Strategic Planning: One Plan, One Crew, One Course

Too often, boards and staff move forward on separate tracks, one focused on oversight and the other on daily operations. Without a shared vision, momentum stalls and culture begins to fray.

I help bridge that divide. Together we build a deeply collaborative plan that asks the hard questions and gives everyone a direction to move toward together. Because board and staff build it side by side, the plan earns lasting trust between the people who govern and the people who deliver the program.

Ways to work together

Free 30-minute discovery call about your strategic planning challenges. Book a free call →

Ask an Expert, $250. One focused hour on a planning question, such as where to start, how to involve staff and families, or how to break a stalemate. Book now →

Strategic planning needs assessment, $7,000 to $10,000, 6 to 8 weeks. I identify the 3 to 5 essential questions your plan must answer and research the internal and external context for each, so your board makes decisions on solid ground. Includes individual and focus group interviews with leaders and stakeholders, a review of internal documents and financial and outcome data, context research, and a written report with recommendations. Request a proposal →

Strategic planning co-facilitation, $18,000 to $25,000, 6 to 8 months. Working with leaders from your team, I complete the needs assessment and then guide your board through the discussions and decisions that shape the plan. The result is a plan fully aligned with your values that sets a course for fulfilling your mission at the highest level. The needs assessment is included. Request a proposal →

Strategic plan implementation coaching, $2,500 for six months. Turn your plan into action: key performance indicators and action plans for each major goal, plus a board dashboard to track progress, with a monthly coaching session. Or $200 a session as needed. Book a free call →

Ongoing Board Partnership, from $750 a month. Keep your plan on track after it’s adopted. Essentials at $750 a month or Plus at $1,500 a month, as described on the Governance page. Request a proposal →

Testimonial

Chris not only excelled as a school leader for Highline Academy—replicating their model to fully build out their second campus to high performance—but also worked tirelessly as an ecosystem leader in the Denver Public School Charter Sector. Chris served as both a member and Chair of DPS’s Collaborative Council, the district’s advisory committee of charter leaders. She advocated and negotiated with our district authorizer to eliminate barriers and institute fair practices that allowed the entire sector to benefit. Chris is a systems thinker and a visionary for what transformative education can be.

— Carol Bowar, Chief of School Partnerships and Operations, Denver Families for Public Schools