Episode Title: Pastor + Principal Partnerships: One Mission, One Team
Host: John Mihalyo
Guests: Julie Capirchio (Principal) + Fr. Gregory Stowe (Pastor)

Summary

Julie and Fr. Stowe share what a healthy pastor–principal partnership really looks like: shared mission, constant communication, honest disagreement behind closed doors, and a united front in public. They explain how parish and school can function as one community, why “no surprises” matters, and how trust is built over time—especially through hard seasons.

Key Takeaways

• One campus, one mission: parish + school thrive when they act as one body.
• No secrets, no surprises: steady communication prevents division and drama.
• Disagree privately, support publicly: unity strengthens culture and trust.
• Model collaboration at the top: staff and families follow what leaders demonstrate.
• Reciprocity matters: schools should actively support parish life (service, visibility, relationships).

Practical Advice

For pastors: listen deeply, discern wisely, and set the principal up to succeed.
For principals: be direct, ask questions, admit mistakes, and stay focused on what’s best for kids.

Closing Line

“Keep it real and don’t hold grudges.”

Set up a Time to Meet with John Mihalyo to Talk About Your Goals
Click here to schedule a time

Visit Elementary Advancement Solutions for great resources for Catholic school leaders! 

The Catholic School Leaders Podcast
Host: John Mihalyo

Guest: Dr. Trevor Timmerberg, Assistant Superintendent, Archdiocese of Louisville

Episode Overview

Being a principal can be a lonely job. In this episode, John and Dr. Trevor Timmerberg unpack how a strong, healthy leadership team helps you lead with clarity, build trust, and move your school forward—without carrying everything on your own.

What You’ll Learn

• Mission-driven vs. maintenance-driven leadership teams
• How to choose the right people (not just the right positions)
• The right team size and meeting length
• How to prevent “meetings after meetings”
• Simple agenda structures that drive action and accountability
• Empowering others to lead (so it’s not all on you)

Key Takeaway

A great leadership team strengthens culture, improves decisions, and keeps your school focused on mission—not just managing the daily fires.

Call to Action

Need help building or refining your leadership team? Reach out to John Mihalyo to talk about your school.

Episode Summary

In this episode of the Catholic School Leaders Podcast, John uses the turnaround of Indiana University football to challenge Catholic school leaders to rethink what’s possible for their schools.

Indiana went from an afterthought to a national champion because leadership refused to accept average. Catholic schools can experience the same kind of transformation—when culture, expectations, and people are aligned.

Key Takeaways

• Every turnaround starts with “no more.” Stop accepting excuses and lowering expectations.
• Culture comes before results. Strong schools expect excellence—they don’t just hope for it.
• People matter most. Hire for culture, not just experience, and support people to rise to high expectations.
• Success must be sustainable. One good year isn’t success—consistent growth is.
• There are no shortcuts. Real change takes time, investment, and commitment.

Final Thought

Five years from now, your Catholic school can be the standard—but only if you start building that culture today.

Ready to Take the Next Step?

If you want help moving your school forward, visit www.elementaryadvancement.com to connect and explore resources.

Schedule a time to meet with me here!

The Catholic School Leaders Podcast
Host: John Mihalyo

Guest: Sarah Schneider, Associate Director of Enrollment, Catholic Schools Center of Excellence (CSCOE)

Episode Summary

In this episode, John sits down with Sarah from the Catholic Schools Center of Excellence in Minnesota to discuss how collaboration, visibility, and intentional leadership are driving enrollment growth and strengthening Catholic school communities.

Sarah shares how CSCOE supports 151 Catholic schools across Minnesota through enrollment support, professional development, grants, and shared learning—helping schools avoid isolation and move forward together. The conversation focuses on the real challenges principals face when wearing multiple hats, and practical ways leaders can stay visible, build relationships, and use time more intentionally.

This episode is packed with realistic advice for principals, pastors, and Catholic school leaders navigating limited time, limited resources, and big expectations.

Key Topics Covered

• What the Catholic Schools Center of Excellence (CSCOE) is and how it supports schools
• Why collaboration matters more than competition
• The reality of principals wearing “all the hats”
• Why visibility of school leaders builds trust and enrollment
• Simple ways principals can use video and social media effectively
• Scheduling time intentionally instead of reacting all day
• How transparency builds trust with parents and staff
• The importance of knowing and clearly articulating your school’s differentiator
• Why Catholic schools must confidently share what makes them unique

Schedule a Time to Meet with John Mihalyo Here

Visit the Catholic Schools Center for Excellence website here. 

The Catholic School Leaders Podcast
Host: John Mihalyo
Title: From Chaos to Clarity: Creating an Advancement Strategy That Works

Episode Summary

In this episode, John continues his planning series by focusing on why Catholic schools need a clear advancement game plan—and why advancement is about far more than raising money.

Without a plan, fundraising feels chaotic, rushed, and inconsistent. John explains what happens when schools rely on hope instead of strategy, and how intentional advancement planning builds trust, strengthens donor relationships, and creates long-term sustainability.

Listeners will learn how strong advancement efforts move from transactional giving to meaningful partnerships that support the school’s mission for years to come.

Key Takeaway

Strong advancement doesn’t happen by accident. It requires clear planning, consistent communication, and a mission-driven approach that builds trust and sustainability.

Call to Action

Need help building an advancement plan that works?
👉 Visit elementaryadvancement.com or click the link here to schedule a conversation with John.

Hope Is Not a Strategy: Building a Real Enrollment Game Plan

Host: John Mihalyo

Episode Summary

In this episode, John explains why hope, tradition, and “we’ve always done it this way” are not strategies for enrollment growth. Schools that lack a clear game plan end up reacting, scrambling, and relying on luck instead of intentional, data-driven decisions.

John kicks off a new series focused on building strategic plans for enrollment, advancement, leadership, and culture—starting with enrollment.

Key Topics

• Why hope is not a strategy
• What happens when schools don’t have an enrollment plan
• Inconsistent follow-up, unclear messaging, and weak tours
• The importance of marketing to current families
• Why consistency matters in tours and communication
• Recruiting for graduation, not just enrollment day
• What a strong enrollment game plan includes:
  • A clear process from inquiry to first day of school
  • Defined roles and responsibilities
  • Consistent, personalized follow-up

Key Takeaway

Predictable enrollment results come from intentional planning. When everyone knows the plan, enrollment becomes less stressful—and more effective.

Call to Action

Want help creating an enrollment game plan that works?
👉 Click the calendar link here to schedule a conversation with John.

As Catholic school leaders prepare for budgeting, tuition setting, and planning for the months ahead, many struggle with how to spend money wisely. In this episode, John explores two common extremes: fear-based spending that leads to cutting corners, and undisciplined spending that creates confusion and shortfalls. The answer lies in strategic, mission-driven investment that strengthens schools for the long term.

This episode challenges leaders to move beyond scarcity or carelessness and instead invest with clarity, confidence, and purpose.

Key Takeaways

• Fear-based spending hurts mission, morale, and growth
• Cheap choices often cost more in the long run
• Spending should be intentional, strategic, and aligned with mission
• Wise investments produce real ROI in enrollment, advancement, and culture
• Strong schools balance stewardship with confidence—not fear

Call to Action

If you’re ready to invest in your school with clarity and a clear game plan—without fear or overspending—I’d love to talk. Schools I work with are seeing meaningful growth in enrollment, advancement, and leadership.

👉 Learn more or schedule a conversation with John Mihalyo here.

Visit Elementary Advancement Solutions at www.elementaryadvancement.com

Title: New Workshop Coming December 11th!
Host: John Mihalyo

Episode Overview

In this short episode, John introduces an upcoming free workshop for Catholic school leaders: “The Five Reasons Your School Is Consistently
Missing Its Enrollment Goal.” The workshop will be held Thursday, December 11, 2025, at 12 PM EST and will break down the often-overlooked factors behind enrollment shortfalls—and how to correct them before they impact your budget and school stability.

What You’ll Hear About

• Why enrollment growth is the number one driver of school sustainability
• Common mistakes that keep schools from hitting enrollment goals
• The stress schools face when they enter a new year under-enrolled
• How strengthening your enrollment systems can turn stress into stability
• Details on how to register for this free workshop and what you’ll gain from attending

Workshop Registration

Register for the free December 11th workshop at www.elementaryadvancement.com — and explore additional resources while you're there.

Want Personalized Support?

Want to reach out directly to talk more about their enrollment challenges and how coaching can help? Click here to set up a time!

Catholic School Leaders Podcast:What Black Friday Teaches Us About Recruitment in Catholic Schools
Host: John Mihalyo

As Black Friday ads start flooding inboxes and stores jump straight into holiday sales, John invites Catholic school leaders to look at what these shopping “mega-events” can teach us about enrollment. From excitement and anticipation to joy and commitment, the emotions shoppers experience on Black Friday mirror what families should feel during your school’s recruitment process.

In this episode, John unpacks how schools can harness that same energy to build stronger interest, deeper engagement, and meaningful partnerships with future families.

In This Episode

• Excitement: Are you building buzz around next school year the way retailers build hype for Black Friday?
• Anticipation: What are you doing today to make future families eager for their “first day” with you?
• Visitors: Just like holiday shoppers, some families are ready to enroll—and others are just browsing. How are you welcoming both?
• Joy: When families tour, are they leaving with the feeling that they’ve found something special?
• Happiness & Mission: Enrollment should feel like joining a community rooted in faith, joy, and partnership—not just signing paperwork.

John challenges leaders to bring Black Friday–level enthusiasm into their recruitment efforts and create schools where families feel the same happiness every day that they feel when an exciting package arrives at their doorstep.

Connect With John

Looking to build enrollment excitement at your school?
Set up a conversation with John by clicking here!

📍 Website: www.elementaryadvancement.com

Catholic School Leaders Podcast
Host: John Mihalyo

In this episode, John talks about an often–overlooked part of fundraising events: what happens after the gala, dinner, or major celebration ends. He walks advancement directors and school leaders through the importance of gathering your team soon after the event to reflect, celebrate, and identify opportunities for improvement.

In This Episode

• Why every major event needs a post-event audit
• The key questions to guide your reflection:
  • What worked—and why?
  • What didn’t work—and why not?
  • What should we keep, stop, or change for next year?
• How honest feedback builds stronger events and stronger culture
• Why involving event chairs, committee members, and parent volunteers leads to better insights
• How reflection helps refresh stale traditions and spark new energy

Connect With John

Want help reviewing your recent event or planning for the next one?
Visit www.elementaryadvancement.com
Click here to set up a time to meet with John Mihalyo!