52: Running the Founding Marathon

In this episode of the CheckBox Pro Series, Missy sits down with Christine Keck, Founder of The Meliora School, for a candid conversation about the realities of planning year and what it takes to sustain yourself through the work of founding a school. Christine shares her journey into education, from choosing Teach For America over a move to London, to working across high-performing charter networks, and ultimately launching her own school. She also introduces Meliora's model, a mastery-based 6–12 school focused on entrepreneurship, computer science, and ensuring students are truly seen and known as individuals. The conversation offers an honest look at the demands of the planning year, where founding a school often feels less like leading academics and more like running a multi-million dollar business. Christine compares the experience to running a marathon. It requires endurance, discipline, and intentional moments of rest to make it to the finish line. She reflects on the challenge of balancing deep passion for the work with the need to model sustainability for her team. Christine also shares what she is most proud of. She has a fully enrolled founding class with a growing waitlist and a team that is deeply invested in the mission and willing to build something meaningful together. She names her leadership superpower as persistence and problem-solving, figuring things out when others say no. She also emphasizes the importance of building systems that foster innovation and follow-through. This episode is an energizing and honest look at the founding journey and a reminder that while the work is demanding, it is also deeply purposeful. Key Takeaways: Why founding a school often feels like running a marathon and how to pace yourself. The hidden business demands of planning year leadership. How to build a mission-aligned team in a competitive hiring landscape. The importance of modeling sustainability and setting boundaries early. Why persistence and creative problem-solving are essential leadership skills. Connect with Christine: Connect with Christine Keck on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-christine-keck-82a75536/ Learn more about The Meliora School https://www.themelioraschool.org/ 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