What you Should Know Before Founding a School

Dear Younger Me,

It turns out many of the clichés are actually true. That doesn’t mean, however, they are not worth following. You certainly may not live up to all of this advice, but on your good days, you’ll find these sayings useful.

• Everyone may not see all you do, but they see a lot. Let’s face it, as in life, there will be many acts of service that go unseen. But sometimes, it’s the smallest moments that your faculty and staff will notice. So take the time to vacuum that room, pick up that trash, be the one to close down the building after an evening event, or cheer on the soccer and basketball teams. Someone on your faculty and staff will realize that they too can do something you have asked them to do precisely because you were willing to do it yourself.
• That said, delegate! What are the things that only you can do? Do these, and try to delegate as much as you can. It’s hard when you know your team is stretched thin as well, so in order to delegate you absolutely must…
• Prioritize. What are two-to-three things to focus on this year or next? What are you putting in place now so you can work on other priorities next year or the year after? Help your team do the same.
• Evaluate your org chart annually. Are the right people on the right seat of the bus? Do you need to create a new position? Does anyone supervise more than seven people? As a charter leader, you have the ability to be creative — go for it!
• And when a staff member is not a mission fit, don’t renew the contract! Those conversations are tough, but you will be so relieved in the fall. This means you need to…
• Keep your eyes on the mission of the school. Watch for mission-creep. Resist pressure to teach to secondary goods (to a test, to college entrance, etc.). These genuinely good things will come naturally if you make your primary goal to instill a love of learning in your students. This is counter-cultural, but this is why you opened this school. So make sure all of your priorities are oriented to this mission.
• Your students are hungry for goodness, truth, and beauty. Especially beauty. Don’t underestimate the power of creating a culture of beauty.
• All students deserve this education. Hire people who believe this. Help students come to believe this.
• Talk in person. You are an introvert and conflict-averse. But don’t avoid hard conversations by writing an email. Talk in person. Be honest and respectful. You won’t regret it.
• Be generous. Apologize where you can. Commit to doing better. Be honest with parents. Letting some things go isn’t a cop-out; it’s being strategic about what battles you want to fight. Also, humility is good for you!
• The work will always be there. It is never done. You will go gray faster than a sitting president. It's stressful. So step away, especially during school breaks. You will not regret spending those days with your family. And your husband was right: you should have exercised more. And while you’re at it, don’t wait until you retire to get a real physical. It’s a scandal that there is a dearth of information about women’s health. Get a DEXA scan!
• Be prepared to be surprised by things you can do and tasks you love. It turns out, you love a good excel spreadsheet and enjoy building a complicated schedule, you delight in building a thorough SWOT plan and thinking through facility master planning. Who knew this philosophy major would so thoroughly enjoy the operational side of running a school? Have fun!
• You will also be completely changed. You need to rely on people as you never have before. You will not only find amazing colleagues, but some dear friends. Your life won’t be the same. Your family’s life won’t be the same. You have the opportunity to throw your lot in with good people doing good work. What a gift!
• When it’s time to go, you’ll know it. And when that time comes, step away. Let the team you have built take the seed you have planted and nurture it to fuller maturity. Let go. This will be good for you and for the school.

Don’t be afraid. You got this!

Sincerely,

Your Older (and grayer) Self

Mary Faith’s leadership has shaped a school where all students — regardless of background — receive a high-quality education rooted in truth, beauty, and goodness. Under her guidance, Thomas MacLaren School earned numerous accolades, but Mary Faith's true legacy lies in the respect, compassion, and intellectual curiosity she has fostered in every student.

Listen to her acceptance speech from the 2025 Hall of Fame induction ceremony.