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 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/ Licensed music ID: ILRNI9DIEHE4JTVQ Music: Energizer by Chris Phaze licensed through Premium Beat by Shutterstock ID: ILRNI9DIEHE4JTVQ