57: Helping Every Student Belong

In this episode of the CheckBox Pro Series, Missy sits down with Kayleigh Colombero, Founder and Superintendent of Étoile Academy Charter School, for an honest conversation about school founding, leadership, and building opportunities that change students' lives. Kayleigh shares how her own childhood shaped her belief that every student deserves access to an exceptional education and the confidence to know they belong in any room. She reflects on founding Étoile Academy, the lessons she's learned while growing from a single middle school to a multi-campus network, and why she recently stepped back into the principal role to better understand the day-to-day realities facing her team. Throughout the conversation, Kayleigh discusses the importance of staying relentlessly focused on student outcomes, creating systems that support teachers, and communicating with clarity across an organization. She also shares practical tools her leadership team uses to strengthen collaboration, improve communication, and keep everyone aligned around what matters most for students. Whether you're leading a new school or an established organization, this episode offers an authentic look at what it takes to stay mission-focused, adapt quickly, and keep students at the center of every decision. Connect with Kayleigh: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kayleigh-colombero-29b21062/ Learn more about Etoile Academy: https://www.etoileacademy.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