CheckBox Pro Series

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.

39: Leading Like a Solid Object 11/17/2025

38: Removing Barriers, Building Futures 11/03/2025

37: Building Joyful Communities 10/28/2025

36: What's Saving My Life: Summer 2025 10/28/2025

35: Clarity, Alignment, and Adaptability 09/17/2025

34: Realigning to Vision Every Day 09/17/2025

34: Realigning to Vision Every Day In this episode, I sit down with Dana Stuart Browning, founder of The Texas Girls School, just five days after she opened the doors to her brand-new campus. Inspired by her daughter’s experience in STEM, Dana shares her journey from classroom teacher to charter school founder and the vision behind creating a single-gender, STEM-focused, project-based learning environment for middle school girls in Austin. We talk about the challenges of launching a school, the importance of keeping both students and teachers in love with learning, and how strong boundaries and intentional communication systems help her lead with balance and clarity. Key Takeaways: Founding a school requires nimbleness—hiring a mission-aligned team with a “founder’s mindset” is critical. Research shows that girls in single-gender schools are more likely to pursue STEM fields, perform higher in math and science, and build stronger peer relationships. Texas Girls School emphasizes project-based learning, including weekly “Flex Fridays” for design challenges and field explorations. School leaders can sustain themselves by setting boundaries around technology—no email alerts, no late-night emails, and prioritizing in-person connection over constant digital communication. Dana’s superpower as a leader is her ability to cast and realign with vision, helping her and her team stay grounded even when challenges arise. Connect with Dana Stuart Browning: Follow Dana on LinkedIn Follow The Texas Girls School on LinkedIn Learn more or schedule a tour: Nominate a Guest: If you or someone you know is leading with sustainability in mind and has tips, tools, or stories worth sharing, fill out this nomination form: 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. Licensed music ID: ILRNI9DIEHE4JTVQ Music: Energizer by Chris Phaze licensed through Premium Beat by Shutterstock ID: ILRNI9DIEHE4JTVQ /episode/index/show/8fa4a956-e8e7-4ea5-b2fb-92c6cb1f69a4/id/38064345

33: Shifting the Mic to School Leaders 08/18/2025

32: School Nutrition 08/04/2025

31: Lean Management for Dismissal 07/14/2025

30: School Psychology, Simplified 07/08/2025

30: School Psychology, Simplified In this episode, I sit down with ShaVanety Jones, an early career school psychologist, executive functioning coach, and founder of Academic Fusion LLC. With a unique background in psychology and theater, ShaVanety shares how she helps students—especially gifted learners—build confidence, develop essential life skills, and stay engaged through creative tools like improv and social-emotional storytelling. We unpack the multifaceted role of a school psychologist, why third and fourth grade are pivotal years for student development, and how simple acts like writing thank-you notes can teach powerful life lessons. Key takeaways: School psychologists are trained across 10 domains, serving as both evaluators and advocates for students’ academic and mental health needs. ShaVanety’s work focuses on executive functioning, social-emotional growth, and early intervention—especially for gifted students who may struggle with organization and behavior. Academic Fusion, her after-school program, blends theater and skill-building to make learning about time management, communication, and peer interaction fun. Simple strategies like preference assessments and handwritten thank-you notes can make a big difference in student engagement and confidence. Third and fourth grade are often inflection points when students begin to disengage from school—early support and skill-building can help prevent long-term academic and behavioral challenges. The job of a school psychologist extends far beyond counseling—it involves legal timelines, coordination, testing, and deep family communication. Academic Fusion LLC currently operates as a B2B (Business to Business), so she is hired by school districts and organizations. However, keep an eye on things because her goal is to work as a B2C (Business to Customers, ie. parents). Connect with ShaVanety Jones: : : Complete her : UCLA PEERS: CheckBox Pro (https://www.checkboxpro.com/) - learn more about the services CheckBox Pro offers to make the work of school leaders more sustainable Licensed music ID: ILRNI9DIEHE4JTVQ Music: Energizer by Chris Phaze licensed through Premium Beat by Shutterstock ID: ILRNI9DIEHE4JTVQ /episode/index/show/8fa4a956-e8e7-4ea5-b2fb-92c6cb1f69a4/id/37229065