading an independent school and direct training with Brené Brown, Nicole shares how daring leadership principles can strengthen trust, improve culture, and empower both educators and students to “do hard things” together.

1. Why Daring Leadership Matters Now

• Why courage and authenticity are often undervalued in schools.
• How leadership that embraces vulnerability creates healthier communities.
• Why these traits are essential in today’s climate of fatigue and uncertainty.

2. Lessons from the Head of School Experience

• Nicole’s journey from classroom teacher to head of school at age 29.
• How social-emotional growth and academic rigor can be woven together.
• Embedding Brené Brown’s work into school culture—books, trainings, and shared language.

3. Practical Applications in Schools

• Navigating hard conversations with parents, teachers, and donors.
• Supporting students in moments of dysregulation with curiosity and connection.
• Using daring leadership as a framework for decision-making and conflict resolution.

4. The Role of Vulnerability & Curiosity

• Why asking more questions—and making fewer assumptions—builds trust.
• How curiosity strengthens connection, even in disagreement.
• Why daring leadership is not just for heads of school, but for teachers and staff too.

5. Building Resilient Communities

• “We can do hard things”—how one school made it a cultural motto.
• Why repetition and discipline are necessary to sustain authenticity.
• How daring leadership helps schools co-create environments where everyone can thrive.

• Leadership is for everyone. Daring leadership isn’t limited to titles—it’s for teachers, staff, and all members of a school community.
• Connection reduces conflict. Curiosity and authenticity defuse disagreements and strengthen relationships.
• Culture is co-created. Faculty, students, and families all shape the environment—leaders set the tone, but communities build it together.
• Courage is contagious. Modeling vulnerability and authenticity encourages others to do the same.
• Hard things are worth doing. The challenges of today’s educational landscape require leaders who are willing to step forward with courage and intention.

Nicole McDermott: nicolemcdermott.net
Educational Directions: EduDx.com
Dare to Lead by Brené Brown

How is your school practicing authenticity and daring leadership?
Share your thoughts with us on social media and tag Help 100 Schools.

And don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast for more insights on school leadership, culture, and the future of education.

In this episode of the Help 100 Schools Podcast, Karl Boehm interviews Evan Harris, president of Pathos Consulting Group, to discuss how deep fakes and AI abuse are creating new safety challenges for schools—and what leaders must do now to prepare. From fake crisis videos to AI-generated sextortion, these threats are no longer hypothetical.

Evan brings a combination of experience as a former teacher and administrator, national advisor on AI risks, and researcher with Stanford’s Human-Centered AI Institute. Having co-authored the NAIS legal guide on deep fake sexual abuse, he shares real-world cases, prevention strategies, and actionable steps schools can take to protect students and strengthen digital safety.

• Deep fakes aren’t just a tech buzzword—they’re fueling new forms of bullying, sextortion, and reputational damage.
• Real-world cases: a Baltimore principal framed with cloned audio, and fake videos of gunshots or fires disrupting schools.
• Why schools can’t wait until it happens to them.

2. Three Essential Buckets for School Safety

• Policy: Write tech-neutral rules that cover both harmful media and threats to create it.
• Crisis Readiness: Don’t just keep a binder—practice scenarios as a team.
• Prevention: Train staff, build student awareness, and partner with parents early.

3. The Human Factor

• Why leaders, when confronted with this issue, instantly shift from administrator to parent.
• How victim notification can either lessen or multiply the damage.
• The importance of trauma-informed counseling, agency, and dignity for students.

4. Big Schools vs. Small Schools

• Larger schools may have more resources, but small schools feel disruption more acutely.
• The biggest vulnerability isn’t your IT system—it’s your people.

5. Five Steps You Can Take Today

1. Update your handbook policy with broad language and clear examples.
2. Use inoculation theory—show your community a safe fake example so they know what to look for.
3. Engage parents first so they’re prepared when kids come home with questions.
4. Run a crisis comms tabletop with your leadership and MarCom teams.
5. Plan victim notification protocols with compassion and care.

• Prevention is possible—but you must start before a crisis.
• This isn’t niche. Research shows up to 1 in 5 high schoolers know of a classmate targeted with deep fake abuse.
• Parent partnerships are non-negotiable. They’re critical for prevention and communication.
• Skills matter more than binders. Crisis readiness comes from practice, not paperwork.
• Every child deserves safety. Protecting students’ digital dignity is core to your mission.

• Email Evan: [email protected]
• Connect on LinkedIn: Evan Harris AI
• Explore: Pathos Consulting Group

Have questions about AI safety or deep fakes in schools?
 Tag us on social media and let us know what you’re seeing in your community.

And don’t forget to subscribe to Help 100 Schools for more insights on leadership, safety, and the future of education.

Cyberattacks are no longer a distant threat—they’re a growing reality for independent schools. In this episode, Mikel Pearce, General Counsel and Breach Coach Relationship Manager at CyberClan, joins host Karl Boehm to break down what schools need to do before, during, and after a cyber breach.

If you’re a school leader, administrator, or IT decision-maker, this episode will give you clear next steps to strengthen your school’s defenses and prepare for the unexpected.

Has your school faced a cyber incident? Share your lessons learned in the comments or tag us on social media!

Subscribe for more episodes on school leadership, risk management, and cybersecurity.

In this episode of the Help 100 Schools Podcast, Karl Boehm interviews Elizabeth Fraley, founder and CEO of KinderReady, to discuss how early education is being reshaped—and what private schools must do to stay ahead. With kindergarten now resembling what used to be first grade benchmarks, expectations for young learners are rising fast.

Elizabeth brings over a decade of experience supporting schools and families. From shifting math standards to the decline of dramatic play, she shares trends, research and actionable strategies for creating confident learners—without sacrificing what’s developmentally appropriate.

1. Early Education is Evolving

2. Play-Based Learning vs. Academic Rigor

3. The Learning Triangle Framework

Elizabeth introduces a flexible model that evaluates each child across three key areas:

No two children have perfectly balanced triangles—and that’s okay. Educators must assess, adapt, and personalize support based on what each student needs.

4. Understanding and Guiding Parent Expectations

5. How Private Schools Can Lead the Way

Have questions about play-based learning or kindergarten readiness? Tag us on social media!

Subscribe for more episodes on education trends and school leadership

1. Why Families Choose Olney Friends School
Christian shares that families instinctively feel their children will belong at Olney Friends School.

The school welcomes students who may not fit into traditional public or private schools, offering them a nurturing and accepting environment.

Many prospective students recognize that Olney is the right place for them even before completing their interview process.

2. The Unique “Olney Friends Spirit”

The “Olney Friends School Spirit” means different things to different people:

3. The Captivating History of Olney Friends School

The school has faced and overcome significant challenges, including burning down three times and being rebuilt without disrupting classes.
Christian sees this as a powerful metaphor for resilience—no matter the hardships, the school remains standing and grows stronger.

4. Community-Centered Education

The school emphasizes community as a central pillar of its philosophy. In a world that often prioritizes materialism and individualism, Olney instills the values of collaboration, mutual respect, and social responsibility.

Christian shares a story of a friend who initially questioned his choice to lead Olney Friends School, only to understand its significance after spending time with the students and faculty.

5. The Mission and Vision of Olney Friends School

6. Who Thrives at Olney Friends School?

Have you ever experienced a school with a spirit like Olney’s? Share your thoughts on our social media platforms!

Subscribe for more episodes on school leadership, education, and community-building.

In this episode, Karl Boehm sits down with Mattingly Messina, founder of ThroughLine, to discuss the crucial relationship between enrollment, marketing, and development in independent schools. They explore how schools can bridge the gap between these departments to create long-term financial stability and better community engagement.

1. The Importance of Relationship-Based Work in Schools

Mattingly shares his journey from tech and legal negotiations at Google to working in advancement and development for independent schools. He discusses how relationship-building is at the heart of successful fundraising and enrollment strategies.

2. The Enrollment & Development Divide: Why It Matters

• Many schools treat enrollment (recruiting families) and development (fundraising) as separate silos.
• Mattingly explains why these teams should collaborate on strategy, data, and shared goals.
• Schools that integrate these departments see better financial outcomes and stronger community engagement.

3. Budgeting & Revenue: Thinking Beyond the Fiscal Year

• Independent schools are facing an inflection point in financial sustainability.
• Mattingly advises schools to take a long-term view of revenue, combining tuition strategy with fundraising goals.
• He suggests that enrollment and development directors should be involved in financial planning together.

4. Data & Marketing: Creating a Shared Strategy

• Schools often underutilize donor and enrollment data—but these insights can help target the right families.
• Development teams track wealth and philanthropy trends, while enrollment teams study demographic data—sharing this information can drive better decision-making.
• The key: joint quarterly meetings between enrollment and development teams to align efforts.

5. The Future of School Advancement Models

• Some schools are adopting an advancement model, where enrollment, marketing, and development are housed under one leader.
• While promising, Mattingly warns that success requires strong leadership and cross-departmental collaboration.
• Schools need leaders with expertise in both enrollment and fundraising to make this model effective.

• Connect with Mattingly Messina: ThroughLine Consulting
• Find Mattingly on LinkedIn: Mattingly Messina
• Visit the Podcast Website: Help100Schools.com

Listen to the Full Episode: Click here to play

What challenges have you faced in bridging enrollment and development? Let us know in the comments or on social media!

Subscribe for More Episodes on school marketing, enrollment, and fundraising insights.

In this episode of Help 100 Schools, we shine the spotlight on Virginia Beach Friends School, a remarkable institution that blends values-based education with a strong sense of community. Join us as we speak with Anna Facemire, Advancement Director and parent at the school, to explore how their unique approach to education nurtures both academic and character development in students from ages 2.5 through eighth grade.

Guest: Anna Facemire, Advancement Director at Virginia Beach Friends School

Anna shares her unique perspective as both an administrator and a parent of three students, discussing the school’s mission, values, and the sense of belonging it fosters among families and staff alike.

Founded in 1955, Virginia Beach Friends School is celebrating nearly 70 years of providing a distinctive Quaker education. Their mission is to graduate students who are mindful of their choices, actions, and responsibilities while fostering happiness and community.

To learn more about Virginia Beach Friends School, visit their website or connect with them on social media:

Thank you for tuning into this episode of Help 100 Schools. If Virginia Beach Friends School’s story inspired you, consider sharing this episode to spread awareness about their incredible work. Visit help100schools.com to learn more about our mission to elevate deserving schools and subscribe to never miss another inspiring story.

Together, we can make a difference—one school at a time. See you in the next episode!

<span data-mce-type="bookmark" style="display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;" class="mce_SELRES_start"></span>

Why You Should Listen:

In this insightful solo episode, Karl Boehm answers a listener’s burning question: How can private schools effectively use YouTube? As one of the most powerful and underutilized platforms in education, YouTube is explored as a must-have tool for enhancing school visibility, connecting with potential families, and building long-term digital engagement.

What’s Covered:

Karl’s Pro Tip:

“Don’t let perfect be the enemy of good. Your school’s story is evolving, and it’s better to start cataloging it now than to wait for the ‘perfect’ setup.”

Join the Conversation:

Share your thoughts, ask questions, and let us know how you’re using YouTube for your school. Like and subscribe for more episodes that help your school thrive.

Resources & Links:

Stay tuned for future updates!

Featured Guest:

Host:

Episode Highlights:

Call to Action:

Closing Thoughts: