Description

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 https://www.linkedin.com/in/danabrowning1976/
• Follow The Texas Girls School on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/texasgirlsschool/
• Learn more or schedule a tour: https://www.texasgirlsschool.org/

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: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe7yAPDmx7Mnh-Za6yKw0otmtFGND9e-mMdYW_QGAFnbNly_A/viewform?usp=sharing&ouid=102956796630725968003

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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